Windows
Downloading the Microsoft Office Removal Tool for Windows 10 is the fastest way to scrub your system clean of leftover Office files after uninstalling.
Stuck with leftover Microsoft Office files after uninstalling? The Office Removal Tool can clean up registry entries, hidden folders, and stubborn remnants—saving you hours of manual cleanup. Here’s how to download and use it properly on Windows 10.
This official tool from Microsoft ensures a complete removal of Office apps, including shared components that standard uninstallers miss. Below, I’ll walk you through the download process, how to verify the tool’s authenticity, and step-by-step instructions to avoid common pitfalls.
Where to download the official Microsoft Office removal tool for Windows 10 (step-by-step)
If you're removing Microsoft Office from your Windows 10 system, the Office Uninstall Support Tool (OUSR) is your best bet for a clean removal. Unlike standard uninstallers, this tool targets hidden files, registry keys, and shared components that often linger after manual removal.
I’ll guide you through the official download process and verification steps to ensure you get the right version for your system.
The Microsoft Office Removal Tool is free and directly hosted on Microsoft’s servers. Always download it from Microsoft’s official website to avoid malware or corrupted files.
This tool works for Office 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Office 365 on Windows 10, but compatibility varies slightly depending on your Office version and Windows build.
Before downloading, check your Windows 10 version (Settings > System > About) and Office version (File > Account in any Office app). This ensures you download the correct tool variant. For example, Office 2010 requires a different tool than Office 365. Mismatches can lead to errors or incomplete removals.
Here’s how to download and verify the tool in just a few steps:
Open your browser and navigate to Microsoft’s Office Uninstall Support Tool page. This is the direct download link for the latest version.
Click the Download button to save the OfficeUninstallSupportTool.exe file to your Downloads folder or a location of your choice. The file size is typically around 5-10 MB, so it downloads quickly.
Right-click the downloaded file and select Properties. Go to the Digital Signatures tab and ensure it’s signed by Microsoft Corporation. This confirms the file is authentic and safe to run.
Right-click the OfficeUninstallSupportTool.exe file and select Run as administrator. This is critical—running it without admin rights may fail to remove all registry entries or shared files.
The tool will prompt you to choose your Office version (e.g., Office 2016, Office 365). Select the correct one to ensure it targets the right installation files and components.
The tool will display a list of Office components it detected. Review the list, then click Uninstall to begin the clean removal process. This may take a few minutes.
After downloading, always scan the file with your antivirus before running it. Tools like Windows Defender or Malwarebytes can confirm the file is clean. If you encounter any errors during the download, try using a different browser (e.g., Chrome or Edge) or restart your Windows 10 system.
If the tool isn’t available for your specific Office version, Microsoft may require manual removal. In that case, use Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program first, then manually delete leftover folders in C:\Program Files and C:\Program Files (x86). Always back up important files before proceeding.
Once the tool completes, verify the removal by checking for leftover Office shortcuts or files in C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office. If any remain, use Windows Search to locate and delete them manually. This ensures your system is fully clean of Office remnants.
Pro tip: If you plan to reinstall Office later, keep the product key handy. You can find it in Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program before removal. This avoids activation issues during future installs.
How to use the Microsoft Office removal tool: full clean Uninstall process
The Microsoft Office Removal Tool (also called the Office Uninstall Support Tool) automates the cleanup of registry keys, hidden files, and shared components left behind after uninstalling Office.
Unlike standard uninstallers, it targets Office 2016, 2019, and 2021 versions, including Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Here’s how to run it safely on Windows 10.
First, launch the downloaded OfficeUninstallSupportTool.exe as an Administrator. Right-click the file, select "Run as administrator", and confirm the User Account Control prompt. The tool will scan your system for Office-related files and display a list of detected Office installations.
This step ensures the tool identifies all lingering components, even if you’ve already uninstalled Office manually.
⚠️
Select the Office versions you want to remove from the list—check all boxes if you’re performing a full cleanup. The tool will then begin the uninstallation process, which may take 5-15 minutes depending on your system CPU speed and SSD/HDD performance.
Avoid interrupting the process, as it may leave your system in a corrupted state.
After completion, the tool will display a summary report confirming which Office components were removed. Look for entries like "Microsoft Word", "Excel", or "Office Shared Tools" marked as "Removed".
If any items fail, note the error code—this helps troubleshoot remaining files later. For example, error 0x80070005 often indicates permission issues with protected system folders.
To verify the cleanup, open File Explorer and navigate to: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office and C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office. These folders should now be empty or deleted. Additionally, check the Windows Registry by pressing Win + R, typing regedit, and searching for "Microsoft Office".
No entries should remain under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office.
If you encounter broken shortcuts or missing file associations after running the tool, reset them via Settings > Apps > Default apps. For stubborn issues, use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant to diagnose Office-related errors.
This ensures your system is fully clean of Office remnants without disrupting other applications.