Apps guide · Deploy

Deploy software

Use Deploy Software on the Apps page to install or uninstall applications on devices or for users. Configuration Manager applications are deployed to collections, and Intune apps to Entra ID groups.

Three steps Summary first Best practice Troubleshooting

1 Start a deployment

Click Deploy Software at the top of the Apps page. The Deploy Software window opens with three steps: 1. Select software, 2. Select endpoints and 3. Settings and deploy. The Summary on the right lists your choices as you make them.

The Deploy Software window on step 1, Select software, with the Install and Uninstall buttons for each application and the empty Summary
The Deploy Software window on its first step. Close leaves the window without deploying anything.
Permission The Deploy Software button appears only when your role has the Deploy Software permission. See Security roles.

2 Step 1 — Select software

Under 1. Select Software, find the applications with Search for software or the Filters button. For each application, click Install to install it or Uninstall to remove it. You can choose more than one application. Your choices appear in the Summary.

Use Next to go to step 2. Previous goes back a step, and Close leaves the window without deploying anything.

3 Step 2 — Select endpoints

Under 2. Select Endpoints, choose who needs the software. Use Search for endpoint to find a device or user. The toggle switches between Devices and Users. Click a device or user to add it, or use Multi-select to pick several at once, Select All to add everything listed, and the filter to narrow the list. Clear all removes the selection.

The endpoints you choose are shown in the Summary. Whether they are devices or users decides which options step 3 offers.

4 Step 3 — Settings and deploy

Under 3. Settings and Deploy, read the overview of what will happen, choose the deployment options, and then click Apply Software Changes. That button deploys to every selected endpoint.

EndpointsDeployment options
Intune devices or usersAssign as required installs the application without asking. Assign as available makes it available to install from the Company Portal.
SCCM devicesEnable Schedule deploys later instead of now. You can give the schedule a name and choose when it runs.
Review before you apply Apply Software Changes deploys to every selected endpoint. Check the Summary and the options first.

5 Track the result

After you apply the changes, follow the result on the application. Open the application from the Apps page and go to the Deployment tab. The Failed and Pending cards on the Overview tab show the totals, and the devices on the Deployment tab show the reason for each result. See Deployment and install status.

6 Best practices

TopicRecommendation
Test on a small group firstChoose a small collection or group of endpoints for the first deployment, check the result on the Deployment tab, and then widen it.
Choose the right optionUse Assign as available for software people can install when they need it, and Assign as required only for software every chosen endpoint must have.
Use a schedule for maintenanceFor Configuration Manager devices, use Enable Schedule when the change should wait for a set time.
Check uninstalls twiceAn uninstall removes the application from every endpoint you chose. Check the list of endpoints before you apply.
Look at the result the same dayOpen the application's Deployment tab after the change and look at Failed and Pending.

7 Troubleshooting

SymptomCauseWhat to do
There is no Deploy Software buttonYour role does not have the Deploy Software permission.Ask an administrator to add the permission to your role in Security roles.
Apply Software Changes is greyed outUsually step 1 or step 2 has no selection yet.Choose at least one application in step 1 and at least one endpoint in step 2.
An application you need is not in the listThe search text or a filter is still active.Clear the search box and the filters, then search again.
A device shows Failed or Pending after the deploymentThe installation on that device has not finished or has failed.Open the application's Deployment tab and read the reason for that device. Use the Log tab of the application for the details.