How to Uninstall Pre-Installed Office Programs (2026)

When you install a fresh copy of Microsoft Office on a Windows PC, you might run into activation errors, missing applications or compatibility warnings that seem impossible to explain. In the vast majority of cases the culprit is the same: leftover files and registry entries from a pre-installed or trial version of Office that the standard “Uninstall” button did not fully remove. Before you reinstall the product you have purchased from Licendi, it is essential to wipe any previous Office installation properly so Windows has a clean slate.

This guide walks you through the official Microsoft method — the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) — which automatically detects and removes every trace of Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, Office 365 and Microsoft 365 from your computer. If you want to understand which edition to reinstall afterwards, browse our full range of Microsoft Office licences before you begin.

Why pre-installed Office causes problems

Most new laptops arrive with a trial or OEM version of Office that is tied to a specific Microsoft account. Even when you click “Uninstall” from the Windows Settings panel, background services, scheduled tasks and activation tokens often remain. When you then try to install a different edition — for example Office 2021 Professional Plus or Office 2019 Professional Plus — the installer can clash with those leftovers and fail silently. A proper clean-up prevents activation loops and “product already installed” errors.

Steps to follow

  1. Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant. Get the official tool directly from Microsoft: SaRA download page. You can also read the full documentation on the Microsoft support page.
  2. Unzip and install the program. Run the installer with administrator rights and accept the licence agreement.
  3. Select “Office” on the first screen, as shown below:

    SaRA step 1: selecting Office from the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant menu

  4. Choose the third option (“I have Office installed but I’m having trouble uninstalling it”):

    SaRA step 2: choosing the option to completely uninstall Office

  5. Confirm that this is the affected computer by clicking “Yes”:

    SaRA step 3: confirming that the current PC is the affected device

  6. Do not interrupt the tool. SaRA will close any open Office apps, delete installation folders and clean the registry. Depending on the speed of your disk, the process can take up to 20 minutes.
  7. Restart Windows when prompted. This releases any locked files and ensures the removal is complete.

After the uninstall: installing your new Office

Once Windows has restarted, your PC is ready for a clean Office installation. Very important: you must reinstall the product strictly from the download link included in the email we sent you when you placed your order. Using any other installer — even one downloaded directly from Microsoft’s website — may pull a different edition that is incompatible with the key you purchased, and the installation will fail again.

If you want a guided walkthrough of the next step, see our tutorial on Office installation step by step. Unsure which edition suits you best? Our comparison of Office 2019 vs 2021 and the guide Which Microsoft Office programme do I need? will help you decide between Standard, Professional Plus and subscription-based options.

Common issues and tips

  • Antivirus blocking SaRA: temporarily disable third-party antivirus during the uninstall, then re-enable it afterwards.
  • OneDrive sign-in prompts: these are harmless and can be dismissed; SaRA only removes Office, not your documents.
  • Multiple Office versions: if two editions are installed side by side, run SaRA twice to be sure every trace has gone.
  • Licence keys: your genuine Licendi key is tied to the edition on your invoice, so always reinstall the matching version.

With a clean system and the correct installer from your order email, activation should complete in seconds. Ready to upgrade or replace your Office suite? Explore our full catalogue of perpetual Microsoft Office licences and choose the edition that fits your workflow.

Best regards,
The Licendi Team