The command setup.exe /configure configuration-office2021enterprise.xml is the standard method for deploying using the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) . This process allows for customized installations, such as selecting specific apps, languages, or update channels. Deployment Review & Steps
: Automatically detects and strips out older, legacy MSI-based versions of Office (like Office 2013 or 2016) before installing the new version.
A standard for a 64-bit English installation of Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 looks like this:
cd C:\ODT setup.exe /download configuration-office2021enterprise.xml setup.exe configure. configuration-office2021enterprise.xml
<Configuration> <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="PerpetualVL2021"> <Product ID="ProPlus2021Volume" PIDKEY="YOUR-MAK-KEY-HERE-XXXXX"> <Language ID="en-us" /> </Product> </Add> <Display Level="NONE" AcceptEULA="TRUE" /> </Configuration>
Add this inside <Add> :
Mastering Office 2021 Enterprise Deployment: A Complete Guide to setup.exe and configuration-office2021enterprise.xml The command setup
setup.exe /configure configuration-office2021enterprise.xml
You can also specify multiple languages for your deployment. This allows users to work in their preferred language:
: Enforces a completely silent installation. Users will not see any progress bars, splash screens, or prompts. Set this to "Full" during testing to troubleshoot errors visually. A standard for a 64-bit English installation of
: The unique identifier for Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 Enterprise.
setup.exe /configure configuration-office2021enterprise.xml
<Language ID="en-us" /> <Language ID="fr-fr" /> <Language ID="de-de" /> <AddLanguage ID="match-os" Fallback="en-us" />
The combination of setup.exe and a well-constructed configuration-Office2021Enterprise.xml file is the gold standard for deploying Office 2021 Enterprise in a professional IT environment. By moving away from manual installations, you gain the ability to standardize your deployments, ensure consistency across your organization, and save countless hours of manual work.