How to Uninstall Office 2016 Without Losing Word or Excel Files
Question details
The user wants to uninstall an existing Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 installation to upgrade to Microsoft 365, without deleting their personal Word documents or Excel spreadsheets.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Upgrading from Office Professional Plus 2016 to Microsoft 365 after reinstalling the Windows operating system.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to safely remove the old Office version software files while preserving all user-created data files on the local drive.
Although uninstalling Microsoft Office only removes the application files and leaves your personal documents intact, it is always a best practice to back up your important Word and Excel files to an external drive or cloud storage before making major system software changes.
Uninstall Office 2016 via Windows Settings
The standard and safest way to remove Office applications without affecting your personal documents.
Uninstalling through Windows Settings ensures that the operating system cleanly removes the program executables, registry entries, and shortcuts. It inherently ignores user-generated files like .docx and .xlsx.
Click the Start menu and select the gear icon to open 'Settings', then click on 'Apps' to access 'Apps & features'.
Scroll down the list of installed applications or use the search bar to find 'Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016'.
Click on the Microsoft Office application, select 'Uninstall', and follow the on-screen prompts to completely remove the software.
Use the Microsoft Office Uninstall Support Tool
Use this method if Office 2016 does not appear in your Apps list or if the standard uninstallation fails.
Try WPS Office: A Lightweight and Free Alternative
If you are reinstalling Windows and need a fast, reliable, and free office suite without paying for a Microsoft 365 subscription, consider WPS Office. It handles your existing Word and Excel files flawlessly while saving you money and system resources.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the WPS Office official website and download the free installer for Windows.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the setup file and follow the brief instructions to complete the fast installation process.
- 3. Open Your Files: Double-click your existing Word or Excel files to seamlessly open and edit them right inside WPS Office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Office 2016 delete my Word documents?
No, uninstalling any version of Microsoft Office only removes the software application files. All your locally saved Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations will remain safe on your hard drive in their respective folders.
Do I need to backup my files before uninstalling Office?
While the uninstallation process does not target personal files, it is highly recommended to back up your important documents to an external drive or cloud service like OneDrive as a general precaution whenever making significant changes to system applications.
Can I install Microsoft 365 immediately after removing Office 2016?
Yes. Once Office 2016 is fully uninstalled and you have restarted your computer, you can log into your Microsoft account online, download the Microsoft 365 installer, and set it up without any software conflicts.
