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How to Uninstall Microsoft Word 2016 with an Office XML Command
Question details
The user needs to remove Microsoft Word 2016 or specific Office products using the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) and an XML configuration file for deployment via BigFix.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016 / Office Deployment Tool
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Automating the uninstallation of specific Microsoft Office applications using an XML configuration script deployed through endpoint management software.
- Observed behavior
- The user must correctly configure the Remove and Product elements within an XML file to target the correct Office installation and execute it via the command line.
Ensure you have administrative privileges on the target machines and have downloaded the latest Office Deployment Tool (ODT) from the official Microsoft Download Center.
Use the Office Deployment Tool and XML Configuration
Create a custom XML file to define the removal parameters and execute it using the Office Deployment Tool to uninstall the software.
The Office Deployment Tool (ODT) allows administrators to customize and manage Microsoft Office installations. By using a specialized XML file, you can specify exactly which products or applications to remove, and then deploy this configuration across multiple computers using tools like BigFix.
Download the Office Deployment Tool from the Microsoft website. Run the downloaded executable to extract the setup.exe file and the sample XML files into a dedicated folder on your computer.
Open a text editor like Notepad and create a new XML file. Use the <Configuration>, <Remove>, and <Product> tags to specify your installation. For example: <Configuration> <Remove> <Product ID="ProPlusRetail"> <Language ID="en-us" /> <ExcludeApp ID="Excel" /> </Product> </Remove> </Configuration>. Save this file as uninstall.xml in the same folder as setup.exe.
Open the Command Prompt as an administrator, navigate to the folder containing your setup.exe and uninstall.xml files, and run the following command: setup.exe /configure uninstall.xml
In your BigFix console, create a new software distribution package that includes both the setup.exe and the uninstall.xml files. Set the execution action to run the command silently across your targeted endpoints.
Switch to WPS Office for a Lightweight, Hassle-Free Experience
If you are uninstalling Microsoft Office due to high license costs, complex deployment requirements, or heavy system resource usage, WPS Office offers a completely free, highly compatible alternative. It seamlessly supports all standard Office formats in a lightweight, user-friendly application.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to complete the installation in seconds.
- 3. Open Your Existing Files: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents directly without any formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find the exact Product ID for my version of Microsoft Office?
You can find the correct Product IDs in the official Microsoft Office Deployment Tool documentation. Common examples include 'ProPlusRetail' for Office 365, 'StandardRetail', or 'ProPlusVolume' for volume licensed versions.
How do I make the uninstallation run completely silently without user prompts?
To perform a silent uninstallation, add the Display tag to your XML configuration file just below the Configuration tag, like this: <Display Level="None" AcceptEULA="TRUE" />.
Can I uninstall only Microsoft Word and leave Excel installed?
Yes. When defining the Product ID in your XML file, add the <ExcludeApp ID="AppName" /> tag for every application you want to keep installed. To keep Excel, add <ExcludeApp ID="Excel" /> while omitting the tag for Word.
What should I do if the setup.exe /configure command fails?
Ensure that your command prompt is running with administrative privileges, verify that the XML file is correctly formatted without syntax errors, and check that the Product ID and Language ID exactly match the installed software.
