You are moving between different subscription types (e.g., Personal to Enterprise).
Go to office.com and sign in with your account to download the latest, clean installation file.
This guide was based on information for Microsoft 365 and Office 2021/2019/2016 versions.
If your current installation is failing to update or launch, a full "clean" uninstall followed by a reinstall is the standard remedy recommended by Microsoft Support . ms office removal tool
For installations (Volume License versions or older standalone copies), you might still need the offscrub07.vbs , offscrub10.vbs , or offscrub15.vbs scripts. Microsoft released these Visual Basic scripts to forcibly remove Office.
The tool will ask which version you want to uninstall. Select the version of Office you are trying to remove (e.g., Office 365, Office 2021, Office 2019, or a specific installed version). Click . 4. Confirm and Remove
It wipes every registry key, cached file, and stray DLL so you can reinstall cleanly. You are moving between different subscription types (e
After running SaRA and restarting, you can manually check for and delete any remaining Office folders. You may need to show hidden files and folders in File Explorer first. Look in the following locations and delete any Microsoft Office folders you find:
As a last resort, manual removal involves deleting specific folders in %ProgramFiles% and editing the registry ( regedit ) to remove keys under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office . Best Practices for a Clean Reinstall
| Error Code / Message | Cause | Fix | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | | Background Office processes still running. | Kill OSPPREARM.exe and ClickToRunSvc via Task Manager, then retry. | | "SaRA cannot remove MSI-based Office" | Windows Installer service is corrupt. | Run msiexec /unregister then msiexec /regserver in admin CMD. | | Removal succeeds but activation data remains | Tokens stored in C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Licensing . | Manually delete that folder after running SaRA. | | Tool says "No Office found" but Start menu shows icons | Corrupt uninstall registry keys. | Use Revo Uninstaller Free (portable mode) or manually delete registry keys under HKLM\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office . | If your current installation is failing to update
In this article, we'll take a closer look at the MS Office Removal Tool, including its features, benefits, and step-by-step instructions on how to use it. We'll also cover some common scenarios where you might need to use the tool, and provide some tips and best practices for ensuring a smooth removal process.
Traces of older versions (like Office 2016) conflict with newer deployments (like Microsoft 365).
The Ultimate Guide to the MS Office Removal Tool: Completely Uninstall Office