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Is It Safe to Uninstall Office 2013 After Installing Office 2021?
Question details
The user wants to know if it is safe to remove an older installation of Office 2013 without damaging a newly installed Office 2021 or losing personal documents.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2013 / 2021
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Cleaning up residual software files from another disk after completing a clean Windows 10 installation and installing a newer version of Microsoft Office.
- Observed behavior
- Old Office 2013 files are taking up space on a separate disk while Office 2021 Pro Plus is currently active.
Ensure all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are completely closed before beginning the uninstallation process.
Uninstall Office 2013 via Windows Apps & Features
Safely remove the older version of Office using the standard Windows 10 application manager.
Removing Office 2013 will not affect your Office 2021 installation. Modern Windows systems isolate these installations, and personal documents are stored separately from application files.
Click on the Start menu, select the 'Settings' gear icon, and navigate to the 'Apps' section.
Scroll down the 'Apps & features' list or use the search bar to find 'Microsoft Office 2013'.
Click on the Microsoft Office 2013 entry and select 'Uninstall'. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the removal.
Once the uninstallation wizard finishes, restart your PC to ensure all residual registry files and background processes are completely cleared.
Uninstall Office 2013 via Control Panel
An alternative method for removing the software using the legacy Windows Control Panel.
Switch to WPS Office for a Lightweight and Hassle-Free Experience
Managing multiple large installations of Microsoft Office can consume valuable disk space and cause conflicts. WPS Office offers a streamlined, lightweight workspace that provides everything you need in one application.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for Windows.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the quick installation prompts to set up the software.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Double-click any existing Microsoft Office file on your computer to instantly open and edit it in WPS Office without losing formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will uninstalling Office 2013 delete my Word and Excel files?
No. Uninstalling Microsoft Office only removes the application files required to run the program. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are stored in user directories (like your Documents folder) and will not be deleted.
Do I need to reinstall Office 2021 after removing Office 2013?
Generally, no. Office 2021 will continue to function normally. However, if you notice that your document icons change or files stop opening automatically when double-clicked, you can easily fix this by going to 'Apps & features', selecting Office 2021, clicking 'Modify', and running a 'Quick Repair'.
Can I just delete the old Office 2013 folder from my disk manually?
It is highly recommended not to just delete the folder manually. Manually deleting files leaves broken registry entries and background services intact, which can cause system errors. Always use the 'Apps & features' or 'Control Panel' uninstall method.
