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How to Completely Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from Your Mac

Posted on by Hannah Lee
Uninstalling Microsoft 365 applications from the Applications folder

Uninstalling Microsoft 365 or Office applications from your Mac is a straightforward process, but it requires administrative access and careful attention to ensure all related files are removed. Whether you want to free up space, troubleshoot issues, or switch to a different version, this guide will walk you through the steps to completely uninstall Microsoft 365 for Mac, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook.

Why Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office?

Before proceeding, consider why you might want to remove Microsoft 365 or Office from your Mac:

  • Freeing up storage space: Microsoft 365 applications can occupy significant disk space.
  • Resolving performance issues: If Office apps are crashing or running slowly, a clean uninstall can help.
  • Switching to a new version: You may want to upgrade or downgrade to a different version of Office.
  • Removing unused software: If you no longer need Office, uninstalling it can declutter your system.

Prerequisites

To uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from your Mac, ensure you meet the following requirements:

  • Administrator access: You must be logged in as an administrator or provide an administrator’s username and password.
  • Backup important data: If you have unsaved documents or Outlook data (emails, contacts, calendars), back them up before proceeding. Deleting certain folders (e.g., Outlook data) will permanently remove your data.

Step-by-Step Guide to Uninstall Microsoft 365 for Mac

1. Uninstall Microsoft 365 Applications

To remove the main Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook):

  1. Open Finder and navigate to the Applications folder.
  2. Hold down the Command (⌘) key and click to select all Microsoft 365 applications (e.g., Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, etc.).
  3. Right-click (or Ctrl+Click) the selected applications and choose Move to Trash.
  4. Empty the Trash to permanently delete the applications.

Uninstalling Microsoft 365 applications from the Applications folder

Uninstalling Microsoft 365 applications from the Applications folder

2. Remove Microsoft 365 Support Files

Microsoft 365 stores additional files in your Library folder. These files can include preferences, caches, and other data. To remove them:

  1. Open Finder and press Shift + Command (⌘) + G to open the Go to Folder dialog.

  2. Type ~/Library and press Go.

  3. Navigate to the Containers folder. Ctrl+Click each of the following folders (if they exist) and select Move to Trash:

    • Microsoft Error Reporting
    • Microsoft Excel
    • com.microsoft.netlib.shipassertprocess
    • com.microsoft.Office365ServiceV2
    • Microsoft Outlook
    • Microsoft PowerPoint
    • com.microsoft.RMS-XPCService
    • Microsoft Word
    • Microsoft OneNote

    ⚠️ Warning: Deleting the following folders will permanently remove Outlook data (emails, contacts, calendars). Back up your Outlook data before proceeding:

    • com.microsoft.Outlook

  4. Return to the Library folder and open the Group Containers folder. Ctrl+Click each of the following folders (if they exist) and select Move to Trash:

    • UBF8T346G9.ms
    • UBF8T346G9.Office
    • UBF8T346G9.OfficeOsfWebHost

Removing Microsoft 365 support files from the Library folder

Removing Microsoft 365 support files from the Library folder

3. Remove Microsoft 365 from Dock

If you have Microsoft 365 applications pinned to your Dock, remove them to clean up your workspace:

  1. Right-click (or Ctrl+Click) the Office app icon in the Dock.
  2. Select Options > Remove from Dock.
  3. Repeat for all Office applications.

4. Restart Your Mac

After removing all Microsoft 365 applications and support files:

  1. Click the Apple menu (🍏) in the top-left corner.
  2. Select Restart to complete the uninstallation process.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Issue: Cannot Delete Files or Folders

  • Solution: Ensure you are logged in as an administrator. If you still encounter errors, try:
    • Repairing disk permissions using Disk Utility.
    • Using Terminal to force-delete files (advanced users only).

Issue: Outlook Data Loss

  • Solution: Always back up your Outlook data (emails, contacts, calendars) before deleting the com.microsoft.Outlook folder. You can export your data using Outlook’s Export feature.

Issue: Reinstalling Microsoft 365

Additional Resources

For further assistance, explore these helpful links:

Need More Help?

If you encounter persistent issues or need further guidance:

Microsoft 365 support and community resources

Microsoft 365 support and community resources

Hannah Lee

Certified in canine behavior and positive reinforcement training, Hannah writes practical guides that help owners understand their dogs’ emotions, habits, and learning patterns. She believes that patience and consistency are the keys to any successful training journey.