Completely Uninstall Office 2021
Learn how to fully remove Microsoft Office 2021 from your computer, including all residual files, registry entries, and hidden folders. A clean uninstall ensures no conflicts when reinstalling or switching to another version.
Last updated: December 2024
Why Complete Uninstall?
A standard uninstall often leaves behind files that can cause problems:
- Prevents activation conflicts when reinstalling Office
- Frees up storage space from leftover files
- Resolves installation errors and corruption issues
- Required before switching between Office versions
- Fixes persistent Office application crashes
Uninstall Office 2021 on Windows
Method 1: Control Panel (Standard)
- 1Press Windows + I to open Settings
- 2Click 'Apps' then 'Installed apps'
- 3Search for 'Microsoft Office' or 'Microsoft 365'
- 4Click the three dots (...) next to the Office entry
- 5Select 'Uninstall' and confirm
- 6Wait for the uninstallation to complete
- 7Restart your computer
Method 2: Microsoft Support Tool (Recommended)
- 1Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA)
- 2Visit: aka.ms/SaRA-OfficeUninstallFromPC
- 3Run the downloaded SetupProd_OffScrub.exe file
- 4Accept the license agreement
- 5Select the Office version to uninstall
- 6Click 'Next' and wait for the process to complete
- 7Restart your computer when prompted
Method 3: Manual Cleanup
- 1First, uninstall via Control Panel (Method 1)
- 2Delete remaining Office folders (see locations below)
- 3Clean registry entries (advanced users only)
- 4Clear temporary files
- 5Restart your computer
Folder Locations to Delete
- C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
- C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office
- C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared
- C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Office
- %appdata%\Microsoft\Office
- %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office
Uninstall Office 2021 on Mac
Method 1: Move to Trash
- 1Open Finder and go to Applications folder
- 2Select all Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)
- 3Drag them to the Trash or right-click and select 'Move to Trash'
- 4Empty the Trash
- 5Restart your Mac
Method 2: Complete Removal
- 1First, move Office apps to Trash (Method 1)
- 2Open Finder and press Cmd + Shift + G
- 3Navigate to each location below and delete Office files
- 4Empty the Trash completely
- 5Restart your Mac
Mac Folder Locations
- ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.*
- ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office
- ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft
- ~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.*
- ~/Library/Caches/com.microsoft.*
- /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.*
- /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.*
Clean Windows Registry
Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause serious system problems. Create a backup before making changes.
Registry Keys to Remove
Back up your registry first!
- HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office
- HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Office
- 1Press Windows + R, type 'regedit', press Enter
- 2Navigate to each registry path listed above
- 3Right-click the 'Office' folder and select 'Delete'
- 4Confirm the deletion
- 5Close Registry Editor and restart your computer
Verify Complete Removal
After uninstalling, verify Office is completely removed:
Windows
- Search for 'Word' or 'Excel' in Start menu - should show no results
- Check Program Files folders - Office folders should be gone
- Open Command Prompt and type 'winword' - should show error
- Check installed apps in Settings - Office should not appear
Mac
- Search Spotlight for 'Microsoft Word' - should show no results
- Check Applications folder - Office apps should be gone
- Look in Library folders - no Microsoft Office folders remaining
- Try opening a .docx file - should prompt for app selection
Troubleshooting
Can't uninstall - 'Installation source not found'
Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool. It can remove Office even when the normal uninstaller fails.
Office apps still appear after uninstall
The uninstall may not have completed. Run SaRA tool or manually delete the folders listed above. Also clear the Start menu cache by restarting Explorer.
Registry cleaning caused issues
Restore your registry backup. If you didn't make one, try System Restore to a point before you made changes.
Can't delete Office folders - 'Access denied'
Restart in Safe Mode and try again. Or take ownership of the folders: right-click > Properties > Security > Advanced > Change owner.
New Office installation fails after uninstall
Run SaRA tool again to ensure complete removal. Restart your computer, then wait a few minutes before attempting to install again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Office delete my documents?
No, uninstalling Office 2021 will not delete your Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, or other files you created. Your documents are stored separately from the Office application files.
Can I reinstall Office after completely uninstalling it?
Yes, you can reinstall Office 2021 after uninstalling. If you have a product key, you can download Office from Microsoft's website. Your license remains valid after uninstalling.
How long does complete uninstallation take?
A standard uninstall takes 5-10 minutes. Using the SaRA tool takes 15-20 minutes. Manual cleanup with registry cleaning can take 30+ minutes depending on your familiarity with the process.
Should I use the SaRA tool or manual uninstall?
For most users, the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) is recommended. It's thorough, safe, and doesn't require technical knowledge. Manual cleanup is only needed for stubborn installations or specific troubleshooting.
Will this remove my Office license?
Uninstalling removes the software but not your license. Your product key can be used to reinstall on the same or different computer (within the license terms). Check your Microsoft account for digital licenses.
Can I uninstall individual Office apps?
Office 2021 is typically installed as a complete suite, so you cannot uninstall individual apps like Word or Excel separately. You need to uninstall the entire suite and reinstall with custom options if available.