'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Uninstall Microsoft 365 Without Removing Office 2021
Question details
The user needs to remove a preinstalled Microsoft 365 package from a new computer while keeping their separately licensed Office 2021 fully functional.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 and Office 2021
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Setting up a new computer that includes a preinstalled trial of Microsoft 365, alongside the user's separately licensed Office 2021 software.
- Observed behavior
- Having both versions installed can cause system conflicts. The user needs to eliminate Microsoft 365 and ensure Office 2021 operates correctly as the sole active Office suite.
Ensure you have the login details for the Microsoft account associated with your Office 2021 license, as you may need to perform an online repair or reinstallation after removing Microsoft 365.
Uninstall Microsoft 365 and Perform an Online Repair for Office 2021
This is the recommended approach to remove the unwanted Microsoft 365 suite and restore any shared file associations for your Office 2021 installation.
Since Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 share system registries and background services, removing one version can temporarily disrupt the other. Performing an Online Repair immediately after uninstallation resolves these software conflicts.
Click the Start menu and select the gear icon to open Settings. Navigate to 'Apps' and select 'Installed apps' (or 'Apps & features' depending on your Windows version).
Scroll through the application list to find 'Microsoft 365'. Click the three-dot menu icon next to it, select 'Uninstall', and follow the on-screen prompts to remove the software completely.
In the same 'Installed apps' list, locate your 'Office 2021' installation. Click the three-dot menu icon, select 'Modify', and then choose 'Online Repair'. Click 'Repair' to begin.
Clean Reinstall Office 2021 from Your Microsoft Account
If the online repair tool fails to fix licensing conflicts, you should remove all Office applications and perform a clean reinstallation of Office 2021.
Try WPS Office: A Conflict-Free, Lightweight Suite
Dealing with overlapping Microsoft Office licenses and forced preinstallations can be frustrating. Consider switching to WPS Office, a fully comprehensive office suite that manages your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations efficiently without subscription conflicts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free, lightweight installer package.
- 2. Install Quickly: Run the setup file. The installation takes only a few minutes and will not conflict with remaining software on your PC.
- 3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Double-click your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to open and edit them instantly within WPS Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my personal files if I uninstall Microsoft 365?
No. Uninstalling Microsoft 365 only removes the application software from your computer. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations saved locally or on OneDrive will remain entirely safe and can be opened with Office 2021.
Why did my new computer come with Microsoft 365 when I already own Office 2021?
Many computer manufacturers preinstall a trial version of Microsoft 365 as promotional software. If you already own a standalone version like Office 2021, you can freely uninstall the preinstalled Microsoft 365 without consequences.
Can I run both Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 simultaneously?
Microsoft strongly advises against running multiple versions of Office on the same system simultaneously. They share background services and system registries, which often causes licensing errors, file association problems, and application crashes. It is best to keep only one active installation.
