The fastest way to remove Microsoft Office depends on your operating system

On Windows, use the Control Panel or Settings app to uninstall Office like any other program — the process takes a few minutes and removes most files automatically. On Mac, you can drag the Office apps to Trash, but this leaves behind preference files and supporting data that take up space. The cleanest removal on either system involves using the official uninstall tool Microsoft provides, which clears out the leftover files that a standard uninstall leaves behind.

Before you start, decide whether you want to keep your Microsoft account linked to Office or remove it entirely. If you plan to reinstall Office later, you may want to keep your account information. If you're removing Office permanently or selling the computer, a full removal is better.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Apps > Apps & Features, find Microsoft Office, and click Uninstall to remove it through the standard system tool.
  • On Mac, drag Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook from the Applications folder to Trash, then empty Trash to delete them.
  • Microsoft's official uninstall support tool removes hidden preference files and cache data that a standard uninstall leaves behind on both Windows and Mac.
  • Sign out of your Microsoft account in Office before uninstalling if you want to fully disconnect your account from that computer.
  • Uninstalling Office does not delete your files or documents stored in OneDrive or on your computer — it only removes the programs themselves.

Uninstalling Office on Windows 10 or 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then click the Settings app. Go to Apps > Apps & Features. Scroll down or search for "Microsoft Office" in the list. Click on the Office entry, then click Uninstall. A dialog box will appear asking you to confirm — click Uninstall again.

Windows will remove the Office programs and most associated files. This process usually takes 5 to 10 minutes. When it finishes, you may be asked to restart your computer. Do so to complete the removal.

If you have an older version of Office (Office 2016 or earlier), the uninstall process is the same, but the program may appear as "Microsoft Office 2016" or with a different year in the Apps & Features list. Search for the specific version you have installed.

Uninstalling Office on Mac

Open Finder and click Applications in the sidebar. You will see Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other Office apps listed as individual programs. Drag each one to the Trash, or right-click each app and select Move to Trash. Start with Word, then Excel, then PowerPoint, then Outlook — the order does not matter, but removing them one at a time is clearer than dragging them all at once.

After moving all Office apps to Trash, empty the Trash by right-clicking the Trash icon in the Dock and selecting Empty Trash. This permanently deletes the programs from your Mac.

Dragging apps to Trash removes the visible programs but leaves behind preference files and cache data in hidden folders. If you want a complete removal, use the method described in the next section.

Using Microsoft's official uninstall tool for a complete removal

Microsoft provides an uninstall support tool that removes Office and all its supporting files, including preference data and cache. On Windows, download the Office Removal Tool from Microsoft's support website. Run the downloaded file and follow the prompts — it will scan your computer, show you what Office components it found, and remove them all at once.

On Mac, Microsoft offers the Office removal tool as well. Download it from the same support page, run it, and let it scan and remove Office completely. This tool is more thorough than dragging apps to Trash because it finds and deletes files stored in system folders that you cannot see in Finder.

The removal tool is useful if you are selling your computer, giving it to someone else, or want to free up disk space by removing every trace of Office. It takes longer than a standard uninstall but ensures nothing is left behind.

Signing out of your Microsoft account before uninstalling

If you want to fully disconnect your Microsoft account from Office before removing it, sign out first. Open any Office app — Word, Excel, or Outlook. Click your account name or profile picture in the top right corner and select Sign out. Confirm the sign-out when prompted.

Signing out before uninstalling prevents your account information from remaining stored on the computer. This is especially important if you are removing Office from a shared computer or a device you no longer own. After signing out, proceed with the uninstall steps above.

What happens to your files and documents

Uninstalling Office does not delete any of your documents, spreadsheets, or presentations. Files saved on your computer stay where they are — in your Documents folder, Desktop, or wherever you saved them. Files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint remain in your cloud storage and are not affected by uninstalling the Office programs.

If you reinstall Office later, you can open these files again. However, if you uninstall Office and do not have another program that can open Word documents or Excel spreadsheets, you will not be able to view or edit them until you reinstall Office or use an alternative like Google Docs or LibreOffice.

Reinstalling Office after uninstalling

If you uninstall Office and later decide you need it again, you can reinstall it from your Microsoft account. Go to account.microsoft.com, sign in, and look for the Office section. If you own a copy of Office, you will see an option to download and install it. Follow the on-screen instructions to download the installer and run it on your computer.

If you subscribed to Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), your subscription remains active even after uninstalling. You can reinstall Office at any time as long as your subscription is current. If your subscription has expired, you will need to renew it before reinstalling.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will uninstalling Office delete my Word documents and Excel files?

No. Uninstalling Office removes only the programs themselves. Your documents stay on your computer in the folders where you saved them. Files in OneDrive or SharePoint are not affected. You will not be able to open them with Office until you reinstall it, but the files themselves are not deleted.

Can I uninstall just one Office app, like Word, and keep Excel?

On Windows, you can uninstall individual Office apps through Settings > Apps > Apps & Features by clicking on each one separately. On Mac, you can drag individual apps to Trash. However, if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, reinstalling one app later may reinstall others as well, depending on your subscription plan.

What is the difference between uninstalling and the Microsoft removal tool?

A standard uninstall removes the main Office programs and most files. The Microsoft removal tool goes deeper and deletes preference files, cache data, and other supporting files stored in system folders. Use the removal tool if you want a complete cleanup or are removing Office from a computer you are selling or giving away.

Do I need to uninstall Office before installing a newer version?

Not always. If you are upgrading from Office 2019 to Microsoft 365, the installer usually handles the transition automatically. However, if you run into installation problems, uninstalling the old version first and then installing the new one often solves the issue.

Will uninstalling Office affect my Microsoft account or OneDrive?

No. Your Microsoft account and OneDrive remain active and unchanged. Uninstalling Office only removes the programs from your computer. You can still access OneDrive through a web browser and manage your account at account.microsoft.com.