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Use Update Channel and Target Version settings to update Microsoft 365 with Microsoft Intune Administrative Templates

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In Intune, you can use Windows administrative (ADMX) templates to configure group policy settings. This article shows you how to update Microsoft 365 using an administrative template in Intune. It also gives guidance on confirming your policies apply successfully, which helps when troubleshooting.

In this scenario, you create an administrative template in Intune that updates Microsoft 365 on your devices.

For more information on administrative templates, go to Windows ADMX templates to configure group policy settings.

This feature applies to:

  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10
  • Microsoft 365

Prerequisites

Screenshot that shows enabling Office automatic updates using an administrative template in Microsoft Intune.

Set the Update Channel in the Intune administrative template

Use an Intune policy to set the update channel for Microsoft 365 apps. The update channel determines how frequently Office checks for updates.

  1. In your Intune administrative template, go to the Update Channel (2.0) setting, and enter the channel you want. For example, select Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel:

    In Microsoft Intune and Intune admin center, create an administrative ADMX template that sets the Update Channel setting for Office.

    Tip

  2. When the policy is ready, assign the policy to your Windows client devices. To test your policy sooner, you can also sync the policy.

Check the Intune registry keys

After you assign the policy and the device syncs, you can confirm the Intune policy is applied.

  1. On the device, open the Registry Editor app.

  2. Go to the Intune policy path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\Providers\<Provider ID>\default\Device\office16~Policy~L_MicrosoftOfficemachine~L_Updates.

    Tip

    The <Provider ID> in the registry key changes. To find the provider ID for your device, open the Registry Editor app, and go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\AdmxInstalled. The provider ID is shown.

    When the policy is applied, you see the following registry keys:

    • L_UpdateBranch
    • L_UpdateTargetVersion

    Looking at the following example, you see L_UpdateBranch has a value similar to <enabled /><data id="L_UpdateBranchID" value="Deferred" />. This value means the update channel is set to Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel:

    Administrative template L_Updatebranch registry key example for Microsoft Office

    Tip

    Manage Microsoft 365 Apps with Configuration Manager lists the values, and what they mean. The registry values are based on the distribution channel selected:

    • Current Channel - value="Current"
    • Current Channel (preview) - value="FirstReleaseCurrent"
    • Monthly Enterprise Channel - value="MonthlyEnterprise"
    • Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel - value="Deferred"
    • Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (preview) - value="FirstReleaseDeferred"
    • Beta - value="InsiderFast"

At this point, the Intune policy is successfully applied to the device.

Check the Office registry keys

  1. On the device, open the Registry Editor app.

  2. Go to the Office policy path: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration.

    You see the following registry keys:

    • UpdateChannel: A dynamic key that changes, depending on the configured settings.
    • CDNBaseUrl: Set when Microsoft 365 installs on the device.

  3. Look at the UpdateChannel value. The value tells you how frequently Office is updated. Manage Microsoft 365 Apps with Configuration Manager lists the values, and what they're set to.

    Looking at the following example, you see UpdateChannel is set to http://officecdn.microsoft.com/pr/492350f6-3a01-4f97-b9c0-c7c6ddf67d60, which is the Current Channel (monthly):

    Administrative template Office UpdateChannel registry key example

    This example means the policy isn't applied yet, as the registry setting is still set to monthly, instead of semi-annual.

This registry key is updated when the Task Scheduler > Office Automatic Updates 2.0 runs, or when a user signs into the device. To confirm, open the Office Automatic Updates 2.0 task > Triggers. Depending on your triggers, it can take at least a day and more before the UpdateChannel registry key is updated.

Force Office automatic updates to run

To test your policy, you can force the policy settings on the device. The following steps update the registry. As always, be careful when updating the registry.

  1. Clear the registry key:

    1. Go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Updates.
    2. Double-select the UpdateDetectionLastRunTime key > delete the value data > OK.

  2. Run the Office Automatic Updates task:

    1. Open the Task Scheduler app on the device.

    2. Expand Task Scheduler Library > Microsoft > Office.

    3. Select Office Automatic Updates 2.0 > Run:

      Open Task Schedule, and run Office Automatic Updates using the task scheduler.

      Wait for the task to finish, which can take several minutes.

  3. In the Registry Editor app, go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration. Check the UpdateChannel value.

    It should be updated with the value set in the policy. In our example, the value should be set to http://officecdn.microsoft.com/pr/7ffbc6bf-bc32-4f92-8982-f9dd17fd3114.

At this point, the Office update channel is successfully changed on the device. You can open a Microsoft 365 app for a user that receives this update to check status.

Force the Office synchronization to update account information

If you want to do more, you can force Office to get the latest version update. The following steps should only be done as a confirmation, or if you need the devices to get the latest version update from that channel quickly. Otherwise, let Office do its job, and update automatically.

Step 1: Force the Office version to update

  1. Confirm the Office version supports the update channel you're choosing. Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps lists the build numbers that support the different update channels.

  2. In your Intune administrative template, go to the Target Version setting, and enter the version you want.

    Your Target version setting looks similar to the following setting:

    In a Microsoft Intune ADMX administrative template, set the Target Version setting for Office.

Important

  • Be sure to assign the policy.
  • If you change an existing policy, your changes affect all assigned users.
  • If you're testing this feature, it's recommended to create a test policy, and assign the policy to a test group of users.

Step 2: Check the Office version

Consider using the following steps to test your policy before deploying the policy to all users:

  1. In the Registry Editor app, go to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\PolicyManager\Providers\<Provider ID>\default\Device\office16~Policy~L_MicrosoftOfficemachine~L_Updates.

  2. Look at the L_UpdateTargetVersion value. Once the policy applies, the value is set to the version you entered, such as <enabled /><data id="L_UpdateTargetVersionID" value="16.0.10730.20344" />.

    At this point, the Intune policy is successfully applied to the device.

  3. Next, you can force Office to update. Open an Office app, such as Excel. Select to update now (possibly in the Account menu).

    The update takes several minutes. You can confirm Office is trying to get the version you enter:

    1. On the device, go to C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Updates\Detection\Version.

    2. Open the VersionDescriptor.xml file, and go to the <Version> section. The available version should be the same version you entered in the Intune policy, such as:

      Check the version section in the version descriptor Office XML file.

  4. After the update is installed, the Office app should show the new version (for example, on the Account menu)