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To deploy Microsoft 365 Apps and the Teams client to managed Windows devices, create a Microsoft 365 Apps for Windows 10 and later app in the Intune admin center, configure the Office suite, assign it to device or user groups, then review and create the deployment. Teams installs automatically with Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows unless automatic Teams installation is disabled in the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center. The former “Microsoft Endpoint Manager” (MEM) name is no longer the current console path; Microsoft’s current instructions use Microsoft Intune.
Check prerequisites and plan the rollout
Before creating the app, confirm that the target devices and users are ready:
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- Your organization has a Microsoft Intune subscription, and you have the built-in Application Manager role or another role that permits app creation and assignment.
- Devices are enrolled in Intune and run Windows Creators Update or later. This app type does not support Windows Home, Windows Team, or Windows Holographic editions.
- Users have the Microsoft 365 Apps licenses needed to activate the suite. Teams client installation and entitlement to the Teams service are separate considerations.
- Choose the target user or device groups and decide whether installation should be automatic, self-service, or an uninstall action.
Microsoft’s current deployment instructions are in Add Microsoft 365 Apps to Windows Devices Using Microsoft Intune. For the basic app-assignment workflow, see Step 8 – Add and assign an app in Microsoft Intune.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsCheck existing Office installations
If devices have Office applications installed with Windows Installer (MSI), plan how to handle them before assigning the new suite. Microsoft warns that existing Office MSI applications can cause deployment failure. The suite’s removal option can remove all Office MSI applications on a device, not just the applications selected for the new Microsoft 365 Apps suite. Review the impact, communicate it to affected users, and test the setting before broad deployment.
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Choose a configuration that fits the device estate
Decide which Office applications to include, 32-bit or 64-bit architecture, update channel, file format, language behavior, and whether to use shared computer activation or accept the end-user license agreement automatically. Available Office versions change, so select a version currently offered in your tenant rather than relying on a pinned version from an older guide. Microsoft 365 Apps for business is supported, but must be configured using XML rather than the configuration designer.
Create and configure the Intune app
- In the Intune admin center, go to Apps > All Apps > Create.
- Under the Microsoft 365 Apps app types, select Windows 10 and later.
- Enter suite information. Use a distinctive name and description so administrators can identify the deployment and the app listing is clear in Company Portal.
- Choose the configuration designer or XML, then specify the included Office apps, architecture, update channel, version, file format, language settings, shared computer activation, and EULA behavior as needed.
- Review the configuration and proceed to assignments.
Assign the suite: required, available, or uninstall
Choose the assignment type according to how users should receive the apps. Scope tags are optional and can help organize administrative visibility.
| Assignment | What happens | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| Required | Intune installs the suite silently on targeted devices. | You want managed devices to receive Microsoft 365 Apps automatically. |
| Available for enrolled devices | The app is offered in Company Portal for users to install. | You want users to choose whether to install the suite. |
| Uninstall | Intune applies an uninstall assignment to the targeted group. | You need to remove the app from a defined scope. |
Assign the app to the intended groups, then review the selection before creating it. For an Available assignment to appear in Company Portal, the enrolled device must be signed in with an account that belongs to the assigned group.
Understand what happens to Teams
Microsoft says the Teams app automatically installs with new and existing installations of Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows. This behavior can be disabled by an administrator in the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center. The documented path is Customization > Device Configuration > Modern Apps Settings > Microsoft Teams (work or school); clear Enable automatic installation of new Microsoft Teams to opt out. See Microsoft’s Install Microsoft Teams with Microsoft 365 Apps.
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Installing the client does not itself establish that a user can access the Teams service. Some Office plans include the Apps suite without Teams service. Microsoft’s page dated 2025-02-27 also says new Teams installs alongside classic Teams if classic Teams is already installed, and that deploying Microsoft 365 Apps does not change the classic Teams installation. Check the organization’s current licensing and rollout details before treating client presence as proof of service access; Microsoft’s guidance is in Upgrade to new Microsoft Teams with Microsoft 365 Apps.
Plan separately for Autopilot enrollment status page tracking
If Microsoft 365 Apps must be tracked as an installation during Windows Autopilot enrollment status page (ESP) processing, Microsoft recommends deploying it as a Win32 app. The native Microsoft 365 Apps app type is not managed by the Intune Management Extension; running it concurrently with a tracked Win32 app can cause ESP failure. Treat the Win32 choice as an ESP planning decision, not as a general requirement for all Microsoft 365 Apps deployments.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How installation is delivered
Intune sends the policy through the Office configuration service provider. The device obtains Microsoft 365 Apps installation content from officecdn.microsoft.com using the Office Deployment Tool. Required assignments install silently; Available assignments are presented through Company Portal for the user to start.
Where the network design permits, Microsoft recommends allowing clients to reach the Office CDN directly to avoid unnecessary latency. The device also needs connectivity to Intune and relevant Microsoft 365 network endpoints for policy and content delivery.
Quick Recap
Troubleshoot an installation that does not start
- Verify enrollment and assignment: Confirm the device is enrolled, the intended user or device is in the assigned group, and the assignment type matches the expected behavior. For Available apps, verify the signed-in account belongs to the assigned group and check Company Portal.
- Check network access: Confirm the device has a live connection and can reach Intune, Microsoft 365 endpoints, and the Office CDN. Network filtering or indirect CDN routing can delay delivery.
- Check Office conflicts: Look for pre-existing Office MSI applications and review the configured removal behavior. Do not enable broad MSI removal without understanding which applications may be removed.
- Avoid installing while Office is open: Microsoft warns installation may fail while Microsoft 365 apps are running, and unsaved work may be lost.
- Interpret status carefully with custom XML: Intune’s install status can reflect the result of an installation attempt rather than the device’s current installed state.
- Use Microsoft’s diagnostic path: Microsoft recommends the Support and Recovery Assistant for Microsoft 365 for installation or runtime issues.
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