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Fix: Microsoft Office 2019 Won't Uninstall Before Installing Office 2021
Question details
The user is unable to remove Microsoft Office 2019, which is preventing the installation of Microsoft Office 2021 from the official download link.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to upgrade from Microsoft Office 2019 to Microsoft Office 2021 by running a new installation.
- Observed behavior
- The standard uninstallation process for Office 2019 fails or hangs, leaving residual files that block the Office 2021 installer from proceeding.
Ensure you have your Microsoft account login details and the Office 2021 product key ready, and save all open documents before running the uninstallation tool.
Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA)
Use this official Microsoft utility to forcefully remove all traces of Office 2019 from your system when the standard Windows Add/Remove Programs method fails.
The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) is designed to clean up corrupted registry entries, lingering background services, and cached files that often cause Microsoft Office uninstallation failures.
Navigate to https://aka.ms/SaRA-officeUninstallFromPC in your web browser to download the official Microsoft Office uninstall support tool.
Open the downloaded executable file. When prompted, read and accept the Microsoft Services Agreement to initialize the utility.
From the list of installed products detected by the tool, check the box next to Microsoft Office 2019, then click Next.
Follow the on-screen prompts to confirm the removal. Once the process is finished, restart your computer when requested to clear all locked files.
After your computer restarts, complete any final prompts in the SaRA tool. You can now safely download and install Office 2021 from your official Microsoft account page.
Try WPS Office: The Lightweight, Hassle-Free Alternative
Tired of dealing with stubborn uninstallers, heavy software updates, and complex registry errors? WPS Office is a powerful, lightweight alternative that installs in seconds and works smoothly on virtually any PC.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the WPS Office website and download the free, lightweight installation file.
- 2. Install in Seconds: Run the executable file and click 'Install'. The process typically completes in under a minute.
- 3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Double-click any of your existing Microsoft Office documents to open, edit, and save them perfectly in WPS Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Office 2019 delete my Word and Excel documents?
No. Uninstalling Microsoft Office only removes the application software. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations saved on your local drive or cloud storage will remain completely safe and untouched.
Why does the standard Windows uninstaller fail to remove Office 2019?
The standard uninstaller can fail due to corrupted registry keys, essential Office background services failing to stop, or conflicting third-party antivirus software blocking the removal of system files.
Can I have both Office 2019 and Office 2021 installed on the same computer?
It is highly discouraged and often blocked by the installer. Having two versions of Microsoft Office installed simultaneously typically causes file association conflicts, activation errors, and system instability.
What should I do if the SaRA uninstallation tool gets stuck?
If the Support and Recovery Assistant freezes, restart your computer in Safe Mode and attempt to run the tool again. Safe Mode prevents background applications from interfering with the uninstallation process.
