Can not set O365 update channel

Ibrahim Awwad 1 Reputation point
2022-07-22T21:47:51.617+00:00

I'm trying to change the update channel into my O365 to the Beta Channel, I have tried the manual way(as I used to do before)

  • OfficeC2RClient.exe /changesetting Channel=BetaChannel

I have even assigned an Intune special policy to force the Beta update and excluded my machine from the company's O365 default policy, yet the channel is set to the Enterprise monthly one.
I have traced the registry keys as per MS Docs [Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration] and located the main 2 keys:

  1. CDNBaseUrl
  2. UpdateChannel

Whenevr I setup the update channel manually to the beta channel value as per manage-office-365-proplus-updates

The update channel gets reset whenever any office application starts!!
Any help?

Office Management
Office Management
Office: A suite of Microsoft productivity software that supports common business tasks, including word processing, email, presentations, and data management and analysis.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
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  1. abbodi86 3,876 Reputation points
    2022-07-23T15:07:15.35+00:00

    Check if there are higher priority policy is set
    https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/office-365-blog/how-to-manage-office-365-proplus-channels-for-it-pros/ba-p/795813

    you could use these command to switch channel removing any policies

    reg add HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration /v CDNBaseUrl /t REG_SZ /d "http://officecdn.microsoft.com/pr/5440fd1f-7ecb-4221-8110-145efaa6372f" /f  
    reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration /v UnmanagedUpdateURL /f 2>nul  
    reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration /v UpdateUrl /f 2>nul  
    reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration /v UpdateToVersion /f 2>nul  
    reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Updates /v UpdateToVersion /f 2>nul  
    reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OfficeUpdate /v UpdatePath /f 2>nul  
    reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OfficeUpdate /v UpdateBranch /f 2>nul  
    reg delete HKLM\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OfficeUpdate /v UpdateTargetVersion /f 2>nul  
    "%CommonProgramFiles%\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\OfficeC2RClient.exe" /update user  
    
    1 person found this answer helpful.

  2. Ceasar Chen_MSFT 4,406 Reputation points
    2022-07-25T07:21:09.677+00:00

    Hi,
    Are you running the Office Automatic Update 2.0 task?
    Any update channel in the environment needs to match the channel of the Office365 application.
    After you change the channel, you'll need to update the app before the app shows the new update channel.


    If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
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  3. Ibrahim Awwad 1 Reputation point
    2022-09-23T21:27:16.343+00:00

    I have contacted MS support, the following script helped in overcoming the situation
    https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/Update-Office365/1.1.4/Content/Update-Office365.ps1

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