AWS App Runner

Note

AWS App Runner is no longer available for new clients. If you’re starting fresh, AWS recommends ECS Express Mode instead.

1. Create an App Runner Service

  1. Go to the App Runner console and click Create service

  2. Source

    • Repository type: Container registry

    • Provider: Amazon ECR Public

    • Container Image URI:

      public.ecr.aws/xlwings/xlwings-lite:1.0.0.0-50

  3. Deployment trigger: Manual

  4. Click Next

2. Configure Service

  • Service name: xlwings-lite

  • CPU: 0.25 vCPU, Memory: 0.5 GB

  • Add environment variable (Plain text):

    • XLWINGS_LICENSE_KEY → your license key

  • Port: 8000

  • Networking: Configure according to your requirements (e.g. public internet access vs. corporate network only).

  • Optional: Configure other settings as required (defaults are fine)

  • Click Next, then Create & deploy

3. Update Environment Variables

Once the service is running, App Runner assigns a stable HTTPS URL like https://<id>.<region>.awsapprunner.com. You need to set this as XLWINGS_HOSTNAME env var:

  1. Open your service → click Configuration → Edit

  2. Under Environment variables, add:

    • XLWINGS_HOSTNAME → <id>.<region>.awsapprunner.com (without https://)

  3. Click Save changes (this triggers a redeployment automatically).

For the other available environment variables, see Overview

4. Add-in installation

  1. Go to <Application Url>/manifest.xml. In your browser, go to File > Save Page As (or similar) and save the XML file somewhere locally, e.g., under the name manifest-xlwings-lite.xml. It’s a good idea to open the XML file in an editor and double-check that e.g., <IconUrl> contains the correct Application Url.

  2. Go to Microsoft 365 admin center

    • Click on Show all > Settings > Integrated Apps, then click on Upload custom apps.

    • As App type select Office Add-in.

    • Select Upload manifest file (.xml) from device. Click Choose File, then select the manifest-xlwings-lite.xml from the previous step.

    • Click Next, then assign the desired users.

    • Click Next and accept permission requests.

    • Click Next and Finish deployment.

The users should get the add-in to show up automatically although it may take a few minutes/hours until they show up. Alternatively, they can go to Add-ins on the ribbon’s Home tab and click on More Add-ins. They will see the add-in under the tab Admin Managed from where they can install it (there’s also a Refresh button at the top right).

5. Updating

To update xlwings Lite:

  1. Go to your App Runner Service (xlwings-lite)

  2. On the Configuration tab, click Edit

  3. Change the Container image URI to the latest tag:

    public.ecr.aws/xlwings/xlwings-lite:1.0.0.0-50

  4. Click Save changes, which triggers a redeployment