How to Fully Uninstall Office Before Reinstalling Microsoft 365

To fully uninstall Office before reinstalling Microsoft 365, use the correct account, product, permissions, and destination. This guide explains the supported workflow and the checks that confirm the result.

Confirm the License and Device Requirements

Confirm the owning account, required permissions, affected files or services, and the exact outcome you need. Keep a backup when the task changes local content or removes access.

Quick Installation Path

First, close all Office apps (Word/Excel/Outlook/Teams). Next, open Microsoft’s official uninstall article and run the uninstall troubleshooter: Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC - Microsoft Support, and verify the final state before changing any backup or secondary account.

How to Fully Uninstall Office Before Reinstalling Microsoft 365

1. Close all Office apps (Word/Excel/Outlook/Teams)
2. Open Microsoft’s official uninstall article and run the uninstall troubleshooter: Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC - Microsoft Support
3. Run the troubleshooter again if it reports multiple versions or partial removal (this is common when remnants exist)
4. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
5. Run one of these (most customers should use All)
6. Restart after it completes (Microsoft also recommends restart to finish cleanup)

After the final step, reopen the affected app, portal, file, or account page and confirm the exact status or behavior described in the title.

WPS Office: A Free Alternative for Local Office Work

WPS Office cannot directly change Microsoft-side account, billing, subscription, activation, tenant, OneDrive service, or SharePoint permission state. Those changes must be completed in the appropriate Microsoft portal.

For local productivity, WPS Office is a free Microsoft Office-compatible alternative with Writer, Spreadsheets, Presentation, and PDF tools. It opens and saves major formats including DOCX, XLSX, PPTX, and PDF through a familiar, streamlined interface that supports a smooth everyday migration.

Test advanced macros, add-ins, external connections, sensitivity controls, and Microsoft-only cloud integrations on a copy before moving a critical workflow.

Practical Checks That Prevent a Repeat

• Record which account, app, and file owns the workflow
• Keep a verified backup before removing access, changing ownership, or replacing a local file
• Apply high-impact changes to one test item or user before expanding the scope
• Save confirmation numbers, dates, and screenshots of the final settings when they affect billing, security, or permissions

Frequently Asked Questions

Where should I start when I need to fully uninstall Office before reinstalling Microsoft 365?

Close all Office apps (Word/Excel/Outlook/Teams). Then open Microsoft’s official uninstall article and run the uninstall troubleshooter: Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC - Microsoft Support.

Which installer, account, and product edition should I verify to fully uninstall Office before reinstalling Microsoft 365?

Open Microsoft’s official uninstall article and run the uninstall troubleshooter: Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC - Microsoft Support. Before applying the change broadly, confirm the same condition in one representative account, file, cell, message, or device.

Why might fully uninstall Office before reinstalling Microsoft 365 still fail after the first change?

Run the troubleshooter again if it reports multiple versions or partial removal (this is common when remnants exist). Keep the original data or current account state until this test produces the expected result.

Which final check proves the steps to fully uninstall Office before reinstalling Microsoft 365 worked?

Restart after it completes (Microsoft also recommends restart to finish cleanup). Reopen the affected app, file, or portal and confirm that the result remains in place.