The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →For a volume-licensed Office 2021 rollout, use the Office 365 Client Installation wizard in Configuration Manager current branch, or create an Office Deployment Tool (ODT) configuration XML and deploy it through your preferred workflow. The wizard generates the XML; before deploying, choose the product, architecture, languages, activation method, installation source, and update plan. These instructions apply to Office LTSC 2021, not every retail Office 2021 license or Microsoft 365 Apps.
Confirm that Office LTSC 2021 is the right deployment
Microsoft documents Office LTSC 2021 for Windows as a volume-licensed, Click-to-Run product. Supported product families include Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 and Standard 2021, Project Professional and Standard 2021, and Visio LTSC Professional and Standard 2021. Microsoft lists Windows 10 and Windows 11 as supported operating systems. See the Office LTSC 2021 overview.
Office LTSC 2021 is not Microsoft 365 Apps: it does not receive new features after launch. Microsoft states that Office LTSC 2021 has five years of Mainstream Support and no Extended Support afterward; the overview does not state an exact end date.
Choose the Configuration Manager wizard or ODT
| Deployment route | Best suited to | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Configuration Manager wizard | A guided deployment managed through Configuration Manager current branch | The Office 365 Client Installation wizard builds the configuration XML and offers Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021, with Project and Visio also selectable. |
| Office Deployment Tool (ODT) and XML | Administrators who need explicit configuration or want to use a different deployment orchestration | ODT downloads or installs the Office content according to the XML settings. |
Microsoft documents the wizard at Software Library > Overview > Office 365 Client Management in the Configuration Manager console. For the full set of deployment choices, consult Microsoft’s Office LTSC 2021 deployment guidance.
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Set the deployment choices before rollout
Select the product and activation method
Choose the product IDs that match your organization’s volume license and intended installation. Common IDs include ProPlus2021Volume, Standard2021Volume, ProjectPro2021Volume, ProjectStd2021Volume, VisioPro2021Volume, and VisioStd2021Volume. The XML can specify the appropriate KMS Generic Volume License Key (GVLK) or a Multiple Activation Key (MAK). Use the activation method authorized for your organization, and do not expose an organization’s MAK in deployment materials.
Choose architecture and languages
Select 32-bit or 64-bit Office after checking device needs and compatibility with existing applications and add-ins. All Office products installed on the same device must use the same architecture; do not mix 32-bit and 64-bit Office products. Specify the required language IDs in the configuration. Microsoft also supports adding languages later and deploying proofing tools with the ProofingTools product ID and language IDs.
Decide which apps to include
Teams is not included in Office LTSC 2021. Skype for Business is omitted by default in the documented ODT customization and Configuration Manager wizard app settings, but those settings can be changed if your deployment requires it.
Choose where installation files come from
Office can install from the Office CDN or from files staged on an internal share. Microsoft recommends the CDN when internet connectivity and available bandwidth make it practical. A local source can help serve devices with constrained or unavailable internet access, but the organization must download and maintain the staged content.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsWith ODT, setup /download configuration.xml downloads the files specified by the XML, and setup /configure configuration.xml installs Office using that configuration. Download 32-bit and 64-bit Office content separately.
Remove existing Office installations
Microsoft recommends removing existing Office versions before installing Office LTSC 2021. Use the ODT RemoveMSI element to help remove earlier Windows Installer (MSI) Office installations. For Click-to-Run installations of Office, Visio, or Project 2019, use the ODT Remove element. Account for both installation types in the target environment rather than assuming one removal setting covers them all.
Plan how updates will be managed
The Office CDN is the default update source. Configuration Manager can manage Office LTSC 2021 updates, including their timing and source. Alternatively, an internal share gives administrators a controlled content location but requires an internet-connected device to download current Office content and administrators to track and copy updates. Choose the approach that fits the organization’s connectivity, bandwidth, change-control process, and maintenance capacity.
Office LTSC Professional Plus and Standard 2021 use the PerpetualVL2021 update channel. Microsoft describes LTSC 2021 updates as cumulative; see its Office LTSC 2021 update guidance for update management details.
Quick Recap
Deployment checklist
- Confirm the target is a volume-licensed Office LTSC 2021 deployment.
- Choose the Configuration Manager wizard or ODT/XML workflow.
- Set product IDs, architecture, languages, app selection, and KMS or MAK activation.
- Select CDN or internal-share installation content and plan removal of prior Office versions.
- Assign ownership for updates and configure the update source and channel.
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