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The Office Deployment Tool deep dive

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The Office Deployment Tool deep dive

How to use the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) for granular Microsoft 365 Apps deployment.

Solving Microsoft 365 · www.solvingmicrosoft365.com/guides/office-deployment-tool-deep-dive

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01

The XML configuration file

ODT is driven by an XML configuration file:

Solving Microsoft 365 · www.solvingmicrosoft365.com/guides/office-deployment-tool-deep-dive

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02

The Office Customization Tool

For the XML, don't write it by hand — use the Office Customization Tool at config.office.com. The GUI lets you pick:

Solving Microsoft 365 · www.solvingmicrosoft365.com/guides/office-deployment-tool-deep-dive

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03

Running ODT

ODT itself is a small executable (setup.exe) you download from the Microsoft Download Center. Used with the XML:

Solving Microsoft 365 · www.solvingmicrosoft365.com/guides/office-deployment-tool-deep-dive

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04

Common scenarios

### Install Microsoft 365 Apps with Visio

Solving Microsoft 365 · www.solvingmicrosoft365.com/guides/office-deployment-tool-deep-dive

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05

ODT vs Intune deployment

For Intune-managed estates, the Microsoft 365 Apps for Windows app type in Intune wraps ODT internally — you configure via Intune's UI (same options as the Office Customization Tool), Intune generates the XML and runs O…

Solving Microsoft 365 · www.solvingmicrosoft365.com/guides/office-deployment-tool-deep-dive

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06

Operational considerations

For Microsoft 365 customers with anything beyond standard Intune-driven deployment, ODT is essential tooling. The XML format, while verbose, gives complete control over Microsoft 365 Apps installation behaviour.

Solving Microsoft 365 · www.solvingmicrosoft365.com/guides/office-deployment-tool-deep-dive

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