Microsoft Auto Update - File not Found

[ssrjamfadmin]

Hi,

We use Jamf to auto update Microsoft apps like Word, Excel and Powerpoint. Recently all our users are now seeing this message when Jamf updates the apps. Has this happened to anyone else and is there a fix for it? 

[howie_isaacks]

What is the process you have setup in Jamf Pro to auto update the Office apps? Is there a reason why you don't just allow the Microsoft AutoUpdate app to handle this?

[ssrjamfadmin]

jamf use microsoft auto update to update the office apps, we are using the default patch management in jamf for this

[howie_isaacks]

You can do this using a configuration profile that will leverage the AutoUpdate app at /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft AutoUpdate.app. This will keep the Office apps up to date without any alerts to users except the occasional messages in the apps that there is an update available. When the users quit the app that needs the udpate, it will be updated automatically. Create a profile that uses the Application & Custom Settings payload - Upload. Paste in this PLIST.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
	<key>AcknowledgedDataCollectionPolicy</key>
	<string>RequiredDataOnly</string>
	<key>ChannelName</key>
	<string>Production</string>
	<key>HowToCheck</key>
	<string>AutomaticDownload</string>
	<key>StartDaemonOnAppLaunch</key>
	<true/>
	<key>UpdateCheckFrequency</key>
	<integer>720</integer>
</dict>
</plist>

You should start with scoping this to a few test systems that have out of date versions of Office. After this profile is installed, if you open the AutoUpdate app from /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft AutoUpdate.app. You should see that the settings for the app are grayed out since the profile is controlling those settings. This has worked very well for me for the last few years. I used to use the buil-in patch management feature but I got tired of uploading packages to the Jamf Pro server to keep Office apps up to date.

[Samstar777]

I am align with @howie_isaacks  post above and here is step to step guide for you, Although there are multiple ways to achieve this:

✅ Step-by-Step: Microsoft AutoUpdate Configuration Profile

1. Open Jamf Pro

Navigate to Computers > Configuration Profiles > New.

2. General

• Name: Microsoft AutoUpdate Settings

• Category: Choose a category (e.g., Microsoft or Office)

• Level: Computer Level

• Distribution: Choose appropriate scope (e.g., all Macs with Office)

3. Add Custom Settings Payload

• Click Add Payload > Custom Settings

• Preference Domain: com.microsoft.autoupdate2

4. Add Preferences (Plist Format)

Use the following settings as needed. Here's a sample configuration for enabling automatic updates and hiding the UI from users:

<dict> <key>HowToCheck</key> <string>Automatic</string> <key>StartDaemonOnAppLaunch</key> <true/> <key>SendAllTelemetryEnabled</key> <false/> <key>ChannelName</key> <string>Current</string> <!-- Options: Current, Beta, InsiderFast --> <key>UpdateCheckFrequency</key> <integer>720</integer> <!-- in minutes --> <key>AutoUpdate</key> <true/> <key>DisableInsiderCheckbox</key> <true/> <key>DisableUpdateNotifications</key> <true/> </dict>

---

🔍 Key Preference Keys Explained

Key	Type	Description
HowToCheck	String	Options: Manual, Automatic, CheckButDoNotDownload
StartDaemonOnAppLaunch	Boolean	Starts MAU daemon on Office app launch
ChannelName	String	Update channel: Current, Beta, InsiderFast
UpdateCheckFrequency	Integer	How often MAU checks for updates (in minutes)
AutoUpdate	Boolean	Enables automatic update download and install
DisableUpdateNotifications	Boolean	Hides update popups from users
DisableInsiderCheckbox	Boolean	Prevents users from opting into beta channels

[sdagley]

@Samstar777 @howie_isaacks Be advised that UpdateCheckFrequency was deprecated early in 2024, and has been replaced by UpdateCheckInterval. See https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-apps/mac/mau-preferences for the inane reason.

[howie_isaacks]

Thanks for letting me know. Right now it appears to be working but I will change it.

[ssrjamfadmin]

thanks, ill give these a test to see if it works. Another issue, I have is, I can no longer install the Microsoft Auto-Update app on my macbook, is this app still compatible with the latest MacOS? I think that is where the "File not Found" error is coming from?