Uninstall & Reinstall Issues

How to Remove Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component Without the MSI File

Camila Milosovich Oct 14, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to remove the Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component but cannot do so because the original MSI installer file was accidentally deleted.

How to Remove Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component Without the MSI File

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to completely uninstall an Office component or trying to install a 32-bit version of Office.
Observed behavior: The uninstallation fails due to a missing MSI file, and the lingering 64-bit component blocks the installation of 32-bit Office.

Before you start

Before attempting a forced removal of Office components, back up any important local documents or Outlook data files, and create a Windows System Restore Point.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Official Microsoft Office Uninstall Tool

Use Microsoft's specialized removal utility to force-uninstall the broken component when standard Windows uninstallation fails due to a missing MSI file.

When an MSI file is deleted from the Windows Installer cache, standard uninstallation through the Control Panel will fail. Microsoft provides a dedicated Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool that can bypass the missing MSI requirement and forcefully clean up all registry keys and files associated with the Click-to-Run Extensibility Component.

Download the Uninstall Tool

Visit the official Microsoft Support website and download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool for uninstalling Office.

Run the Utility

Double-click the downloaded executable file. When prompted, click 'Install' and agree to the Microsoft Services Agreement.

Select the Affected Product

In the application window, select 'Office' and choose the specific option indicating you have trouble installing or uninstalling Office components.

Remove the Component

Select the Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component (or your overall Office installation) from the list and follow the prompts to force the removal.

Restart Your Computer

Once the tool finishes processing, restart your Windows PC to clear any remaining cached files or background services before attempting to install 32-bit Office.

Use the Official Microsoft Office Uninstall Tool

Installation Unblocked: After the 64-bit Click-to-Run component is successfully removed and your system is restarted, you should be able to install the 32-bit version of Office without any architecture conflict errors.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience

Tired of dealing with complicated installation errors, missing MSI files, and 32-bit/64-bit architecture conflicts? WPS Office offers a lightweight, completely free alternative to Microsoft Office. It installs in seconds without bulky Click-to-Run dependencies and offers full compatibility with your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.

1. Download the Installer: Click the download button to get the lightweight WPS Office setup file directly to your PC.
2. Run the Setup: Open the downloaded file and click 'Install' to begin the fast, conflict-free installation process.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Office documents with perfect formatting retention.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats like .docx, .xlsx, and .pptxInstalls quickly without complex Click-to-Run or MSI dependenciesLightweight architecture that avoids frustrating registry and component conflictsFamiliar user interface requiring zero learning curve for Office users

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Office 16 Click-to-Run Extensibility Component block 32-bit Office?

Microsoft Office strictly prevents mixing 32-bit and 64-bit components on the same machine. If a 64-bit version of the Click-to-Run Extensibility Component is installed, the installer will block any subsequent 32-bit Office installations to avoid systemic conflicts.

What is an MSI file and why is it needed for uninstallation?

An MSI file is a standard Windows Installer package. It contains the essential instructions, registry paths, and data required to both install and cleanly remove software. If the MSI file is deleted from the Windows cache, the system loses the instructions needed to uninstall the program normally.

Can I manually delete the Click-to-Run files from my hard drive?

Manually deleting Office folders from the Program Files directory is highly discouraged. Doing so leaves behind broken registry entries, orphaned background services, and corrupted AppData, which will cause further errors when trying to reinstall Office. Always use a dedicated uninstaller tool.

Installation & Activation