Uninstall & Reinstall Issues

How to Uninstall Individual Microsoft 365 Apps in Windows 11

John Wilson Oct 16, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to remove specific Microsoft 365 applications, such as Publisher, without uninstalling the entire Office suite.

How to Uninstall Individual Microsoft 365 Apps in Windows 11

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Attempting to declutter the system or save storage space by removing unused Microsoft Office applications.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 appears as a single installation package in Windows 11 Programs and Features, offering no native option to select and remove individual applications.

Before you start

Ensure you have administrator privileges on your Windows 11 device, as modifying Microsoft 365 installation parameters requires elevated permissions.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Microsoft Office Deployment Tool (For Advanced Users)

Create a custom configuration using the Office Deployment Tool to reinstall the suite while explicitly excluding the apps you no longer want.

Because Microsoft 365 uses a unified Click-to-Run installer, standard users cannot selectively uninstall apps from the Settings menu. IT professionals and advanced users must utilize the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) to modify the installation components via an XML configuration file.

Download the Office Deployment Tool

Visit the official Microsoft Download Center, search for the 'Office Deployment Tool', and download the executable file to your computer.

Extract the ODT files

Run the downloaded executable file. Choose a designated folder (e.g., a new folder on your Desktop) to extract the setup.exe file and the sample configuration XML files.

Edit the Configuration XML file

Right-click one of the extracted configuration XML files and open it with Notepad. Modify the file to include the ExcludeApp element. For example, to remove Publisher, add <ExcludeApp ID="Publisher" /> under the <Product> section, then save the file.

Run the configuration via Command Prompt

Click the Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click Command Prompt, and select 'Run as administrator'. Navigate to the folder containing your ODT files using the 'cd' command, then execute the command: setup.exe /configure configuration.xml

Use the Microsoft Office Deployment Tool (For Advanced Users)

Installation Note: Running this command will effectively update your current Microsoft 365 installation based on the new XML parameters. Ensure all Office applications are closed before executing the command.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Lightweight, Unified Experience

If you are frustrated by the bulky, unchangeable installation of Microsoft 365, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, all-in-one suite that saves system resources while maintaining flawless compatibility with your existing Microsoft Office files.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click 'Download Free' to get the lightweight installation package.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen prompts for a fast, resource-friendly installation.
3. Open Your Microsoft Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files to seamlessly continue your work.

Extremely lightweight package saves valuable disk space and memoryFully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formatsUnified tabbed interface allows you to manage all document types in one windowFree to use with a familiar UI that requires zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I uninstall just Microsoft Word or Excel from Microsoft 365?

No. Microsoft 365 for personal and home users is installed as a single, unified package. Uninstalling from the Windows Settings menu will remove the entire suite, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Why did Microsoft remove the option to uninstall individual Office apps?

Microsoft transitioned to a 'Click-to-Run' installation model to ensure that all applications in the suite are updated simultaneously. This unified approach reduces compatibility issues and streamlines the update process, but removes individual application management.

Is there a third-party tool to safely remove individual Office apps?

While some third-party uninstaller utilities claim to remove specific Microsoft 365 components, using them is highly discouraged as they can corrupt your registry and break the remaining Office applications. The official Office Deployment Tool is the only safe method.

Will I lose my saved documents if I modify my Microsoft 365 installation?

No. Modifying or completely reinstalling Microsoft 365 will only affect the application files. Your locally saved documents, spreadsheets, and presentations remain safe on your hard drive, though it is always recommended to back up important files.

Installation & Activation