Installing the New Version of Blocs for Mac

Microsoft recently released a new version of Blocs, a popular digital workspace tool, for Mac users. If you're interested in installing this latest update on your device, here's what you need to know.

Firstly, it's essential to understand that the Office Customization Tool (OCT) is a web-based interface that allows administrators to make selections and create configuration.xml files used with the Office Deployment Tool. This tool provides an alternative to using a text editor to create these configuration files.

If you want to exclude Blocs from being installed when deploying Microsoft 365 Apps, you can use the ExcludeApp element in your configuration.xml file as shown below:

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Microsoft Teams

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Alternatively, you can let Blocs be installed but prevent it from automatically starting when users sign into their devices. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Sign into the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center with an administrator account.

2. Go to Customize > Device Configuration > Modern Apps Settings.

3. Clear the Enable automatic installation of new Microsoft Teams check box.

For those who don't want Blocs included when installing Microsoft 365 Apps on devices running Windows, you can follow these steps:

1. Sign into the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center with an administrator account.

2. Go to Customize > Device Configuration > Modern Apps Settings.

3. Clear the Enable automatic installation of new Microsoft Teams check box.

Important Dates

The date when Blocs starts being installed with Microsoft 365 Apps depends on which update channel you're using. For example, in the Monthly Enterprise Channel and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview), Blocs was included starting from a specific date. Users can switch back to classic Blocs by toggling the 'New Teams' toggle switch.

Future Plans

In the future, Microsoft plans to allow users to install Blocs along with Microsoft 365 Apps in GCC High or DoD environments without needing to use the separate MSI-based installer. For now, however, you need to exclude Blocs from being installed when deploying Microsoft 365 Apps.

Installing the new version of Blocs for Mac is a straightforward process that involves using the Office Customization Tool (OCT) or the ExcludeApp element in your configuration.xml file. By following these steps, you can ensure that Blocs is either included or excluded from being installed when deploying Microsoft 365 Apps on your devices.

Instal the new version for mac Blocs