Policy
Show the Update Channel option to allow users to select an update channel
Microsoft Office
Policy overview
Key metadata and intent for this policy.
Supported OS tags: Windows10
This policy setting controls whether the Update Channel option is shown under File > Account in an app, such as Word. This option allows users to select which update channel they want to receive updates from. For more information about update channels, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=846105. If you enable this policy setting, the Update Channel option is shown under File > Account. You need to select which update channels will be shown as options to the user. Important: - Users must be a local administrator on the device to change to a different update channel. - Beta Channel is not a supported update channel. It should only be used in test environments and by a small group of select users, such as IT staff or application developers. If you disable or don’t configure this policy setting, the Update Channel option is not shown under File > Account. Notes: - This policy setting only applies to subscription versions of Office, such as Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, and to subscription versions of Project and Visio. - This policy setting takes precedence over the “Show the option for Microsoft 365 Insider” policy setting in cases where both policy settings are enabled. - If you enable this policy setting, you shouldn’t enable and configure the “Target Version”, “Update Channel”, or “Update Path” policy settings under Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine)\Updates. If you do, those policy settings will take precedence. The Update Channel option will still appear under File > Account, but it will be disabled and the user won’t be able to select an update channel.
Registry values
How enabled and disabled states update the registry.
| Scope | Registry location | Type | Enabled value | Disabled value | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common Value name suppressofficechannelselector | REG_DWORD | HKLM 0 | HKLM 1 |
Policy elements
Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.
| Scope | Element | Type | Registry mapping | Constraints & behavior | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Computer | Beta Channel ID L_UC_InsiderFast | boolean | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\officechannelexposure Value name insiderfast Type REG_DWORD | Options: true (1), false (0) True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0 | |
| Computer | Current Channel (Preview) ID L_UC_InsiderSlow | boolean | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\officechannelexposure Value name firstreleasecurrent Type REG_DWORD | Options: true (1), false (0) True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0 | |
| Computer | Current Channel ID L_UC_Production | boolean | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\officechannelexposure Value name current Type REG_DWORD | Options: true (1), false (0) True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0 | |
| Computer | Monthly Enterprise Channel ID L_UC_MEC | boolean | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\officechannelexposure Value name monthlyenterprise Type REG_DWORD | Options: true (1), false (0) True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0 | |
| Computer | Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) ID L_UC_SAEPreview | boolean | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\officechannelexposure Value name firstreleasedeferred Type REG_DWORD | Options: true (1), false (0) True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0 | |
| Computer | Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel ID L_UC_SAE | boolean | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\officechannelexposure Value name deferred Type REG_DWORD | Options: true (1), false (0) True: Set value = 1 · False: Set value = 0 |