Microsoft 365 Installation Problems

Fix Office Deployment Tool Installing Unwanted Microsoft 365 Apps

Muhammad Talha Oct 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) from automatically installing unwanted applications like Skype and Access after initially deploying only Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Fix Office Deployment Tool Installing Unwanted Microsoft 365 Apps

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Deploying a customized Microsoft 365 installation across devices without including unnecessary background applications.
Observed behavior: Applications that were supposed to be excluded from the deployment configuration are still being automatically installed on the system.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator access to the Windows 11 computer and the necessary permissions to manage deployment configurations in the Microsoft 365 admin center.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify App Exclusions in the Office Customization Tool

Review and update your deployment XML configuration to explicitly exclude any unwanted applications.

The Office Deployment Tool relies on a configuration XML file. If specific applications are not strictly marked for exclusion, Microsoft 365 may push them to the device during installation or subsequent background updates.

Access the Customization Tool

Open your web browser and navigate to the official Office Customization Tool at https://config.office.com/deploymentsettings.

Review Application Settings

Scroll to the 'Apps' section of your deployment configuration to see the list of included and excluded software.

Exclude Unwanted Apps

Explicitly toggle off applications like Skype for Business, Access, Publisher, or any other software you do not want installed on the target machines.

Export Configuration

Click 'Export' to generate and download the updated configuration XML file to your computer.

Run the Deployment Tool

Run the Office Deployment Tool via Command Prompt using the newly exported configuration XML to apply the changes and remove the unwanted apps.

Verify App Exclusions in the Office Customization Tool

Configuration Check: Double-check the downloaded XML file in a text editor to ensure the <ExcludeApp> tags correctly list the IDs of the unwanted software.

Solution 2

Submit a Microsoft 365 Support Request

Contact Microsoft support if the Office Deployment Tool continues to ignore your configuration exclusions.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

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1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website to download the lightweight, all-in-one installation package.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Office Deployment Tool install apps I didn't select?

This generally happens if the application isn't explicitly excluded using the <ExcludeApp> tag in your configuration XML. Without an explicit exclusion rule, the installer often defaults to installing the standard suite bundle.

How do I remove unwanted Microsoft 365 apps that are already installed?

You can remove them by re-running the Office Deployment Tool with a corrected XML configuration file that excludes the unwanted apps. The ODT will detect the updated configuration and uninstall the excluded applications.

Can I prevent Microsoft 365 from adding new apps during updates?

Yes, by maintaining strict <ExcludeApp> rules in your deployed XML configuration, you can prevent future updates from silently introducing new or previously excluded applications to the device environment.

Installation & Activation