Let me ask you a question - how are you still installing applications on your business computers?

Please don’t tell me it involves DVDs. Or worse - floppy disks. If you're still doing it manually, I’ve got news for you: there’s a faster, smarter way. Enter Microsoft Intune - the cloud-based knight in shining armour for IT teams who are tired of clicking ‘Next’ thirty-seven times during installs.

Today, we’re diving into how to install applications using Microsoft Intune, and why it should be part of your modern IT strategy.

First Things First: What’s the Big Deal With Intune?

Microsoft Intune lets you centrally manage devices, users, and - yes - applications. Once your business devices are enrolled in Intune, you can deploy apps remotely with just a few clicks. That means no more running around the office with USB sticks or relying on your users to follow “very simple instructions” (which they never do).

To bring this to life, let’s install some apps together, shall we?

The Easy Win: Installing Microsoft 365 Apps

We'll start with Microsoft 365 - Word, Excel, PowerPoint - the holy trinity of productivity.

Step-by-Step:

1. Head to the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre and log in as a global admin.

2. Navigate to Intune > Apps > Windows > Add App.

3. Choose Microsoft 365 Apps for Windows 10 or later.

4. Configure your app suite - include Word, exclude Access (unless you're one of the three people still using it).

5. Assign it to your target group - e.g., all devices, specific teams, or just your test machine.

Boom. That’s it. Your apps will begin silently installing in the background - no user interaction required.

Bonus tip: You can even remove older versions of Office during the install. Well, hypothetically - your mileage may vary.

Sponsor Plug - RoboPack (But for a Good Reason)

Now, here’s where things get even slicker.

Enter RoboPack - our sponsor, and a lifesaver for anyone packaging apps in Intune. If you’ve ever tried packaging and patching apps manually, you’ll know it can feel like juggling knives while blindfolded. RoboPack simplifies all that.

They offer Intune application packaging and patch management - with over 40,000 apps already wrapped and ready to deploy. It’s automation at its finest, and it saves IT teams hours of work.

Want a look? Head to robopack.com and see what all the fuss is about.

Cloud Apps? Meet Web Links

Not every app needs to be installed. Sometimes, your team just needs easy access to a SaaS platform. That’s where web links come in.

Real-Life Example: Halo PSA

Halo is a cloud-only PSA tool we use. Instead of making users remember the URL (or worse - bookmark it themselves), we create a web link in Intune that pins right into the Start menu.

To do it:

1. Go to Intune > Apps > Add > Web Link.

2. Enter the name, description, and URL.

3. Choose whether to require a managed browser like Edge.

4. Assign it to the right devices.

The result? Your cloud apps are now just a Start menu click away.

The Advanced Move: Win32 App Deployment

Alright, time for the big guns.

Not every app is available in the Microsoft Store. Maybe you’re installing something like Firefox or an obscure line-of-business app. For that, you’ll need to package the app using Microsoft’s Win32 tool.

It sounds intimidating, but stay with me.

What You Need:

• The app’s installer (.exe)

• Microsoft’s IntuneWinAppUtil tool from GitHub

• A structured folder setup (source, output)

Here’s the process:

1. Place your installer (e.g., Firefox.exe) in a folder named DownloadSource.

2. Use IntuneWinAppUtil to convert it into a .intunewin file.

3. In Intune, add a new Win32 App and upload your newly packaged file.

4. Configure your metadata - name, description, publisher, etc.

5. Set install and uninstall commands.

6. Assign it to your users or devices, just like before.

It might take a few extra steps, but once it’s done - deploying custom or legacy software becomes as easy as clicking “Assign”.

Final Thoughts

Installing apps with Intune isn’t just about convenience - it’s about control, security, and scalability. Whether you’re deploying standard Microsoft 365 apps, linking to cloud software, or packaging complex executables, Intune gives you a single, central way to get the job done.

Gone are the days of running from desk to desk, USB in hand. This is IT in the cloud era - clean, automated, and a little bit magical.

Oh - and if any of this still feels clunky, RoboPack has your back.