The fastest way to uninstall Microsoft Office
On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, search for "Microsoft Office", select it, and click Uninstall. Follow the prompts and restart your computer when finished. On Mac, drag the Microsoft Office folder from Applications to Trash, then empty Trash.
This method removes the core Office programs — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook — along with most supporting files. The process takes five to ten minutes on either system. You will not lose your documents; they stay on your computer in whatever folder you saved them to.
If you have Office installed through Microsoft 365 (the subscription version), uninstalling removes the programs but does not cancel your subscription. You can reinstall them later using the same account. If you bought a one-time license, you will need that product key to reinstall.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users should uninstall through Settings > Apps > Apps & features by searching for Microsoft Office and clicking Uninstall.
- Mac users can drag the Microsoft Office folder to Trash and empty it, which removes all Office programs at once.
- Uninstalling Office does not delete your Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, or other files you created with it.
- If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, uninstalling the programs does not cancel your account, and you can reinstall them anytime.
- Leftover cache files and preferences usually do not cause problems, but you can manually delete them if you want a complete removal.
Uninstalling Office on Windows step by step
Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Apps & features. Scroll down or use the search box at the top to find "Microsoft Office" or individual programs like "Microsoft Word" or "Microsoft Excel".
Click the Office entry to select it. A menu will appear with an Uninstall button. Click Uninstall and a dialog box will open asking you to confirm. Click Uninstall again. Windows will remove the programs, which usually takes two to five minutes. When it finishes, restart your computer to complete the process.
If you have multiple Office programs listed separately — for example, "Microsoft Word" and "Microsoft Excel" as separate entries — you can uninstall them one at a time using the same steps, or uninstall them all together if they are grouped under a single "Microsoft Office" entry.
Uninstalling Office on Mac step by step
Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. Look for a folder named Microsoft Office or individual program icons like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. If you see a Microsoft Office folder, click it once to select it, then press Command+Delete or drag it to the Trash in your dock.
If the programs are listed individually rather than in a folder, select them all by clicking the first one, then holding Command and clicking each additional program. Once all are selected, drag them to Trash. Empty the Trash by right-clicking the Trash icon in your dock and selecting Empty Trash.
On newer Macs with Apple Silicon chips, Office programs may be in a different location or may require additional steps. If you cannot find the Office folder in Applications, try searching for "Microsoft Office" using Spotlight (press Command+Space and type the search term).
What happens to your documents when you uninstall
Your Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, and other files remain on your computer. Uninstalling Office only removes the programs themselves, not the files you created. You can still open and read these files with other programs like Google Docs, LibreOffice, or online versions of Office.
If you want to keep your files organized before uninstalling, you can move them to a folder you know well — like Documents or Desktop — so you can find them easily later. This is not necessary, but it can help if you plan to open them with a different program.
Removing leftover files and cache data
After uninstalling, Office usually leaves behind cache files and preference settings. These take up very little space and do not cause problems, so most people can skip this step. If you want a complete removal, you can delete these files manually.
On Windows, press Windows key + R, type "%appdata%", and press Enter. Look for folders named Microsoft or Office and delete them. You can also check C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86) for any remaining Office folders. Be careful to delete only Office-related folders, not other programs.
On Mac, open Finder, press Command+Shift+G, and type "~/Library/Application Support". Look for folders named Microsoft or Office and drag them to Trash. You can also check ~/Library/Preferences for files starting with "com.microsoft" and delete those. Again, be selective and delete only Microsoft-related items.
If Office will not uninstall
Sometimes Office programs stay on your computer even after you click Uninstall. This usually happens if a program is still running or if another program is using an Office file. Close all Office programs completely, including Outlook if it is running in the background, and try uninstalling again.
On Windows, you can also try using the Office Uninstall Support Tool, which Microsoft provides for stubborn installations. Search online for "Microsoft Office Uninstall Support Tool" and download it from Microsoft's website. Run the tool and select the version of Office you want to remove, then follow the prompts.
On Mac, if dragging to Trash does not work, the program may be locked. Right-click the Office folder, select Get Info, and check whether "Locked" is checked at the bottom. If it is, uncheck it and try dragging to Trash again. If you still cannot delete it, restart your Mac in Safe Mode and try once more.
Reinstalling Office after uninstalling
If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can reinstall Office anytime by signing into your Microsoft account at office.com and clicking Install. If you bought a one-time license (like Office 2021 or Office 2019), you will need your product key to reinstall. You can find this key in your Microsoft account or in the original email receipt if you bought it online.
Before reinstalling, make sure you have enough disk space — Office requires about 4 to 6 gigabytes depending on which programs you choose. Download the installer from Microsoft's website or use the Microsoft Office app if you have it installed. The reinstall process takes ten to twenty minutes depending on your internet speed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Office delete my Word documents and spreadsheets?
No. Uninstalling removes only the programs, not the files you created. Your documents stay on your computer in whatever folder you saved them to. You can still open them with other programs like Google Docs, LibreOffice, or the online versions of Office.
Can I reinstall Office after I uninstall it?
Yes. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can reinstall anytime using your account. If you have a one-time license, you will need your product key. Both are available in your Microsoft account online.
Do I need to uninstall Office before installing a newer version?
No. You can install a newer version directly over an older one, and the installer will handle the replacement. However, uninstalling first can prevent conflicts if you are switching from Office 2019 to Microsoft 365, for example.
What if Office programs keep coming back after I uninstall them?
This usually means another program is reinstalling Office in the background, or Office is set to reinstall automatically. Check your installed programs list to see if anything related to Office is still there. You can also disable automatic reinstall by signing out of your Microsoft account in Office settings before uninstalling.
How much disk space will I free up by uninstalling Office?
Office typically uses 4 to 6 gigabytes of disk space, depending on which programs are installed and how much cache data has accumulated. Uninstalling will free up most of this space, though some preference files may remain if you do not delete them manually.