Completely Uninstall Office 2024
Clean Removal Guide for Windows
Last Updated: December 2024
When Do You Need a Complete Uninstall?
Sometimes a standard uninstall isn't enough. Whether you're troubleshooting persistent activation errors, preparing for a clean reinstallation, switching between Office editions, or resolving conflicts with other Microsoft products, a complete removal ensures no leftover files or registry entries cause problems. This guide covers every method from simple Control Panel removal to deep cleaning with specialized tools.
Standard Uninstall Methods
Start with the standard uninstall process. If it completes without errors, you may not need the more aggressive methods below.
Method 1: Windows Settings (Recommended First Step)
- Press Windows + I to open Settings
- Navigate to Apps > Installed apps (or Apps & features on Windows 10)
- Search for "Microsoft Office" or "Microsoft 365"
- Click the three dots (⋯) next to Microsoft Office 2024
- Select Uninstall and confirm
- Wait for the process to complete (may take 5-10 minutes)
- Restart your computer when prompted
Method 2: Control Panel
- Press Windows + R, type "control panel" and press Enter
- Click Programs > Programs and Features
- Find Microsoft Office 2024 in the list
- Right-click and select Uninstall
- Follow the uninstallation wizard
- Restart your computer
Method 3: Office Setup File
If you have the original Office installer or ISO:
- Run setup.exe from the Office installation media
- Select "Remove" or "Uninstall" option
- Follow the prompts to complete removal
Microsoft Office Uninstall Support Tool
When standard uninstall fails or leaves remnants, Microsoft's official tool is your best option. It's designed to completely remove Office products and fix installation issues.
The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SARA) includes a comprehensive Office removal option that:
- Removes all Office 2024 installation files
- Cleans up registry entries automatically
- Removes cached installation data
- Fixes corrupted installations that won't uninstall normally
- Works for all Office versions and editions
Usage Steps
- Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant from Microsoft's website
- Run SetupProd_OffScrub.exe as Administrator
- Select "Office" from the product list
- Choose the version you want to remove (Office 2024)
- Click "Next" and wait for the scan to complete
- Follow the prompts to remove Office
- Restart your computer when the process finishes
This tool is the most reliable method for complete Office removal and is recommended by Microsoft support.
Manual File Cleanup
After using the standard uninstall or Microsoft's tool, check for leftover files. These locations commonly contain Office remnants:
Important: Only delete these folders after uninstalling Office. Deleting them while Office is installed will cause errors.
| Location | Description |
|---|---|
| C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office | Main Office installation directory (64-bit) |
| C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office | 32-bit Office installation (if applicable) |
| C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun | Click-to-Run service files |
| %ProgramData%\Microsoft\Office | Shared Office data and cache |
| %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Office | User-specific Office cache and settings |
| %AppData%\Microsoft\Office | User Office configuration files |
| %AppData%\Microsoft\Templates | Office templates (backup before deleting if needed) |
- Press Windows + E to open File Explorer
- Navigate to each location listed above
- Delete any remaining Office folders
- Empty the Recycle Bin
- For %AppData% paths, type the path directly in the address bar
Registry Cleanup
Registry remnants can cause "Office is already installed" errors when reinstalling. Only perform this if you're comfortable editing the Windows Registry.
Always backup your registry before making changes. Incorrect registry edits can cause system instability.
To backup: Open Registry Editor, click File > Export, and save to a safe location.
| Registry Key | Description |
|---|---|
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office | Main Office registry branch |
| HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office | User-specific Office settings |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall | Look for Office-related entries |
| HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Office | 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows |
| HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Installer\Products | Office product registration (search for Office GUIDs) |
- Press Windows + R, type "regedit" and press Enter
- Navigate to each key location above
- Right-click on Office-related folders and select Delete
- Confirm deletion when prompted
- Restart your computer after all changes
License and Credential Removal
For a truly clean slate, remove stored licenses and credentials. This is essential when switching between Office editions or troubleshooting activation issues.
Remove Office Licenses with OSPP.VBS
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Navigate to: cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"
- Run: cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus to see installed licenses
- For each license, run: cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:XXXXX (last 5 characters of product key)
- Verify removal with: cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus
Clear Cached Credentials
- Open Control Panel > User Accounts > Credential Manager
- Click "Windows Credentials"
- Look for entries containing "Office", "Microsoft", or "MicrosoftOffice"
- Click each entry and select "Remove"
- Also check "Generic Credentials" for Office-related entries
Sign Out of Microsoft Account
- If Office is still accessible: Open any Office app > File > Account > Sign Out
- Visit account.microsoft.com and sign out of all devices if needed
- This prevents automatic license detection on reinstall
Command-Line Removal Methods
For IT professionals and advanced users, command-line tools offer more control over the uninstall process.
Office Deployment Tool (ODT) Removal
Create a configuration file for removal:
<Configuration> <Remove All="TRUE" /> <Display Level="None" AcceptEULA="TRUE" /> </Configuration>
- Download the Office Deployment Tool from Microsoft
- Create a file named "remove.xml" with the configuration above
- Open Command Prompt as Administrator
- Run: setup.exe /configure remove.xml
- Wait for the silent removal to complete
PowerShell Removal Commands
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*Office*"}List installed Office products$app = Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | Where-Object {$_.Name -like "*Office 2024*"}; $app.Uninstall()Uninstall Office 2024 (may be slow)WMIC Removal (Legacy)
wmic product where "name like '%Office%'" call uninstall /nointeractiveTroubleshooting Failed Uninstalls
If Office refuses to uninstall or the process keeps failing, try these solutions:
""The feature you are trying to use is on a network resource that is unavailable""
- Download the original Office installer or ISO
- Run the installer and select Repair, then Uninstall
- Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant instead
"Uninstall hangs or freezes"
- Boot into Safe Mode (press F8 during startup)
- Run the Microsoft uninstall tool in Safe Mode
- End any Office-related processes in Task Manager before uninstalling
""Office is still installed" after uninstall"
- Run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant
- Manually clean registry entries as described above
- Delete leftover folders in Program Files
"Cannot reinstall Office after uninstall"
- Clear the Office cache: Delete %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Office\16.0
- Reset Windows Installer: Run "msiexec /unregister" then "msiexec /regserver"
- Check Windows Update for pending updates
After Uninstalling Office 2024
Once Office is completely removed, follow these steps before reinstalling:
- Restart your computer to complete any pending changes
- Run Windows Update to ensure your system is current
- Temporarily disable antivirus during reinstallation (some interfere with Office setup)
- Ensure you have your product key ready if using a perpetual license
- For Microsoft 365, sign in to your Microsoft account on the new installation
- Consider backing up any custom templates or dictionaries before reinstalling
Verify Complete Removal
- Check Apps & Features - no Office entries should appear
- Search for "Word" or "Excel" in Start menu - no results should appear
- Navigate to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office - folder should not exist or be empty
- Open Registry Editor and search for "Office 2024" - no results should appear