Office Installation Errors

Fix Office Deployment Tool Cannot Find XML Configuration File

John Wilson Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to run the Office Deployment Tool because the command prompt fails to locate the specified XML configuration file.

How to Fix Office Deployment Tool Cannot Find the XML Configuration File

Product: Microsoft Office Deployment Tool
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Downloading or installing Microsoft Office by running setup.exe /download in the Command Prompt.
Observed behavior: The tool fails with an error stating the configuration file cannot be found, despite the file being present in the designated folder (e.g., C:\ODT).

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator privileges on your computer and verify that both the ODT setup.exe and your XML file are saved in the exact same folder (such as C:\ODT).

Solution 1Recommended

Correct the Command Prompt Path and Check File Extensions

Navigating to the correct directory in Command Prompt and ensuring the XML file does not have a hidden .txt extension resolves most ODT file not found errors.

Often, the Command Prompt is not looking in the correct folder, or Windows has silently appended a .txt extension to your configuration file (making it config.xml.txt instead of config.xml).

Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Click the Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.

Navigate to the ODT Folder

Change the directory to the folder containing your ODT files by typing 'cd C:\ODT' (replace with your actual folder path) and pressing Enter.

Verify the File Extension

Open Windows File Explorer, navigate to your ODT folder, and click the 'View' tab. Check the box for 'File name extensions'. If your file is named 'installOfficeBusRet64.xml.txt', rename it to remove the '.txt' at the end.

Run the Setup Command

In the Command Prompt, type 'setup.exe /download installOfficeBusRet64.xml' (ensure the filename perfectly matches your XML file) and press Enter.

Correct the Command Prompt Path and Check File Extensions

Security Settings: Do not disable your antivirus or Windows Firewall to bypass this error unless explicitly instructed by your IT administrator, as doing so can expose your system to security risks.

Solution 2

Generate a New Valid XML Configuration File

If the XML file is corrupted, improperly formatted, or missing entirely, the Deployment Tool may fail to recognize it during execution.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Command Prompt say the XML file is not found when it is sitting right in the folder?

This usually happens for two reasons: either you haven't navigated to the correct directory using the 'cd' command before running setup.exe, or Windows has hidden known file extensions, turning your file into 'filename.xml.txt'. You must reveal file extensions in Windows Explorer to correct the name.

Can I run the Office Deployment Tool without an XML file?

No, the Office Deployment Tool fundamentally requires an XML configuration file to execute. This file tells the tool exactly which products, languages, and update channels to download or install.

Should I turn off my antivirus if the Office download fails using ODT?

No. It is highly recommended not to disable your antivirus software or Windows Firewall unless specifically directed by your system administrator. Doing so does not usually fix the 'file not found' XML error and compromises your computer's security.

How do I verify my XML file is formatted correctly?

The safest and most reliable way to ensure your XML file is valid is to create it using the official Office Customization Tool at config.office.com, rather than editing code manually in an application like Notepad.

Installation & Activation