Deploy Office LTSC 2021 on Windows with Microsoft’s Office Deployment Tool (ODT) and a configuration XML file. The key choices are the correct volume product ID, the PerpetualVL2021 update channel for Professional Plus or Standard, and a valid volume-license activation method. Important: Microsoft support for Office LTSC 2021 ends on October 13, 2026—after that date, technical support, bug fixes, and security updates stop. If you are planning a new deployment, account for that short support runway before proceeding.
What you need before you begin
- A Windows device and administrator rights to run the installation.
- The Office Deployment Tool (ODT), downloaded from Microsoft’s Office LTSC 2021 deployment guide.
- A configuration XML that specifies the volume product, architecture, language, source and update settings, and any required activation key.
- A valid volume license and a plan for MAK or KMS activation.
- Internet access to retrieve installation files from the Office CDN, or a prepared local network source for a constrained or offline environment.
Petri’s guide reports minimums of Windows 10 or later, a 1.6 GHz or faster processor, 4 GB of free disk space, and RAM of 4 GB for 64-bit or 2 GB for 32-bit. Those figures are reported by Petri rather than confirmed in the Microsoft deployment reference linked here; verify current requirements for your environment before rollout. Petri also says a Microsoft account or Office product key is needed for activation, but enterprise volume activation should follow the organization’s license and activation arrangements. See Petri’s original Office LTSC 2021 installation guide.
Choose the product ID and update channel
Use the product ID matching the volume-licensed edition you are deploying. Microsoft lists these Office LTSC 2021 volume IDs:
| Product | Product ID |
|---|---|
| Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 | ProPlus2021Volume |
| Office LTSC Standard 2021 | Standard2021Volume |
| Project Professional 2021 | ProjectPro2021Volume |
| Project Standard 2021 | ProjectStd2021Volume |
| Visio Professional 2021 | VisioPro2021Volume |
| Visio Standard 2021 | VisioStd2021Volume |
For Professional Plus and Standard, use the PerpetualVL2021 update channel. Microsoft notes that the channel is device-wide for installed Office products, including Project and Visio, so account for any products already installed or planned for the same device. See Microsoft’s Office LTSC 2021 update-channel guidance.
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Download and extract the Office Deployment Tool
- Download the latest ODT from Microsoft’s Download Center through the deployment guide.
- Run the downloaded package and extract its contents to a working folder. The extracted files include
setup.exeand a sampleconfiguration.xml. - Edit the sample XML in a text editor, or create a configuration with Microsoft’s Office Customization Tool. ODT is a command-line utility; the XML controls its download and installation settings.
Configure the XML for your deployment
The following example illustrates the core structure for Professional Plus 2021, 64-bit, English, using CDN source files and a MAK key. Replace the sample key with your organization’s valid key, or configure the appropriate KMS key and activation design. Do not deploy a sample key as if it were licensed.
<Configuration>
<Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="PerpetualVL2021">
<Product ID="ProPlus2021Volume">
<Language ID="en-us" />
</Product>
</Add>
<Display Level="None" AcceptEULA="TRUE" />
<Property Name="PIDKEY" Value="XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX" />
</Configuration>Adapt the product ID, architecture, language, and activation settings to the licensed deployment. Microsoft’s configuration reference covers additional options, including source paths and the RemoveMSI element. Microsoft recommends RemoveMSI when removing older Office versions installed with Windows Installer (MSI); it is not a general instruction to remove every Office installation in every coexistence case.
Choose a CDN or local network source
When SourcePath is omitted and the installation files are not in ODT’s current folder, ODT downloads them from the Office CDN. Microsoft recommends CDN deployment when internet connectivity and bandwidth are adequate. For isolated or bandwidth-constrained sites, download the files to a network share and set the source path in the configuration. Microsoft says 32-bit and 64-bit versions must be downloaded separately. The source location controls where setup obtains files; it does not change the rule that Office installs on the system drive, usually C:, and the installation location cannot be changed.
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For a network-source workflow, first use ODT’s download mode with a configuration that identifies the product and a source location, then run the install command against that prepared source. Consult Microsoft’s deployment guide for the exact XML attributes and download command appropriate to your distribution layout.
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- Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
- Change to the folder containing
setup.exeand your configuration file, for example by usingcd C:OfficeLTSCif that is the folder you prepared. - Run the documented command, substituting your XML filename if different:
setup /configure configuration.xml - Wait for setup to complete, then open an Office application to confirm that the installed apps start as expected.
With the example configuration’s silent display setting, the setup interface may not show normal progress prompts. The command installs files; it does not, by itself, prove that the device is licensed or activated.
Activate and validate the volume license
Plan activation separately from deployment. Microsoft’s ODT configuration supports PIDKEY for a MAK product key; for KMS, use the generic volume license key and the organization’s KMS infrastructure. Petri’s walkthrough used MAK and also describes KMS as an enterprise-network option. Follow the key-management and activation requirements attached to your volume license. After installation, check activation status in an Office application and resolve any activation error before treating the device as ready for use.
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Removing an older MSI-based Office installation
Microsoft recommends the ODT RemoveMSI option for removing previous Office versions installed with Windows Installer before deployment. Confirm how existing Office products are installed and whether removal is appropriate for the target device; do not assume that every Microsoft 365 or Click-to-Run coexistence scenario is identical.
Choosing which apps to install
ODT configuration lets administrators specify products and deployment settings. The appropriate XML must match the volume product and the apps licensed and intended for the device. Use Microsoft’s deployment documentation for the supported configuration options rather than assuming a consumer installer’s app-selection behavior.
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Teams and Microsoft 365 coexistence
Office LTSC 2021 no longer includes the Teams client app, according to Microsoft’s current deployment guidance; older descriptions that say Teams is included are stale. Petri’s 2022 article also advises against installing LTSC alongside Microsoft 365, but the Microsoft deployment source cited here does not establish a universal prohibition for every configuration. Check current Microsoft coexistence guidance and your organization’s deployment design before combining products.
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Internet connectivity and offline deployment
Internet access is not inherently required at the moment of installation if the Office files have already been staged on a local network source. A CDN-based deployment does require network access to retrieve files. Activation connectivity depends on the selected activation method and the organization’s configuration, so distinguish file delivery from licensing when planning an offline deployment.
Account for the October 13, 2026 support deadline
Microsoft states that Office LTSC 2021 reaches end of support on October 13, 2026. After that date, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, or security updates. Microsoft recommends organizations begin planning an upgrade, identifying Microsoft 365 Apps or Office LTSC 2024 as upgrade paths. The right choice depends on support runway, subscription versus volume-license requirements, feature and update cadence, cloud dependency, and the organization’s deployment and administration needs. Read Microsoft’s end-of-support announcement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Office LTSC 2021 on multiple computers with a single license?
There is no universal computer count to apply without checking the volume-license agreement that covers the deployment. Petri’s guide says one license cannot be used on multiple computers, but licensing terms can vary by agreement; confirm the rights and activation method for your organization before deploying.
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Is internet connectivity required to install Office LTSC 2021?
Not necessarily during setup: if installation files have been staged to a local network source, setup can use those files. A CDN-based deployment needs connectivity to download them, and activation has its own network or infrastructure requirements.
What happens if I install Office LTSC 2021 alongside Microsoft 365?
Do not assume all coexistence configurations behave the same. Petri advises against installing them together, while the Microsoft deployment guidance cited here does not establish a blanket rule for every scenario. Check current Microsoft coexistence guidance and test the organization’s intended configuration.
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