Microsoft 365 Installation Problems

How to Install Selected Office Apps Only Using the Office Deployment Tool

Natalie Taylor Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to install only specific Office applications (such as Word and Excel) instead of the entire suite and needs to verify the legitimacy of an Office Professional Plus license.

How to Install Selected Apps Only Using the Office Deployment Tool

Product: Microsoft Office Deployment Tool
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing a Microsoft Office installation to exclude unwanted applications and validating a purchased license.
Observed behavior: The standard Microsoft Office installer does not allow users to select specific apps to install, and there are concerns about the authenticity of a retail Office Professional Plus license.

Before you start

Before proceeding, download the latest version of the Office Deployment Tool from the Microsoft Download Center and verify your product key source, as Office Professional Plus is typically a volume-licensed product not intended for retail sale.

Solution 1Recommended

Customize Installation Using the Office Deployment Tool Configuration File

Modify the configuration.xml file used by the Office Deployment Tool to exclude unwanted applications like OneDrive or Outlook during installation.

The standard Microsoft Click-to-Run installer automatically installs the complete Office suite. To install only selected apps such as Word and Excel, you must use the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) and define 'ExcludeApp' rules in your XML configuration file.

Download the Office Deployment Tool

Download the Office Deployment Tool from the official Microsoft Download Center and extract the files to a folder on your computer (e.g., C:\ODT).

Edit the configuration file

Open the extracted 'configuration.xml' file in a text editor like Notepad. Ensure the Product ID matches your license version.

Add ExcludeApp parameters

Inside the <Product> tag, add an <ExcludeApp ID="AppName" /> element for every application you do not want to install. For example, add <ExcludeApp ID="Outlook" /> and <ExcludeApp ID="OneDrive" />.

Run the customized installation

Open Command Prompt as an administrator, navigate to your ODT folder using the 'cd' command, and run 'setup.exe /configure configuration.xml' to begin the custom installation.

Customize Installation Using the Office Deployment Tool Configuration File

Application IDs: Ensure you use the correct Application IDs in your XML file (e.g., Access, Excel, Groove, Lync, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Teams, Word).

Solution 2

Verify Office Professional Plus License Authenticity

Check your license source to ensure you are not using unauthorized or fraudulent software, which may be blocked by Microsoft.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office: A Free and Lightweight Office Suite

If you want to avoid complicated deployment tools, confusing XML configuration files, and licensing risks, switch to WPS Office. It provides all essential office tools in a single, lightweight application without the hassle of volume licensing.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
2. Install the suite: Run the installer. WPS Office installs as a single, lightweight package without forcing unwanted background apps onto your system.
3. Open your Microsoft Office files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files with full formatting compatibility.

Completely free to download and use with no hidden licensing issuesFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsAll-in-one suite design requires no complex custom deployment toolsFamiliar user interface for a seamless and quick migration

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I install only Word and Excel without installing Outlook or PowerPoint?

Yes. While the standard Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 installer does not offer a custom setup screen, you can achieve this by using the Office Deployment Tool and modifying the configuration.xml file to exclude the apps you do not want.

Why is Office Professional Plus not available as a standard retail purchase?

Office Professional Plus is a specific edition created for corporate environments and is managed through volume licensing agreements. It is not intended for individual consumer retail sales.

What happens if I use an unauthorized Office Professional Plus retail key?

If Microsoft detects that a volume license key is being used inappropriately or sold at retail, the key may be blocked, causing your Office applications to deactivate and lose editing capabilities.

Do I need an internet connection to use the Office Deployment Tool?

Yes. The Office Deployment Tool requires an internet connection to download the necessary installation files from the Office Content Delivery Network (CDN) based on the instructions in your XML configuration file.

Installation & Activation