How to Change the Microsoft 365 Office Update Channel Using CMD

Choosing the correct update channel for Microsoft 365 Office apps is essential for aligning with your organization’s needs, whether for regular feature updates, stability, or minimal disruptions. Microsoft 365 offers several update channels, each with its own schedule and benefits. Below is an overview of each channel:

Microsoft 365 Office Update Channels Overview

Beta Channel (Code: BetaChannel)

• Description: Provides the earliest access to new features, updates, and fixes.
• Ideal For: Users who want to test the latest features and give feedback to Microsoft.
• Previous Names: Insider, Insider Fast, Monthly.

Current Channel (Preview) (Code: CurrentPreview)

• Description: Delivers feature updates approximately one month before they reach the Current Channel. It’s meant for users who want to test features without the risk level of the Beta Channel.
• Ideal For: Organizations that want early access to updates with a balance of stability.
• Previous Names: Monthly Channel (Targeted), Targeted, Insiders, Slow, Preview.

Current Channel (Code: Current)

• Description: Provides monthly updates with the latest features and security improvements.
• Ideal For: Users who benefit from frequent updates and don’t require extended testing periods.
• Previous Names: Monthly Channel, Monthly, Deferred.

Monthly Enterprise Channel (Code: MonthlyEnterprise)

• Description: Delivers updates once a month with rigorous testing, balancing the latest features with stability.
• Ideal For: Businesses looking for predictable, monthly updates with low risk of disruptions.

Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) (Code: SemiAnnualPreview)

• Description: Provides updates twice a year (January and July), but available for testing six months in advance.
• Ideal For: Organizations wanting early access to the Semi-Annual channel for pilot testing.
• Previous Names: Semi-Annual Channel (Targeted), Targeted.

Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Code: SemiAnnual)

• Description: Delivers updates every six months, focusing on stability and predictability.
• Ideal For: Organizations that prioritize minimal disruption and stable functionality.
• Previous Names: Semi-Annual Channel, Broad.

Step-by-Step Guide to Change the Update Channel to Semi-Annual Using CMD

For this example, we will set Microsoft 365 Office to the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel using the Command Prompt (CMD). This is helpful when the update policy doesn’t immediately reflect on user devices or when a more controlled deployment approach is required.

First, please ensure that you have switched the update channel for your organization to the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. Here are the steps for setting the default update channel:

• Log into the?Microsoft 365 admin center?and open?Settings, then select?Org Settings.
• Open the?Microsoft 365 installation options.
• Select the desired channel, then?Save.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

1. Type “cmd” in the Start menu search.
2. Right-click on Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator to ensure proper permissions.

Step 2: Navigate to the ClickToRun Directory: Use this command to go to the Office Click-to-Run directory, which contains tools for managing Office update settings.

cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun"        

Step 3: Set the Update Channel to Semi-Annual: Run this command to configure Microsoft 365 Office apps for the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel:

.\OfficeC2RClient.exe /changesetting Channel=SemiAnnual        

Step 4: Apply User Settings for the New Update Channel: Use the following command to apply the update settings for the current user profile:

.\OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user        

Step 5: Update the Registry Key to Confirm the Change: Reopen Command Prompt and choose Run as Administrator. Manually setting the registry can reinforce the new update channel. Enter the following command:

reg add HKLM\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OfficeUpdate /v UpdateBranch /t REG_SZ /d SemiAnnual        

Step 6: Restart the Device and Verify:

• Restart the device to ensure all changes are fully applied.
• Open an Office application, such as Word or Excel, update Office to confirm that updates are set to the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel.

Benefits of Choosing the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel

The Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel is well-suited for organizations prioritizing stability and reliability. With updates only twice a year, businesses can minimize disruptions while still ensuring that critical updates are delivered. This approach allows IT teams ample time to prepare for changes, test compatibility, and provide necessary support or training.

By following the steps above, you can easily switch Microsoft 365 Office to the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel, optimizing the update experience across your organization for both reliability and efficiency.