Microsoft 365 How to Change the Update Channels for Microsoft 365 Apps

Provided by the FMS Development Team

Having Microsoft 365 allows users to receive new and updated features to keep Office apps like Access, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint and Word current.

There are several Update Channel options that send new features, security updates and non-security updates at different periods of time. In this article, we go over each Update Channel and how to change from one channel to another.


Comparison of the Update Channels for Microsoft 365

Current Channel - Provides users with the latest features as soon as Microsoft releases them.

Monthly Enterprise Channel - Provides users with new or updated features on a monthly schedule.

Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel - Updates only occur in January and July that were vetted for half a year. Increases stability and reliability but delays receiving new features.

Visit our page, Microsoft 365 Access Update Version Releases to see a full list of all the updates that were released for Microsoft 365.

Current Channel Monthly Enterprise Channel Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel
Feature Updates There is no set schedule and users can see possibly multiple updates per month but at least one update a month. Released on the second Tuesday of the month. Released on the second Tuesday of the month in January and July.
Security Updates Released on the second Tuesday of the month. Released on the second Tuesday of the month. Released on the second Tuesday of the month.
Non-Security Updates There is no set schedule and users can see at least one update a month. Released on the second Tuesday of the month. Released on the second Tuesday of the month.
Support Duration The Version is supported until the next Version is released. Any version is supported for two months. Any version is supported for fourteen months.

For more information on Microsoft 365 Update Channels, visit Overview of Update Channels for Microsoft 365 Apps.


Microsoft 365How to Change the Microsoft 365 Update Channel

The Current Channel is the default update channel for Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise (previously referred to as Office 365 ProPlus) and for Business (previously referred to as Office 365 Business).

There are multiple ways to change the Update Channel:

When changing the Update Channel, there are considerations to be made, visit Microsoft's Considerations when changing channels for more information.

If the user installed Office for themselves, they can specify which Update Channel they want to install.

  1. Sign in to the Microsoft Admin Center with the admin credentials.

  2. Click [Show All] located in the right hand section.
    Microsoft 365 Admin Center

  3. Click the drop-down option called [Settings] and select [Org settings].
    Microsoft 365 Admin Center Settings

  4. Under the [Services] tab, scroll down and select [Office installation options].
    Microsoft 365 Admin Center Services

  5. Choose one of the following Update Channels.
    Office installation options

  1. Verify the scheduled task "Office Automatic Update 2.0" is enabled on the device. This task is a required part of managing updates for Microsoft 365 Apps.

  2. Download the Administrative Template Files (ADMX/ADML) for Office Customization Tool for Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, Office 2019 and Office 2016.

  3. In the Group Policy Management Tool, enable the Update Channel policy setting and choose the new Channel from the drop-down list.
    The policy setting can be located under: Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine)\Updates

  4. The Group Policy refreshes in the background every 90 minutes. To refresh the policy assignment immediately, you can use the gpupdate command. For more information, visit Microsoft's page on gpupdate.

  5. After the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) has executed, the Office Automatic Update 2.0 task must run. The task will detect change and update channel. The device will not show the updated channel until a build of Office from the new channel is installed.

  1. Verify the scheduled task "Office Automatic Update 2.0" is enabled on the device. This task is a required part of managing updates for Microsoft 365 Apps.

  2. Download the latest version of Office Deployment Tool.

  3. Create a configuration file that specifies the new channel name.

    Example

    <Configuration>
    	<Updates Channel="MonthlyEnterprise" />
    </Configuration>
    

    Allowed values

    • Channel="CurrentPreview"
    • Channel="Current"
    • Channel="MonthlyEnterprise"
    • Channel="SemiAnnualPreview"
    • Channel="SemiAnnual"

  4. Deploy the configuration file using your standard processes.

  5. After the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) has executed, the Office Automatic Update 2.0 task must run. The task will detect change and update channel. The device will not show the updated channel until a build of Office from the new channel is installed.

  1. Close all Office programs.

  2. In the Windows Search Bar, type cmd or Command Prompt.
    Windows Search Bar

  3. Launch Command Prompt to open its window.
    Command Prompt

  4. Type: cd C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun
    Click To Run
    and press the [Enter] key.

  5. To change to MonthlyEnterprise, type: OfficeC2RClient.exe /changesetting Channel=MonthlyEnterprise
    (or whatever channel you prefer such as SemiAnnualPreview, SemiAnnual or the other channels listed earlier)
    Change Channel Setting
    and press the [Enter] key.

  6. Type: OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user
    Update User
    and press the [Enter] key.

  7. You'll see a window about updating Office which may take several minutes. Wait until it is complete.
    Downloading Office Update

  8. This window appears when the updates are installed.
    Updates Installed

  9. In any Office program (Access, Excel, Word), click [Account].
    Account Setting

  10. In the "About Access" section, the Channel should now have your new channel like "Monthly Enterprise Channel".
    Monthly Enterprise Channel

Return to Microsoft Office Tips & Techniques Page


Table Design

Query Design

Form Design

Form Tips and Mistakes

Copy Command Button and Keep Picture

Module VBA to Forms and Controls

Form Navigation Caption

Resync Record in a Subform

Synchronize Two Subforms

Multiple OpenArgs Values

Late Bind Tab Subforms

Subform Reference to Control Rather than Field

Tab Page Reference

Shortcut Keys


Combo Box Top 6 Tips

Properties and Validation

Select First Item

Cascading Combo Boxes

Zip, City, State AutoFill

Report Design

Suppress Page Headers and Footers on the First Page of Your Report

Add the NoData Event

Annual Monthly Crosstab Columns

Design Environment

Add Buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar

Collapse the Office Ribbon for more space

VBA Programming

Basics: Forms and Controls

Run VBA Code from a Macro

Use Nz() to Handle Nulls

Avoid Exits in the Body of a Procedure

Shortcut Debugging Keys

Set Module Options

Math Rounding Issues

Rename a File or Folder

Avoid DoEvents in Loops

Age Calculations

Weekday Math

Send Emails with DoCmd.SendObject

Source Code Library

Microsoft Access Modules Library

Microsoft Access Modules

VBA Error Handling

Error Handling and Debugging Techniques

Error Number and Description Reference

Basic Error Handling

Pinpointing the Error Line

Performance Tips

Linked Database

Subdatasheet Name

Visual SourceSafe

Deployment

Runtime Downloads

Simulate Runtime

Prevent Close Box

Disable Design Changes

Broken References

Remote Desktop Connection Setup

Terminal Services and RemoteApp Deployment

Reboot Remote Desktop

Missing Package & Deployment Wizard

Avoid Program Files Folder

Unavailable Mapped Drives

Microsoft Access Front-End Deployment

System Admin

Disaster Recovery Plan

Compact Database

Compact on Close

Database Corruption

Remove 'Save to SharePoint Site' Prompt from an Access Database

Class Not Registered Run-time Error -2147221164

Inconsistent Compile Error

Decompile Database

Bad DLL Calling Convention

Error 3045: Could Not Use

Converting ACCDB to MDB

SQL Server Upsizing

Microsoft Access to SQL Server Upsizing Center

Microsoft Access to SQL Server Upsizing Center

When and How to Upsize Access to SQL Server

SQL Server Express Versions and Downloads

Cloud and Azure

Cloud Implications

MS Access and SQL Azure

Deploying MS Access Linked to SQL Azure

SQL Server Azure Usage and DTU Limits

Visual Studio LightSwitch

LightSwitch Introduction

Comparison Matrix

Additional Resources

Connect with Us

 

Free Product Catalog from FMS