Windows 10: Microsoft Search in Bing will be default if you use Office 365 ProPlus

Brink · Jan 23, 2020

Starting with Version 2002 of Office 365 ProPlus, an extension for Microsoft Search in Bing will be installed that makes Bing the default search engine for the Google Chrome web browser. This extension will be installed with new installations of Office 365 ProPlus or when existing installations of Office 365 ProPlus are updated. If Bing is already the default search engine, the extension doesn't get installed.

By making Bing the default search engine, users in your organization with Google Chrome will be able to take advantage of Microsoft Search, including being able to access relevant workplace information directly from the browser address bar. Microsoft Search is part of Microsoft 365 and is turned on by default for all Microsoft apps that support it.

Even after Bing is made the default search engine, your users can still change to a different default search engine in Google Chrome on their own. For more information, see What your users will see with Microsoft Search in Bing.

NOTE:

* Support for the Firefox web browser is planned for a later date. We will keep you informed about support for Firefox through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and this article.
* This extension is included only with Office 365 ProPlus. It isn’t included with Office 365 Business, which is the version of Office that is comes with certain business plans, such as the Microsoft 365 Business plan and the Office 365 Business Premium plan.

What is Microsoft Search in Bing?

Microsoft Search in Bing provides a familiar web interface to help your users find workplace information more easily, including files and documents, internal sites and business tools, people and org charts, building information, and other relevant information from within your organization. Microsoft Search accesses files, SharePoint sites, OneDrive content, Teams and Yammer conversations, and other shared data sources in your organization, as well as the internet.

Users must be signed in with their work or school account to receive results from Microsoft Search in Bing. For more information, see Security and Privacy for Microsoft Search in Bing.

Microsoft Search is turned on by default in Microsoft 365, so no initial setup is required. But you can enhance the search experience for your users by adding content, such as bookmarks, Q&As, acronyms, building locations, and floor plans. For more information, see How to prepare your organization for Microsoft Search in Bing.

For more information about features and capabilities, see Microsoft Search in Bing and Overview of Microsoft Search.

When will the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing be added to Office 365 ProPlus?

Version 2002 is the first version of Office 365 ProPlus that will install this extension. Version 2002 is expected to be released in Monthly Channel in early March 2020 and will be available in Monthly Channel (Targeted) shortly before then. After that, the extension will then be included in releases of Semi-Annual (Targeted) and Semi-Annual Channel.

The following table shows the tentative schedule for the various update channels. All the information in the table is tentative and subject to change. We will update the table as specific versions and release dates are determined.

[table][tr]Update channel Version Release date [/tr] [tr][td]Monthly Channel (Targeted)[/td] [td]Version 2002[/td] [td]Middle of February 2020[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Monthly[/td] [td]Version 2002[/td] [td]Early March 2020[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Semi-Annual (Targeted)[/td] [td]To be determined[/td] [td]March 10, 2020[/td] [/tr] [tr][td]Semi-Annual[/td] [td]To be determined[/td] [td]July 14, 2020[/td] [/tr] [/table]

Note

Not all devices with Version 2002 or later will receive the extension right away. That’s because we’re gradually rolling out this change, first to new installations and then to existing installations. So if you’re installing or updating to Version 2002 or later, and the extension isn’t installed, that is probably expected and not necessarily an error. It’s likely a future installation or update will install the extension and set Bing as the default search engine for Google Chrome.

Which locations will receive Microsoft Search in Bing with Office 365 ProPlus?

At this time, the extension will only be installed on devices in the following locations, based on the IP address of the device:

Australia

Canada

France

Germany

India

United Kingdom

United States

Other locations might be added over time. Before any new locations are added, we’ll notify you through the Message Center in the Microsoft 365 admin center and we’ll update the list above accordingly.

If you want to set Bing as the default search engine for locations that aren’t listed, see Other options for making Bing the default search engine.

Also, the location of the device is checked once every month. At that time, if the device has moved to a location listed above, the extension will be installed the next time Office 365 ProPlus is updated to a version that includes the extension.

How to exclude the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing from being installed

If you don’t want Bing to be made the default search engine, you can exclude the extension from being installed by using the Office Deployment Tool or by using Group Policy. There are also ways to exclude the extension from being installed if you’re using Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager (current branch) or Microsoft Intune.

Whichever exclusion method you use, be sure to implement it before you install or update to a version of Office 365 ProPlus that installs the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing. If you implement the exclusion after the extension has been installed, the extension won’t be removed from the device. To remove the extension, see How to remove the extension after it’s been installed.

Office Deployment Tool

If you use the Office Deployment Tool, you can use the ExcludeApp element in your configuration.xml file, as shown in the following example. This method is probably best used for new installations of Office 365 ProPlus.

Code:

<Configuration>
<Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="Monthly">
<Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail">
<Language ID="en-us" />
<ExcludeApp ID="Bing" />
</Product>
</Add>
</Configuration>
Click to expand...

Note

* Be sure to download the most current version of the Office Deployment Tool. You must be using at least Version 16.0.12325.20288, which was released on January 17, 2020.
* We recommend that you use the Office Customization Tool to help you create your configuration.xml file with the appropriate settings.

Group Policy

If you use Group Policy in your organization, you can enable the Don't install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing that makes Bing the default the search engine policy setting. This method is probably best used for existing installations of Office 365 ProPlus.

You can find this policy setting under Computer Configuration\Policies\Administrative Templates\Microsoft Office 2016 (Machine)\Updates. This policy setting is available in the Administrative Template files (ADMX/ADML) download starting with version 4966.1000, which is scheduled to be released on January 21, 2020.

Note

If you let your users install Office 365 ProPlus for themselves from the Office 365 portal, you can’t exclude the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing from being installed unless you enable the Don't install extension for Microsoft Search in Bing that makes Bing the default the search engine policy setting.

If you don’t exclude the extension from being installed, your users can still change to a different default search engine on their own. For more information, see What your users will see with Microsoft Search in Bing.

Configuration Manager (current branch)

If you’re deploying Office 365 ProPlus by using the Office 365 Client Installation wizard in Configuration Manager, you can set the Set default search engine to Microsoft Search in Bing toggle to the Off position in the Features section.

Microsoft Intune

If you're deploying Office 365 ProPlus by using Intune, you can clear the Set default search engine to Microsoft Search in Bing check box on the Configure App Suite pane.

How to prepare your organization for Microsoft Search in Bing

If you decide to deploy Microsoft Search in Bing in your organization, we recommend that you at least send an email to your users to explain the reason behind the upcoming change, the benefits of using Bing to search workplace information, and when they can expect to see the change occur.

You can also make use of the Microsoft Search in Bing Adoption Kit, which includes email communication templates, customizable posters, Adoption Success Guide, and more. There is also a user adoption guide to help you prepare.

There are tools for Microsoft Search that you can use to provide a better search experience for your users so that your users can find the content that they’re looking for more easily. For example, you can do the following:

Create bookmarks for frequently searched internal web sites and tools, such as employee benefits, time and expense reporting, and self-help IT services.

Create Q&As to instantly answer frequently asked questions in your company, such as “How do I change my password?” or “How do I create a purchase order?”

Add building locations or upload office floor plans to help your users navigate large company campuses with ease.

Define acronyms that are commonly used within your organization.

For more information, see Plan your content.

What your users will see with Microsoft Search in Bing

After the extension for Microsoft Search in Bing is installed, your users will see a Welcome screen. For example, the Welcome screen in Google Chrome looks similar to this:

As they use Microsoft Search in Bing, your users will see work-related information in their search results, similar to what is shown in the following screenshot:

If your users decide they want to stop using Bing as their default search engine, they can click on the magnifying glass icon next to the address bar in Google Chrome and click the Use Bing as your default search engine toggle to the Off position. For the change to take effect, they need to close Google Chrome and then open it again.

If your users want to go back to using Bing as their default search engine at a later time, they can click the toggle in Google Chrome to the On position. For the change to take effect, they need to close Google Chrome and then open it again.

Other options for making Bing the default search engine

You don’t need to wait for the extension to be installed along with Office 365 ProPlus to make Bing the default search engine on devices in your organization. Instead you can follow the steps in Make Bing the default search engine. For example, you could use those steps on devices in locations where the extension isn’t installed along with Office 365 ProPlus.

If you use those steps, note that after you set the default search engine to Bing, users won’t be able to change the default search engine on their own.

Note

We're working on providing a way to deploy the extension by itself by using Configuration Manager. When that’s available, we’ll update this section with the details.

How to remove the extension after it’s been installed

If you want to remove the extension from multiple devices in your organization after it’s been installed, you can run the following command as an administrator:
Copy

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\DefaultPackPC\MainBootStrap.exe uninstallAll

To deploy that command to multiple devices in your organization, you could use a script, Configuration Manager, or some other enterprise software deployment tool.

If you remove the extension, Bing will no longer be set as the default search engine.
Click to expand...

Source: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dep...ft-search-bing

See also: Introducing – and Managing – Microsoft Search in Bing through Office 365 ProPlus

:)

Brink · Jan 23, 2020

Office 365 ProPlus updates

Office 365 ProPlus delivers cloud-connected and always up-to-date versions of our most valuable enterprise apps. Today, we’re making three important announcements related to ProPlus: changes to the Office 365 system requirements; improvements to the ProPlus update model, including alignment with Windows 10; and new tools and programs to manage ProPlus application compatibility.

Changes to the Office 365 system requirements

Office 365 ProPlus is the very best way to experience the Office 365 services. For IT, ProPlus delivers the most secure and most complete suite of productivity apps available. And because the apps are cloud-connected and always up-to-date, they’re continually getting better—with new security features, new telemetry and new management capabilities. For end users, ProPlus brings the Office 365 services to life. When a modern app is connected to a modern service, magic happens. People can collaborate in new ways. Apps can simplify mundane tasks. And advanced security services can protect users as they work.

When customers connect to Office 365 with a legacy version of Office, they’re not enjoying all that the service has to offer. The IT benefits—particularly security—are cut short. And the end user experience in the apps is limited to the features shipped at a point in time. To ensure that customers are getting the most out of their Office 365 subscription, we are updating our system requirements.

Office 365 ProPlus or Office perpetual in mainstream support required to connect to Office 365 services. Starting October 13, 2020, Office 365 ProPlus or Office perpetual in mainstream support will be required to connect to Office 365 services. Office 365 ProPlus will deliver the best experience, but for customers who aren’t ready to move to the cloud by 2020, we will also support connections from Office perpetual in mainstream support.

Applies to Office 365 commercial services only. This update does not change our system requirements or support policies for the Office perpetual clients, Office perpetual clients connecting to on-premises servers, or any consumer services.

More than three years’ notice. We’re providing more than three years’ notice to give IT time to plan and budget for this change. Until this new requirement goes into effect in 2020, Office 2010, Office 2013 and Office 2016 perpetual clients will still be able to connect to Office 365 services.

Visit our Office 365 Tech Community to learn more and to ask the experts your questions.

Improvements to the Office 365 ProPlus update model, including alignment with Windows 10

Moving to Office 365 ProPlus requires an initial upgrade and ongoing management of regular updates. Customers quickly see the benefits of the move, but they’ve also asked us to simplify the update process—and to improve the coordination between Office and Windows. To respond to this feedback, we’re pleased to announce that we will align the Office 365 ProPlus and Windows 10 update model. This change will make planning and managing updates for both Office and Windows easier for customers using the Secure Productive Enterprise.

Targeting September 2017, we will make the following changes to the Office 365 ProPlus update model:

Two updates a year. We will reduce the Office 365 ProPlus update cadence from three to two times a year, with semi-annual feature updates to Windows 10 and Office 365 ProPlus targeted for March and September.

18 months of support. We will extend the support period for Office 365 ProPlus semi-annual updates from 12 to 18 months (starting from first release) so IT professionals can choose to update once or twice a year.

System Center Configuration Manager support. System Center Configuration Manager will support this new aligned update model for Office 365 ProPlus and Windows 10, making it easier to deploy and update the two products together.

See the upcoming changes to the Office 365 ProPlus update management article to learn more.

New tools and programs to manage Office 365 ProPlus application compatibility

One of the biggest concerns customers have about the move to a new version of Office is application compatibility. Office add-ins and VBA solutions often play a significant role in key business processes, and application compatibility is an important consideration in both upgrades and updates. To help customers manage ProPlus application compatibility, we’re pleased to announce four new investments.

Upgrade assessment tools. Starting today, we’re offering a limited preview of new tools that will catalogue the add-ins and VBA solutions in use in your organization, identify potential issues with the upgrade to Office 365 ProPlus, and recommend steps for remediation.

Application compatibility testing. For each new Office 365 ProPlus release, we will perform compatibility testing of the most common third-party add-ins, identify potential issues, and take steps to remediate.

Office 365 ProPlus monitoring services. We will provide new services to monitor your ProPlus deployment and provide visibility into the usage and stability of apps and add-ins.

Reporting, tracking and resolving issues. We will improve our existing service for reporting, tracking and resolving application compatibility issues—and partner with customers and ISVs to find the best approach to remediation.

You can learn more about the upgrade assessment tools today, and we’ll have more to share on our application compatibility testing program, the new Office 365 ProPlus monitoring services and the new service for reporting, tracking and resolving issues in the coming months.

We are here to help

If you’re connecting to Office 365 with a legacy version of Office, you’re not enjoying all that the service has to offer—and we’re here to help. For more information on Office 365 ProPlus deployment, refer to the Office 365 ProPlus Deployment Guide and the ProPlus Ignite On-Demand sessions. And when you’re ready to make the move to ProPlus, the Microsoft FastTrack customer success service will help you with the details. Visit the FastTrack website to learn more and submit a request for help with planning, assessment and deployment. ProPlus is the very best way to experience the Office 365 services, and we’re committed to helping you upgrade with confidence.

—Ron Markezich
Click to expand...

Source: Office 365 ProPlus updates - Office Blogs

Brink · Jan 23, 2020

Support for 2013 versions of Office 365 ProPlus ends February 28, 2017

Hi everyone,

If you’re running the 2013 versions of Office 365 ProPlus apps, you’ll need to upgrade to the latest version of Office 365 apps to continue to receive support from Microsoft after February 28, 2017. Below is a list of products for which support will end:

Office 365 ProPlus (2013)

Office 365 Small Business Premium (2013)

Office 365 Business (2013)

Project Pro for Office 365 (2013)

Visio Pro for Office 365 (2013)

Note that this does not apply to Office 2013 Professional Plus, Professional, and Standard editions.

For more information, see this article: Support for the 2013 versions of Office 365 ProPlus ends February 28, 2017.

Thanks,

Anahita
Click to expand...

Source: Support for the 2013 versions of Office 365 ProPlus ends February 28, - Microsoft Community

Brink · Jan 23, 2020

New Office 365 ProPlus deployment guide for IT pros now available

The Office 365 ProPlus deployment team has been working hard to give IT pros the tools they need to successfully deploy Office 365 ProPlus in various scenarios. We recently released a new guide focused on making your organization’s ProPlus deployment a success.

The Preferred Practices for Office 365 ProPlus Deploymentguide was created for IT pros by a team of Office 365 deployment experts. The guide is available for download in the Office 365 onboarding resources at fasttrack.microsoft.com and features actionable guidance and real-world scenarios, including:

Recommended guidance for discovery of applications.

Preferred deployment scenarios and practices.

Recommended approaches for channel management.

Reporting capabilities for licensing and usage.

The Preferred Practices guide walks you through the phases of deployment.

Here’s a sneak peek at each phase, and what you can expect to find in the respective section of the guide:

Assess—Deploying Office 365 ProPlus requires planning—just like any other large-scale Office client deployment. Learn about key infrastructure components and app compatibility discovery processes, as well as tools to help you understand the scope and remediation needs of Office 365 ProPlus.

Plan—Planning is a key component of your migration to Office 365 ProPlus. Consider several items when creating your deployment plan to understand constraints and meet the goals of the project.

Deploy—Learn more about the three deployment options—Enterprise Managed, Locally Managed and Cloud Managed—available for delivering Office 365 ProPlus to your users’ devices.

Manage—We’re continuously improving Office 365 ProPlus. We’ll walk you through how to handle managed and unmanaged deployment scenarios, patching and channel updates and ongoing management and maintenance.

We’ll continue to update this guide as new features and deployment capabilities are released by Microsoft. And we’ll also collect feedback from customers, partners and Microsoft deployment experts to continually refine these practices, so please reach out to us with any thoughts.

Get the guidance you need from a single comprehensive source. Download your copy of the guide today.

—Chris Hopkins, senior program manager for Office 365 ProPlus deployment, and Brian Canady, associate architect for Microsoft Services
Click to expand...

Source: New Office 365 ProPlus deployment guide for IT pros now available - Office Blogs

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