Apr 23 2021 11:29 AM - edited Apr 23 2021 11:30 AM
How to have the Teams client update itself on share devices?
For example, on conference room pcs, user might connect today and then only reconnect 3months afterward, the client would not have updated in those 3 months and might then be too old to even be able to update itself.
How do you manage such Teams installs?
Thank you in advance and don't hesitate if you have any questions.
Apr 24 2021 12:41 AM - edited Apr 24 2021 12:43 AM
Hello, how do you set up the devices today? Users signing in with their own credentials I hope as you shouldn't share credentials. I would use the machine-wide installer so Teams will auto launch for all users who sign in on that machine. Meaning a new Windows user profile is created and the installer will be launched, and a copy of Teams will be installed in that user's AppData folder. The "MSI" will trigger an update automatically if necessary before a user can use Teams.
For reference Install Teams using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager - Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Docs
Apr 24 2021 10:29 PM
The desktop app automatically updates (so you don’t have to). If you want, you can still check for available updates by clicking your profile picture at the top of the app and then selecting Check for updates.
The web app is always up to date. It’s just good like that.
Or if you want to automatically update Microsoft Teams app on an iPhone.
Note: Linux users aren't able to update manually within Teams at this time.
Apr 24 2021 11:08 PM - edited Apr 24 2021 11:11 PM
Hello, he is talking about a shared device and for Teams to update users needs to be signed in, and as it's a shared device hence the suggestion above.
Apr 24 2021 11:20 PM - edited Apr 24 2021 11:22 PM
basically, it depends on many things.
Apr 25 2021 02:20 AM - edited Apr 25 2021 02:22 AM
Thank you for your clarification, I had thought it said the client.
Apr 25 2021 01:36 PM
@lalanc01 Even with the machine wide installer you just end up with an installation in the users profile that will expire if it's been 3 months. Could you clear up old profiles from the machine every month so the user profile and Teams client don't become old?
Apr 25 2021 11:34 PM - edited Apr 26 2021 12:02 AM
While that might happen it shouldn't be any problem updating the client "..be too old to even be able to update itself."
"If you deploy an older version of the MSI package, the client will auto-update (except in VDI environments) when possible for the user. If a very old version gets deployed, the MSI will trigger an app update before the user is able to use Teams."
Install Teams using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager - Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Docs
"Users on Teams desktop clients that are more than three months old will see a blocking page that gives the options to update now, reach out to their IT admin, or continue to Teams on the web."
"Desktop client versions that are more than three months old upon first install and/or first run of Teams have a 28-day grace period before encountering the above-mentioned servicing information."
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/teams-client-update#servicing-agreement
Apr 26 2021 12:43 PM
Solution
I agree that's what the documentation says, however it's not true. There is no 28 day grace period, if you think about it doesn't really make sense "the clients too old to work with the service, but will be fine for 28 days". If you install a device wide installer then first login to that device more than 3 months later you'll see the blocking page (now). This didn't used to be an issue, as they didn't actually enforce the blocking, however since April 1st they have been, which is why we are starting to see issues.
Microsoft support will direct people here, they are providing a script that will update a machine wide installer, and optionally, flag users profiles to reinstall the package. There's also some useful background on the mechanisms at play.
Apr 26 2021 12:51 PM
Apr 30 2021 05:38 AM
@Steven Collier Any idea why the docs are saying stuff not true? I can understand when the wording is incorrect but take the grace period as an example. Is it the simple fact that things update and being released too fast and the tech writers just don't manage it? How on earth should non-MVP's not having direct contact with the engineers / product teams now things like that? I mean if you hadn't replied here I and others would go by the info in the docs (until noticing something is wrong). Just asking :)
May 01 2021 07:44 AM
@ChristianBergstrom I get this from raising issues with Microsoft support, nothing to do with MVP contacts, also support were going to raise a request to have the article updated.
Maybe it was correct at one point, hard to say. Before April 1 the 3 month limit on clients wasn't enforced so we never saw this type of issue.
May 01 2021 09:06 AM
Apr 26 2021 12:43 PM
Solution
I agree that's what the documentation says, however it's not true. There is no 28 day grace period, if you think about it doesn't really make sense "the clients too old to work with the service, but will be fine for 28 days". If you install a device wide installer then first login to that device more than 3 months later you'll see the blocking page (now). This didn't used to be an issue, as they didn't actually enforce the blocking, however since April 1st they have been, which is why we are starting to see issues.
Microsoft support will direct people here, they are providing a script that will update a machine wide installer, and optionally, flag users profiles to reinstall the package. There's also some useful background on the mechanisms at play.