How to Get the Microsoft Teams Machine Wide Installer
Microsoft Teams can be used for free, and by individuals in their own personal capacity. It is, however, most often used by organizations. An organization will normally purchase Microsoft Teams Exploratory licenses for employees and assign them via company email addresses. It’s all done on an organizational level, so it stands to reason that the installation of Microsoft Teams isn’t left to end-users/employees.
Microsoft Teams Machine Wide Installer
Installing Microsoft Teams isn’t hard, regardless if you install it on Windows or if you install it on macOS. That said, organizations that provide computers or laptops to their employees will equip it with everything they need to work, and this includes apps like Microsoft Teams.
To that end, you can use a machine wide installer for Microsoft Teams.
Microsoft Teams: Machine Wide Installer vs Normal Installer
Teams is used this way in business environments to reduce manual installation. Here are some facts to know about the Microsoft Teams machine wide installer:
- It will install the same version as the normal installer, complete with all the same features.
- It’s used by system admins to automate the installation.
- The machine wide installer will automatically install Microsoft Teams for each new user who is configured on a system.
- The system-wide installer will install Teams in a user’s personal folder.
- The settings for Microsoft Teams that have been installed via the system-wide installer can be managed by the group policy on Windows.
- Settings for Microsoft Teams can be updated for all users by running scripts on the target machine.
Use Microsoft Teams machine wide installer
The Microsoft Teams machine wide installer can be run on any system that you have admin access to, however, you should not install it unless it is on a system configured to run with an active directory. There simply is no need for it and it may cause problems down the line (e.g., this is why Teams keeps installing itself after you remove it).
Note: Microsoft no longer supports the classic Team client, and it will stop working after June 30, 2025. These directions are for the new Microsoft Teams.
Follow these steps to install Teams on a computer with multiple users:
- Log in to the system you want to install Microsoft Teams on. You can log in remotely, but you must use an admin account.
- Download the Microsoft Teams machine wide installer from Microsoft.
- Open PowerShell to the folder where the download is stored. The file is called teamsbootstrapper.exe.
- Enter this command: .\teamsbootstrapper.exe -p. You should see a success message to indicate that the command completed without errors.
Another way to install Teams is with the offline installer. The process is nearly identical to what is written above, but you’ll also need to download the MSIX, and thus run a slightly different command. If you go this route (visit Microsoft’s link above for the MSIX file), make sure you pick the right file. The x86 file is for 32-bit machines, while the x64 file is for 64-bit computers.
Finally, Teams can also be deployed across a group of computers. Here are those general steps:
- Download the EXE file installer from Microsoft.
- Use Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, or Group Policy to distribute the installer to the computers.
- Launch the installer on each computer to install Teams.
Our Final Thoughts
The machine wide installer makes it easier to install Microsoft Teams for multiple users without a system admin intervening with each one. It is not an update tool. Microsoft Teams will update automatically as it does. The version that is installed is identical to the one that you can download from the main Microsoft Teams downloads page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Microsoft Teams machine-wide installer?
Its purpose is simple: to install Microsoft Teams on multiple profiles contained on a single computer. This is to make sure Teams is automatically installed for any user who logs in. It’s ideal specifically for enterprise environments.
How does the Microsoft Teams machine-wide installer work?
After it’s deployed, the installer adds a copy of Teams to the Program Files folder and schedules Teams to install for new users when they log in for the first time. Each user gets their own installation of Teams in their profile directory.
How is the Microsoft Teams machine-wide installer set up?
Teams is usually deployed as part of a Microsoft 365 Apps installation but can also be installed manually by downloading the installer. IT administrators can also use tools like Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager or Group Policy to deploy it.
How can I remove the Microsoft Teams machine-wide installer?
Teams can be deleted like any software, through the Control Panel. PowerShell commands also work and are preferred for bulk removal. Uninstalling Microsoft Teams from one profile does not remove the machine-wide installer.
What are the system requirements for the Teams machine-wide installer?
It supports Windows 10 and later versions. Each user requires a valid Microsoft Teams license.
Thank you! I have seen the machine-wide installer on many computers but didn’t understand what it was for or how it worked. It makes a lot more sense now 😀👍👍