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Will Uninstalling Office 2013 Delete Word or Excel Files?
Question details
The user is asking whether their personal Word and Excel documents will be deleted or lost if they uninstall Microsoft Office 2013 from their computer.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2013
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Removing an older version of Microsoft Office to upgrade to a newer version like Office 2021 without losing personal data.
- Observed behavior
- The user is concerned about potential data loss regarding their saved Word and Excel documents during the software uninstallation process.
Locate your default 'Documents' folder on your local drive and copy your crucial .docx and .xlsx files to an external USB flash drive or cloud storage to ensure they are physically protected before altering your system software.
How to Safely Uninstall Office 2013 and Upgrade Your Software
Follow these steps to safely remove the Office 2013 application without affecting your personal documents, and seamlessly transition to a newer version like Office 2021.
Microsoft Office application files and your personal document files are stored in completely different locations on your computer's hard drive. Uninstalling the Office 2013 program only removes the executable software files from your system's 'Program Files' directory.
Your personal Word documents (.docx) and Excel spreadsheets (.xlsx) will remain untouched in their original save locations. However, any customized application settings, specific user interface configurations, and third-party add-ins associated with Office 2013 will be removed and may need to be reinstalled.
Click the Start menu, type 'Control Panel' in the search bar, and open the desktop app. Under the 'Programs' section, select 'Uninstall a program' or 'Programs and Features'.
Scroll through the list of installed programs, select 'Microsoft Office 2013', and click 'Uninstall' at the top of the window. Follow the uninstallation prompts and restart your computer when prompted.
Navigate to office.com in your web browser and sign in using the Microsoft account associated with your new license. Click the 'Install Office' button to download the setup file.
Run the downloaded installer file and follow the on-screen setup instructions. Once installed, launch Word or Excel and sign in with your Microsoft account to activate the software.
Need a Seamless Transition? Try WPS Office
If you are uninstalling Office 2013 and looking for a lightweight, free alternative that perfectly preserves your existing Word and Excel files, WPS Office is the ideal solution. It installs in seconds, offers high compatibility with Microsoft formats, and provides a familiar user interface.
- 1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installer package and follow the quick installation prompts.
- 2. Open Your Existing Documents: Launch WPS Office and navigate to your 'Documents' folder. You can immediately open and edit your previously saved Word and Excel files.
- 3. Set as Default Application: Choose WPS Office as your default program in your system settings to automatically open all your Office-formatted files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are my Word and Excel files actually stored on my computer?
By default, your personal files are saved in the 'Documents' folder on your Windows PC or synced to a designated cloud storage folder like OneDrive. They are deliberately not stored inside the Office program installation folders.
Do I need to uninstall Office 2013 before installing a newer version?
Yes, it is highly recommended to uninstall older versions like Office 2013 before installing a newer suite to prevent software conflicts, file association errors, and to ensure optimal system performance.
Will I lose my custom Word templates when uninstalling Office 2013?
If your custom templates were saved in the default application directory rather than your user AppData folder, they might be removed. It is best practice to manually back up your custom templates before proceeding with the uninstallation.
What happens to my third-party Excel add-ins after reinstalling Office?
You will likely need to reinstall your third-party add-ins after upgrading. The uninstallation process removes application-specific settings and extensions tied to the older Office environment.
