What Is ProPlus2019Retail.img and Is It Safe to Delete?
Question details
The user wants to know the purpose of the ProPlus2019Retail.img file and whether deleting it will negatively affect their computer or Office software.

- Product
- Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Freeing up computer disk space after installing Microsoft Office.
- Observed behavior
- A large disk image file named ProPlus2019Retail.img remains on the local drive taking up valuable storage space.
Before deleting the file, ensure that Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019 is fully installed, activated, and functioning correctly on your computer.
Safely Delete the ProPlus2019Retail.img File
Remove the installation image file to free up storage space once Microsoft Office is successfully installed.
The ProPlus2019Retail.img file is an offline installation media file, acting like a virtual DVD used to install Office 2019. It does not contain your personal documents and is not required to run Word, Excel, or PowerPoint once the installation process is complete.
Open any Microsoft Office application, such as Word or Excel, from your Start menu to confirm the software runs without any errors or activation prompts.
Open File Explorer and go to 'This PC'. If you see a virtual DVD drive labeled with Office 2019, right-click the drive and select 'Eject' to unmount the image.
Navigate to the folder where ProPlus2019Retail.img is saved (often the Downloads folder). Right-click the file, select 'Delete', and then empty your Recycle Bin to permanently reclaim the disk space.

Try WPS Office: A Lightweight Alternative That Saves Disk Space
If large installation files like ProPlus2019Retail.img are taking up too much storage on your computer, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a full suite of office tools in a significantly smaller, faster, and free installation package.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the compact installation package to your computer.
- 2. Quick Installation: Run the lightweight installer to quickly set up the entire office suite in just a few minutes.
- 3. Open Your Existing Files: Launch WPS Office and seamlessly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents without changing their original formats.

Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reinstall Office 2019 if I delete the ProPlus2019Retail.img file?
Yes, you can reinstall Office 2019 even if you delete this file. You will simply need to log into your Microsoft account online and re-download the installation media from the official Microsoft portal.
Why is the ProPlus2019Retail.img file so large?
This file contains the complete offline installation data for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2019, including all applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Publisher, as well as multiple language packs, which requires several gigabytes of storage.
How do I extract files from the ProPlus2019Retail.img file without installing?
In Windows 10 and Windows 11, you can simply right-click the .img file and select 'Mount' to access its contents as a virtual CD/DVD drive. Alternatively, you can use third-party archiving software like 7-Zip to extract the individual files.




