How to Uninstall Office from Mac: Say Goodbye to Microsoft Office
Are you thinking of switching to another productivity suite or just need to free up some precious space on your Mac? Whatever your reason is, uninstalling Microsoft Office from your Mac can be done in a few simple steps. In this article, we’ll guide you on how to uninstall Office from Mac completely and safely. Let’s get started.
Steps: How to Uninstall Office from Mac
Step 1: Close all Office apps and services
Before uninstalling Office from your Mac, make sure to close all Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. You also need to shut down any associated services such as OneDrive and Skype for Business. To do this, simply right-click on the icons in the dock and select “Quit.”
Step 2: Uninstall Office apps
Now that you’ve closed all the Office apps and services, it’s time to uninstall them. Head to Applications, find the Microsoft Office folder, and drag it to the Trash bin. Alternatively, you can right-click on the Microsoft Office folder and select “Move to Trash.”
Step 3: Remove Office files
Uninstalling Office apps alone won’t remove all the associated files on your Mac. There are still leftover files that need to be eliminated to complete the process. One way to do this is by using the Terminal app. Open Terminal and type in “sudo rm –rf /Applications/Microsoft\ Office\ 2011/” to remove everything related to Office 2011. Repeat the process for any other Office versions installed on your Mac.
Step 4: Clean up library folders
Office-related files are also stored in the library folders on your Mac. To clean up these folders, navigate to the following locations and delete any Microsoft-related items:
– ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft
– ~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.*
– ~/Library/Caches/Microsoft
Step 5: Empty the Trash bin
Once you’ve removed all the Office-related files and folders, don’t forget to empty the Trash bin. This will permanently delete all the files and ensure that there are no remnants left behind.
Step 6: Restart your Mac
Restarting your Mac after uninstalling Office is a good practice to ensure that all files and processes related to Office have been terminated. Simply click on the Apple icon in the top menu bar and select “Restart.”
Step 7: Check for leftover files
To make sure that all Office files and folders have been completely removed from your Mac, use a reliable cleanup tool like CleanMyMac X or AppCleaner. These tools scan your Mac for leftover files associated with Office and generate a list for you to review and delete.
Step 8: Revoke Office license
If you’ve purchased a license for Office, you need to revoke it before uninstalling the apps. Open any Office app and click on the “Help” menu. Select “Deactivate Product” and follow the prompts to revoke the license.
Step 9: Uninstall OneNote
If you’ve installed OneNote separately from the Office suite, you need to uninstall it separately as well. Locate OneNote in Applications and drag it to the Trash bin or use an uninstaller like AppCleaner to delete it.
Step 10: Delete Outlook profiles
If you’ve set up Outlook on your Mac, you need to delete your Outlook profiles and data files to remove all traces of Office. Go to “Applications” > “Utilities” > “Terminal” and type in “defaults delete com.microsoft.Outlook” to delete all Outlook profiles.
Step 11: Remove Office plugins
Office plugins can also leave behind files and folders after the uninstallation process. To delete them, navigate to the following locations and delete any Microsoft-related items:
– ~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office365/User Content/Startup/Word
– ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Word
Step 12: Install alternative productivity suite
Now that you’ve successfully uninstalled Office from your Mac, it’s time to install an alternative productivity suite. Popular alternatives include Apple iWork, Google Workspace, and LibreOffice. Choose the one that best fits your productivity needs and get started.
Explanation
Uninstalling Office from your Mac involves various steps to ensure that all the associated files and folders are removed. The procedure includes closing all Office applications and services, uninstalling Office apps, removing Office files, cleaning up library folders, emptying the Trash bin, and restarting your Mac. You also need to revoke your Office license, delete OneNote, Outlook profiles, and Office plugins to ensure a complete uninstallation. Lastly, you can install an alternative productivity suite like iWork, Google Workspace, or LibreOffice.
Tips and Tricks
1. Keep your Mac clutter-free by uninstalling apps that you don’t use regularly.
2. Revoking your Office license ensures that you can reuse the license on another device or reinstall Office on your Mac in the future.
3. Using a reliable cleanup tool like CleanMyMac X saves you time by detecting leftover Office files automatically.
4. Always restart your Mac after uninstalling apps or making system changes.
5. Take advantage of free trial periods for alternative productivity suites to test their features and functionalities.
6. Don’t forget to backup important files before uninstalling any app to avoid data loss.
7. Arrange your desktop and dock for easy access to your most frequently used apps and files.
8. Disable unused startup items to speed up your Mac’s boot time.
9. Use keyboard shortcuts and gestures to increase your productivity and save time.
10. Learn how to troubleshoot common Mac problems to fix issues on your own.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Uninstalling Office from Mac
Advantages
1. More space on your hard drive: By uninstalling Office from Mac, you can free up significant space on your hard drive which can be used for other purposes.
2. Speed up your Mac: Removing unwanted software from your Mac can improve its performance and speed.
3. Organized applications: If you no longer use Office on your Mac, uninstalling it will help in keeping your applications more organized.
4. No more updates: By uninstalling Office, you won’t have to worry about updating it every time there are new versions available.
5. No more support calls: If you don’t use Office on your Mac, you won’t have to deal with any support calls related to it.
6. Increase productivity: With more space and improved speed, you can be more productive on your Mac.
7. Reduce clutter: Fewer applications on your Mac means less clutter and easier access to the ones you use frequently.
8. Save money: Uninstalling Office can help you save money if you were previously paying for a subscription.
9. More privacy: Removing Office from your Mac can help in keeping your personal data and information more secure.
10. Experiment with alternatives: Uninstalling Office from Mac gives you the opportunity to experiment with other alternatives that might suit your needs better.
Disadvantages
1. Lack of features: Uninstalling Office means losing access to its features if you were previously using them.
2. Compatibility issues: If you are using Office for specific purposes or with specific applications, removing it may cause compatibility issues.
3. Familiarity: If you are accustomed to using Office, switching to other alternatives may take some time to get used to.
4. Inconvenience: Uninstalling Office and switching to other alternatives may be an inconvenience if you are used to the way Office functions.
5. Shortage of software: The choice of alternatives may be limited, making it difficult to find a suitable replacement.
6. Learning curve: Some alternatives may have a steep learning curve, making it a challenge for users who have no prior experience using them.
7. Compatibility with coworkers: If your coworkers or colleagues are using Office, switching to other alternatives may hamper collaboration and communication.
8. Extra cost: Some alternatives may have an additional cost, which may negate the cost savings of uninstalling Office.
9. Limited cloud support: Some alternatives may have limited or no cloud support, making it difficult to access files remotely.
10. Loss of file formatting: Uninstalling Office may lead to the loss of formatting in files that were previously created or edited in Office.
FAQ
1. What is Microsoft Office?
Microsoft Office is a suite of productivity applications developed by Microsoft Corporation for various operating systems such as Windows, Mac OS, and others.
2. Why do I want to uninstall Microsoft Office from my Mac?
There could be various reasons you want to uninstall Microsoft Office from your Mac. Maybe you have switched to another productivity suite, or your license has expired, or you want to free up disk space, or you encountered some issues with the software.
3. What happens if I uninstall Microsoft Office from my Mac?
If you uninstall Microsoft Office from your Mac, you will no longer have access to its applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and others. However, your documents and other files created in those applications will not be deleted and you can still open them with other compatible software.
4. How do I uninstall Microsoft Office from my Mac?
You can uninstall Microsoft Office from your Mac by following these steps:
- Close all Microsoft Office applications.
- Open Finder and go to Applications folder.
- Find and select Microsoft Office folder.
- Drag the Microsoft Office folder to Trash.
- Empty Trash to permanently delete Microsoft Office from your Mac.
5. Can I reinstall Microsoft Office later if I uninstall it now?
Yes, you can reinstall Microsoft Office later if you uninstall it now as long as you have a valid license or subscription.
6. Will uninstalling Microsoft Office delete my files and documents?
No, uninstalling Microsoft Office will not delete your files and documents created in its applications. You can still access them with other compatible software.
7. Is it safe to uninstall Microsoft Office from my Mac?
Yes, it is safe to uninstall Microsoft Office from your Mac as long as you follow the proper steps and make sure to backup any important files first.
8. Can I uninstall only some applications of Microsoft Office?
Yes, you can uninstall only some applications of Microsoft Office if you don’t need them. You can follow the same steps to uninstall them individually.
9. How do I know if Microsoft Office has been uninstalled from my Mac?
You can check if Microsoft Office has been uninstalled from your Mac by searching for its applications in Finder or Launchpad. If you can’t find them, it means they have been uninstalled.
10. Can I uninstall Microsoft Office from my Mac if it was pre-installed?
Yes, you can uninstall Microsoft Office from your Mac if it was pre-installed. You can follow the same steps to uninstall it.
11. What should I do before uninstalling Microsoft Office?
Before uninstalling Microsoft Office, you should make sure to backup any important files and documents created in its applications, deactivate any licenses or subscriptions, and close all its applications.
12. Can I uninstall Microsoft Office from my Mac using third-party software?
Yes, you can uninstall Microsoft Office from your Mac using third-party software but it is not recommended as it may cause other issues or delete important files. It is better to follow the proper steps to uninstall it manually.
13. What are the alternatives to Microsoft Office on Mac?
There are several alternatives to Microsoft Office on Mac such as Google Workspace, Apple iWork, LibreOffice, WPS Office, and others. You can try them and find the one that suits your needs.
How to Uninstall Office from Mac
Uninstalling Office from your Mac can be a necessary task if you are switching to a different productivity suite or you need to reinstall Office for Mac. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you uninstall Office from your Mac.
Conclusion and Closing
In conclusion, if you need to uninstall Office from your Mac, the process is straightforward. By following these simple steps, you can uninstall Office without any hassle. Always remember to backup any important files before uninstalling any applications from your computer. Thank you for reading and good luck with your Office reinstallation or switch to a new productivity suite!
Until next time, Mac users. Happy computing!