Office Settings & Configuration

How to Remove Word Add-Ins When Administrator Access is Denied

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to uninstall unwanted Office Plus or PDF add-ins but is blocked by a Windows permission error denying administrator access.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Attempting to manage or remove installed Office add-ins through Word or Windows Settings.
Observed behavior: Windows prevents the removal of the add-ins due to insufficient administrator privileges, even if the user is the owner of the computer.

Before you start

Ensure you have the administrator password or PIN for your Windows account on hand, as you will need it to bypass the User Account Control (UAC) security prompt.

Solution 1Recommended

Run Word as Administrator to Remove Add-ins

Launch Microsoft Word with elevated privileges to gain the system permissions required to manage and remove stubborn add-ins.

When an add-in is installed for all users on a computer, standard user permissions are not sufficient to modify or delete its files. Running the host application (Word) as an administrator temporarily grants you the necessary rights to uninstall the add-in directly from the application's interface.

Locate the Word Shortcut

Open the Windows Start menu and search for the Microsoft Word application shortcut.

Launch with Elevated Privileges

Right-click the Word shortcut and select 'Run as administrator' from the context menu.

Approve the Security Prompt

When the User Account Control (UAC) prompt appears on your screen, click 'Yes' and enter your administrator password if requested.

Remove the Add-in

Once Word opens, navigate to 'File' > 'Options' > 'Add-ins', select 'COM Add-ins', click 'Go', and remove the unwanted Office Plus or PDF add-ins.

Windows Apps Uninstallation: If the add-in was installed as a standalone program, you may need to right-click the Windows Start button, select 'Windows PowerShell (Admin)' or 'Terminal (Admin)', and launch the 'appwiz.cpl' command to remove it from the Programs and Features list with elevated rights.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Windows deny administrator access to remove add-ins?

Windows restricts changes to system-level files and program directories (like 'Program Files') to prevent unauthorized modifications. Add-ins installed globally for 'All Users' require elevated administrative privileges to be modified or removed.

Can I remove Word add-ins in Safe Mode?

Yes, starting Word in Safe Mode prevents third-party add-ins from loading automatically, which can bypass file-in-use errors. Press and hold the CTRL key while launching Word to enter Safe Mode, then attempt the removal process.

What should I do if I don't have the administrator password?

If you are using a work or school computer, you will need to contact your IT department to have them remove the add-in. For a personal computer, you must log into an account designated as an Administrator in Windows Settings.

How do I access add-in settings in Microsoft Word?

Open Word, go to the 'File' tab, select 'Options', and click on 'Add-ins' in the left sidebar. From the 'Manage' dropdown at the bottom, select the type of add-in (such as COM Add-ins) and click 'Go' to enable or disable them.

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