Microsoft Office is undeniably one of the most advanced office suites available, with a loyal fanbase that has stood by it since its launch. However, it’s no secret that the suite can sometimes cause frustration—especially when it displays “Unlicensed Product” warnings or restricts functionality right when we need it the most.
In most cases, these issues come down to an unconfigured setup. Sure, you could look for an alternative, but why not fix the problem instead? With the right Office Customization tool, you can configure and customize MS Office to work just the way you want. In this article, we’ll walk you through how to do exactly that, so you can avoid the headaches and get back to being productive.
What is a Microsoft Office Customization Tool
The Microsoft Office Customization Tool is a vital resource for organizations that need to deploy Microsoft Office on multiple computers, and is available to anyone with a volume license for Microsoft Office. It enables administrators to create configuration files that help customize the Office installation process. These configuration files allow precise control over which applications and languages are installed, how the applications are updated, and other application preferences.
Designed for large-scale deployments, the Office Customization Tool is part of the process for installing Office on hundreds or even thousands of computers. After generating the configuration files, you can integrate them with the Office Deployment Tool to deploy a customized version of Office across your network.
How to Configure MS Office Deployment Using the Office Customization Tool
The Office Customization Tool empowers organizations to deploy a customized version of Office across their network. But how exactly is the customization done, and what variables can you set when creating the configuration files? In this section, I’ll walk you through the entire setup, step by step to help you configure your deployment settings, download the required tools, and complete the installation.
Deployment Settings
Step 1: To begin, open your browser and search for "Office Customization Tool" using Google.
Step 2: Click on the first search result, which will take you to the Microsoft 365 Apps Admin Center.
Step 3: In the Admin Center, you’ll find various options to configure your deployment settings.
The first section is the Products and Releases section, which includes fields like architecture, products, update channels, and apps. Let’s go through each field step by step.
Step 4: In the Architecture field, choose your system's architecture—either 32-bit or 64-bit.
Note: You can check your system's architecture by navigating to Control Panel > System and Security > System.
Step 5: Next, select the product you want to use. Here, we’ll choose “Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021” in the "Office Suites" field. If you need additional products like Visio, you can select those as well.
Step 6: In the Update Channel section, leave the settings as default.
Step 7: In the next field, select the Office suite apps you want to include in your download. To add or remove an app, simply use the toggle.
Step 8: Once you’ve completed the Products and Releases section, click on “Next” to move to the Language section.
Step 9: In the Language section, select the ”Primary language” of your choice. This ensures your Office suite comes equipped with the corresponding language pack.
Step 10: You can also select a proofing language or add any local languages of your choice in this section. Once done, click on “Next”.
Step 11: Now, in the Installation section, choose an “Installation Option” from the list.
Step 12: You can keep the default installation options as they are and click on “Next”.
Step 13: Next is the Updates and Upgrades section, in the Updates field, leave the settings as default.
Step 14: In the Upgrades field, decide if you want to uninstall any existing products. Once you’ve made your choice, click on “Next” to proceed.
Step 15: With updates and upgrades sorted, let's move on to the Licensing and Activation section. In the “Product Key” field, select “KMS: since we don’t have a product key.
Step 16: In the “Product Activation" field, make no changes and click on “Next”.
Step 17: In the General section, enter your company information or simply your name. You can also provide a general description (optional) for your deployment tools.
Step 18: Once both fields are filled, click on “Next” to continue.
Step 19: Lastly, in the “Application preference” section, since we don’t have any specific preferences, simply click on “Next” to finalize the deployment settings.
Step 20: Once all settings are configured, click “Export” to generate the configuration file. Save it as configuration.xml in your preferred folder.
Step 21: Now, the Export dialog will open. Select the “Office Open XML Formats” option and click “OK”.
Step 22: At last, make sure to tick the checkbox to agree to the terms and conditions.
Step 23: Finally, click the “Export” button to save the configuration file in XML format.
Download the Office Deployment Tool
With the configuration.xml now ready, let's download the Office Deployment Tool.
Step 1: To download the Office Deployment Tool, open a new tab in your browser and search for "Office Deployment Tool”.
Step 2: Click on the first result and download the tool from Microsoft’s official website.
Step 3: You will now be redirected to the Microsoft Office Deployment Tool webpage. Here, select your preferred language and click on the "Download" button to download the Office Deployment Tool.
Extract the Deployment Files
With the files now saved, you can move them into a separate folder if you want to stay organized. Let's begin extracting the Office Deployment Tool from the file we just downloaded.
Step 1: With both files ready, right-click on the "Office Deployment Tool" in your folder to open the context menu, then click on the "Run as Administrator" option.
Step 2: The Microsoft Software License Terms dialog will open. Scroll down, accept the terms and conditions by ticking the checkbox, and then click "Continue”.
Step 3: Now, select a folder where you want the files to be extracted and click "OK".
Step 4: Click "OK" on the confirmation message to exit.
At this point, the Office Deployment configuration files will be extracted to your folder, and you are all set for the next step!
Execute the Command Prompt Setup
Now, we will use Command Prompt to execute the installation of the Microsoft Office suite from the files we just extracted using the Office Deployment Tool.
Step 1: Using the search bar in the taskbar, search for "Command Prompt" and click on "Run as Administrator".
Step 2: In the Command Prompt, we will copy the file path of the folder where we extracted the files. Go to the "Address bar" in the folder, and press “CTRL + C” to copy the path.
Step 3: In the Command Prompt, type "cd", then press the “Spacebar”, and then paste the file path using the shortcut “CTRL+V”. Press “Enter”.
Step 4: Now that we are in the correct folder, we need to run the setup file. Enter the following command to begin the installation:
setup.exe /configure configuration.xml
Note: "Configuration.xml" is the name of the configuration file we exported earlier. If you renamed the XML file, make sure you use the correct name.
Step 5: After entering the command, press “Enter”, and the installation will begin. This might take a few minutes to complete.
Verify Installation and Activation
Once the installation is complete, your Office suite will be fully operational and activated. Let's verify this:
Step 1: Open any Microsoft Office app, such as Word, on your system and click on the "Account" tab.
Step 2: In the Account tab, you will find the product details for your Office suite, confirming that it is activated and ready to use.
Finding the Best Alternative to Microsoft Office— WPS Office
Microsoft Office is good competition against many office suites, offering powerful tools for managing tasks, creating documents, and organizing data. However, its effectiveness often depends on proper configuration. Setting up your Office suite correctly ensures smooth functionality, prevents frustrating limitations like “Unlicensed Product” warnings, and allows you to tailor it to your workflow.
It's always good to have options, and alternatives like WPS Office offer a simpler solution for those looking for similar features in a lightweight and affordable package. With tools for spreadsheets, word processing, and presentations, WPS Office provides a seamless experience without requiring extensive setup.
What makes WPS Office the best alternative to MS Office is not just its easy setup, but also its similarity in user interface. People become comfortable with a tool they have used for years, making the switch to alternatives more challenging. WPS Office alleviates this learning curve by providing a familiar experience that is often better, with additional integrated tools, a modern-looking interface, and the fact that the entire package is available for free. This makes it a highly attractive option. Let’s take a closer look at the features offered by WPS Office:
All-in-One Office Suite: Instead of relying on separate applications, WPS Office integrates its tools—Writer, Spreadsheet, Presentation, and PDF—into one window, eliminating the need to switch tabs and declutter your desktop workspace.
Cloud Storage: WPS Office not only provides its own WPS Drive for easy access to files anytime, anywhere, but also allows users to connect other cloud services like OneDrive and Google Drive, making file access even more convenient.
Advanced PDF Tools: Although often overlooked, PDF tools are essential in office, school, and professional settings. WPS Office includes advanced PDF features to ensure a smooth workflow for users who rely on these tools.
Though WPS Office’s seamless office suite experience has elevated its standing, placing it in direct competition with Microsoft Office, the easy setup and the ability to download and start using it within minutes—without the need for additional setup or costs—make it an even more appealing choice.
How to Download WPS Office
I’ve mentioned before how easy it is to set up WPS Office on your system, but if you haven’t tried it yet, here’s how simple it is. Whether you're using Windows, macOS, or Linux, you can easily download and install WPS Office in just 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Go to the WPS Office website in your browser and click the "Download" button found at the centre of the page.
Step 2: To install the WPS Office suite, open the downloaded file by double-clicking it.
Step 3: When the installation finishes, the WPS Office suite will be ready for use.
FAQs
1. What is the Office Customization Tool (OCT)?
The Office Customization Tool (OCT) is a Microsoft utility designed to assist IT administrators in configuring and deploying Microsoft Office across large organizations. It enables the creation of configuration files that customize various aspects of Office installations, including which applications and languages are installed, application preferences, user settings, and update management. By streamlining the deployment process, the OCT ensures consistency, efficiency, and alignment with organizational requirements.
2. Can I select specific Office apps to deploy using OCT?
Yes, OCT allows you to customize your deployment and choose specific Office applications to install, excluding others that are not needed.
3. What should I do if I encounter issues while using the Office Customization Tool?
Here are some steps to help resolve issues with the Office Customization Tool:
Check your configuration settings for errors.
Review the setup log for more detailed information.
Restart your computer to resolve any potential system-related issues.
Ensure the Office Deployment Tool is up to date.
If the problem continues, reach out to Microsoft Support for further assistance.
WPS Office: A Simpler, More Affordable Alternative
While you have endless options for productivity suites, Microsoft Office is a decent choice with its powerful tools for managing tasks, creating documents, and organizing data. However, its effectiveness often hinges on proper configuration to avoid limitations like “Unlicensed Product” warnings and to customize it to your needs. For those looking for a simpler, more affordable alternative, WPS Office offers similar features in a lightweight package, making it an excellent option without requiring extensive setup.
