Completely Uninstall Microsoft Office for Mac 2011

Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 doesn’t come with an uninstaller like it’s previous versions.

Easy Solution

  1. Download and run our Office 2011 Uninstall Tool.
  2. A prompt will appear to confirm removal. Click Continue.
  3. Once it has completed a message will appear. Click OK.
  4. Remove any Office icons from the Dock.
  5. If you have other versions of Microsoft Office installed, it would be advisable to reinstall them.

Alternative instructions for users who also have Office 2008 installed

  1. Go to your Applications folder.
  2. Open the “Microsoft Office 2008” folder.
  3. Open the “Additional Tools” folder.
  4. Open the “Remove Office” folder.
  5. Run the “Remove Office” application.
  6. Once it has opened, click Continue and it will search for all versions of Office that are installed.
  7. Once it has found all your versions, check “Microsoft Office 2011” (if it appears) and click Continue. Otherwise, close the application.

Manual Solution

If a file or folder that you are asked to remove doesn’t exist then move on to the next step.

  1. Go to your Applications folder.
  2. Remove the “Microsoft Office 2011” folder.
  3. Remove the “Microsoft Communicator” and “Microsoft Messenger” applications.
  4. Go to your home folder, then go to the Documents folder. Remove the “Microsoft User Data” and “RDC Connections” folders.
  5. Go to your home folder, open the Library folder and then open the Preferences folder.
  6. Remove the “Microsoft” folder.
  7. Remove any files beginning with “com.microsoft.office”.
  8. Go to the “/Library/Application Support” folder from your main hard drive and remove the “Microsoft” folder.
  9. Go to the “/Library/Preferences” folder and remove the “com.microsoft.office.licensing.plist” file.
  10. Go to the “/Library/LaunchDaemons” folder from your main hard drive and delete the “com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist” file.
  11. Go to the “/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools” folder from your main hard drive and delete the “com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper” file.
  12. Go to the “/Library/Internet Plug-Ins” folder from your main hard drive and delete the “SharePointBrowserPlugin.plugin” and “SharePointWebKitPlugin.webplugin” files.
  13. Go to the “/Library/Receipts” folder from your main hard drive and delete the any files beginning with “Office2011_”.
  14. Whilst still browsing a folder, press cmd + Shift + G.
  15. Type in “/var/db/receipts/” and press Enter.
  16. Remove any files in the folder beginning with “com.microsoft.office” or “com.microsoft.mau”.
  17. Go to the “/Library/Automator” folder from your main hard drive.
  18. If you don’t use the Automator application then you can delete all the files. Otherwise, delete the following files:
    Add Attachments to Outlook Messages.action
    Add Content to Word Documents.action
    Add Document Properties Page to Word Documents.action
    Add New Sheet to Workbooks.action
    Add Table of Contents to Word Documents.action
    Add Watermark to Word Documents.action
    Apply Animation to PowerPoint Slide Parts.action
    Apply Font Format Settings to Word Documents.action
    AutoFormat Data in Excel Workbooks.action
    Bring Word Documents to Front.action
    Close Excel Workbooks.action
    Close Outlook Items.action
    Close PowerPoint Presentations.action
    Close Word Documents.action
    Combine Excel Files.action
    Combine PowerPoint Presentations.action
    Combine Word Documents.action
    Compare Word Documents.action
    Convert Format of Excel Files.action
    Convert Format of PowerPoint Presentations.action
    Convert Format of Word Documents.action
    Convert PowerPoint Presentations to Movies.action
    Convert Word Content Object to Text Object.action
    Copy Excel Workbook Content to the Clipboard.action
    Copy PowerPoint Slides to the Clipboard.action
    Copy Word Document Content to the Clipboard.action
    Create List from Data in Workbook.action
    Create New Excel Workbook.action
    Create New Outlook Mail Message.action
    Create New PowerPoint Presentation.action
    Create New Word Document.action
    Create PowerPoint Picture Slide Shows.action
    Create Table from Data in Workbook.action
    Delete Outlook Items.action
    Find and Replace Text in Word Documents.action
    Flag Word Documents for Follow Up.action
    Forward Outlook Mail Messages.action
    Get Content from Word Documents.action
    Get Images from PowerPoint Slides.action
    Get Images from Word Documents.action
    Get Parent Presentations of Slides.action
    Get Parent Workbooks.action
    Get Selected Content from Excel Workbooks.action
    Get Selected Content from Word Documents.action
    Get Selected Outlook Items.action
    Get Selected Text from Outlook Items.action
    Get Text From Outlook Mail Messages.action
    Get Text from Word Documents.action
    Import Text Files to Excel Workbook.action
    Insert Captions into Word Documents.action
    Insert Content into Outlook Mail Messages.action
    Insert Content into Word Documents.action
    Insert New PowerPoint Slides.action
    Mark Outlook Mail Message as a To Do Item.action
    Office.definition
    Open Excel Workbooks.action
    Open Outlook Items.action
    Open PowerPoint Presentations.action
    Open Word Documents.action
    Paste Clipboard Content into Excel Workbooks.action
    Paste Clipboard Content into Outlook Items.action
    Paste Clipboard Content into PowerPoint Presentations.action
    Paste Clipboard Content into Word Documents.action
    Play PowerPoint Slide Shows.action
    Print Excel Workbooks.action
    Print Outlook Messages.action
    Print PowerPoint Presentations.action
    Print Word Documents.action
    Protect Word Documents.action
    Quit Excel.action
    Quit Outlook.action
    Quit PowerPoint.action
    Quit Word.action
    Reply to Outlook Mail Messages.action
    Save Excel Workbooks.action
    Save Outlook Draft Messages.action
    Save Outlook Items as Files.action
    Save Outlook Messages as Files.action
    Save PowerPoint Presentations.action
    Save Word Documents.action
    Search Outlook Items.action
    Select Cells in Excel Workbooks.action
    Select PowerPoint Slides.action
    Send Outgoing Outlook Mail Messages.action
    Set Category of Outlook Items.action
    Set Document Settings.action
    Set Excel Workbook Properties.action
    Set Footer for PowerPoint Slides.action
    Set Outlook Contact Properties.action
    Set PowerPoint Slide Layout.action
    Set PowerPoint Slide Transition Settings.action
    Set Security Options for Word Documents.action
    Set Text Case in Word Documents.action
    Set Word Document Properties.action
    Sort Data in Excel Workbooks.action
  19. Remove all the shortcuts from the Dock.
  20. If you have other versions of Microsoft Office installed, it would be advisable to reinstall them.

119 comments

  1. I am following your instructions but still I am not able to uninstall Word 2011 completely. There must be more files hidden somewhere.

    Reply

  5. Yes, I did. I thought you meant something else. I’ve tried everything and still when I install it again, somehow the system knows my previous licence expired and it doesn’t let me go on. Are you able to uninstall it and install it again successfully? I am running Mac OS X, Version 10.6.8. May this be the reason? Thanks a lot for your help,

    Reply

  6. You are unable to uninstall and reinstall Office 2011 to reset the trial period for obvious reasons.

    If you were able to, then there would be no need to pay for Microsoft Office.

    Reply

  8. Awesome tool, works great. Any chance you could create a command line version of the tool or parameter of some king to make it a silent uninstall?

    Reply

      1. I am having so many issues with my 10.5 right now. I KNOW (can’t control caps now) that somehow i opened Pandora’s box and I’ve been hacked into (this is now the 2nd time) and am being viewed and (just ever so slightly) remotley access controlled. I need all the command help I can to counter attack and/or protect myself. Please help, Or I will have to to a complete delete and reinstall. I have already lost my account pref. file, bluetooth, shared, and all windows for MAC programs. Giving it 12/24 more hours and then “POOF’ it will all go up in smoke.

        Thanks again.
        harry/CAT

        Reply

        1. If your problem is as serious as you say it is then I would definitely recommend that you format the drive and reinstall Mac OS X.

          Reply

        1. I’ve emailed you the silent uninstallers.

          If anyone else wants them then post a comment here with your email. Your email won’t be visible to others.

          Reply

          1. Hi Carl,

            I downloaded your uninstaller but I can’t seem to open the zip file and get it to do anything. When I double click on it it looks like it’s unzipping for a brief second but then that window disappears and another zip file is placed on my desktop with a wierd extension – so the new file is named Office 2011 Uninstall.zip.cpgz I tried to open several times and each time a new zip file is created and nothing opens. Help!

          2. I’d like a command line uninstaller for Office 2008 too, please! These systems will have Office 2011 on them, so hopefully it can limit itself to 2008…

      3. I have tried the removal tool but it says mv:application/microsoft office 2011/: no such file

        But i am looking right at the file in applications

        Reply

  10. Carl, I tried your tool and it completely screwed up my fonts on my brand new machine. What the hell did your tool do??

    Reply

    1. The tool removes the fonts that were installed by Microsoft Office. That’s why reinstalling Office fixed your problem. In your case, you want to make a backup of the /Library/Fonts/Microsoft folder.

      Reply

  11. Me again. I just want to say I solved the problem after much headache. After trying to clear font caches, etc. etc., I solved the problem by…….. reinstalling Office. Hope this saves someone else out there the agony!!

    Reply

  12. If i use this tool it will be able to uninstall the software completely? and i would be able to install microsoft office in the future from another source? or will the newly installed microsoft have some defects?

    if so, should i follow the manual steps instead?

    Reply

    1. After uninstall, you can install from another source without any issues.
      You can do use the tool or the manual instructions. They both do the same thing.

      Reply

  13. Is the “Microsoft Communicator” you refer to in the manual instructions (#3) the same as the “Remote Desktop Connection” I have in the applications folder?

    Reply

    1. They are different applications. If you can not find a particular file listed in the instructions then move on to the next step.

      Reply

  14. I had two Office versions installed. After uninstall Office 2011 the Office 2008 is still running without any problems. Cool

    Reply

  15. Thanks so much, this was so easy! Office for Mac 2011 was making it impossible to read some webtext (showed “AAAAAAAA” instead). Now the problem has gone. This tool is awesome.

    Reply

  16. hi,

    is there any danger of your uninstall script also removing files [ especially .plist files ]
    which Office / Entourage 2008 needs to run ?

    thanks

    Pete

    Reply

    1. To be sure go to your Documents folder and open the “Microsoft User Data” folder. Then, backup the folder “Office 2008 Identities” before running the instructions.

      Reply

  17. Hi Carl, I have a purchased MSOffice 2008 installed on my mac but I tried the new version of MSOffice 2011 (downloaded from Microsoft) After the test of MSOffice 2011 I decided finally do not purchase the upgrade. The question is the following If I use your uninstall tool, I will loose any functionality in my MSOffice 2008?

    Reply

    1. First of all you want to backup your Fonts folder. Then run the tool and select the “No, recommended” option when asked to clear user data.

      Reply

        1. Sorry, I thought you may have been talking about an addon for Office.

          I haven’t been able to test it with any other languages of Office 2011 but perhaps you would be able to try it and let me know the outcome?

          Reply

          2. Hi Carl
            I have now deinstalled my German Office 2011 pack and it seemed to have worked beautifully. i did keep the user settings and prefs. The only things that were not removed were the icons in the dock.

            I installed my multi user Office 2011 (German) and it asked me for the product key.

            All in all, your script did what I wanted it to do – 2 thumbs up

            thanks
            Peter

  20. Can this tool or any other tool remove office for mac 2004 AFTER the mac is upgraded to OS X 10.7.2 Lion??

    M

    Reply

    1. No, it doesn’t work for Office 2004.

      There should be an uninstaller in this folder:
      /Applications/Microsoft Office 2004/Additional Tools/Remove Office

      Reply

        1. I’m afraid not. All I would suggest doing is deleting the PowerPoint application in the /Applications/Microsoft Office 2011 folder.

          Reply

  21. Thanks, this tool was easy to use and solved my problem with Powerpoint completely after I reinstalled the program.

    Reply

  23. I tried your easy uninstall tool but there is still stuff left over… it did uninstall the main programs but as I follow the manual steps I find applications and folders that should have been removed are still there… how come? Like microsoft user data folder and microsoft folder in fonts are still there…

    Reply

    1. When you first ran the uninstaller it asks if you want keep User Data so you must have clicked Yes. Also, the fonts were kept to avoid compatibility issues.

      Reply

      1. But the manual uninstallation have this step with no warnings regarding the compatibility problems, so I assumed that removing the microsoft folder from fonts shouldn’t be a big problem? I have actually already removed it but have yet to notice anything weird with my mac but now I’m a bit worried… hopefully this shouldn’t be a problem. Anyhow, thanks for your help and time!

        Reply

          1. Sorry to bomb you with questions, but if I install microsoft office again (regardless if it’s a licensed or a trial version) will that microsoft folder be back in library/fonts?

  24. Also in the manual steps 16 and 17 where one should remove files starting with com.microsoft.office, I have no such files after using your easy unisntall tool, though I do have files starting with com.microsoft.mau-somethingsomething and I guess those files should be left alone? Another thing is that after uninstalling I have two files named recovered files and recovered files #1 in my trash, can that be important? Sorry, I’m a rather paranoid user…

    Reply

    1. Thanks for bringing this up. You should remove the com.microsoft.mau files as these are related to the Microsoft Office Updater. I’ve added this information to the original article.

      Regarding the files in your Trash however, I don’t believe those to be related to the uninstall application.

      Reply

  26. Thank you for the info you’ve provided – it looks like it will be very helpful!

    My MacBook Pro is running Lion (10.7.3), and I installed (and activated) a copy of Microsoft: Office Mac 2011 that I bought from my school. I wasn’t paying attention when I installed it, and like a dope, I installed the entire Office suite, when I only wanted to install Word and Excel. From everything else I’ve read, it sounds like the best option I have is to completely uninstall Office 2011 and do a custom reinstall of only the components I need.

    Your posted information is the best info I’ve found to completely uninstall Office 2011. However, I just want to make sure that I will be able to reactivate it once I reinstall it because I can’t afford to pay full price if it can’t be reactivated. If I use the Easy Solution tool, should the custom reinstallation and reactivation be a problem?

    Thanks again for your help!

    Reply

    1. Yes, you can re-activate after running the uninstaller linked in the “Easy Solution” above.

      Reply

  27. Carl:

    I want to upgrade on my MacBook (with Lion) from Microsoft Office Home 2011 to Microsoft Office Business. I need to uninstall the “Home” programs, then re-install the Microsoft Office Business. Do you foresee any problems using your program for this purpose? Many thanks!

    Reply

  28. Hi Carl,

    Just a small clarification – I have the Office 2011 for Mac trial version which I want to completely and permanently remove. I also have Office 2004 installed which I want to keep. Do I need to do anything in particular to protect the files etc for Office 2004 before I run your uninstall tool?

    I’m running OS10.6.8.

    Reply

    1. I haven’t tested it with Office 2004. If you still have the install disc for 2004 then I would run the uninstall tool and install office 2004 after just to make sure.

      Reply

  29. Thank you very much, this is the most comprehensive guide for removing MS Office. I had to install a trial version on my Mac so my girlfriend could present her PhD, her Mac was a little broken (the things you do for love :))
    Needless to say, I am ecstatic that I feel confident that all is clear!

    Once again, many thanks!

    PS: I used the manual solution… call me a nerd

    Reply

  30. That’s a nifty tool you have. I ran your uninstall software and for fun I manually checked everything – the software works like a charm. However, my issue still plagues me. As of two days ago I was running OS X 10.5, MS Office .X and and Office 2011 freshly installed. I installed OS X 10.6 and ran the updates to the OS and then installed Lion and ran it’s updates. The new install of Lion seems to be working fine but my Office application, specifically WORD is giving me fits. The issue is: As the admin user, Word will not open old documents correctly. I created a new user and was able to open all my old documents without any problems. I’ve now reinstalled Office 2011 3 times (the last time using your software) and I’ve not had any luck correcting the problem. So…..what am I missing / doing wrong.
    ~feeling like a ‘not smart phone’~

    Reply

  31. Well, I tried the link and it executed fine. Things are still the same in Word though (no change), except now a couple of the more recent docs (w/in the last few years) are now exhibiting the same behavior. I’f you have more tricks in the bag, I’ve got the time to try them.
    Thanks so much for the help thus far.

    Reply

    1. Which method did you use? Try the using the instructions under the ‘Quick Method’ tab on the Reset home permissions page.

      Also, please tell me the location of where the documents are located.

      Reply

  33. Hey Carl Norton, i have an issue. I have use your unistall tool, then i reinstall office mac again, but during the Word start up, there is no Continue trial version tab, it only has Purchase product key and enter product key.

    Thank you in advance Carl Norton

    Reply

    1. That is because you have already run a trial before which has expired. To keep using it, you will need a product key.

      Reply

  36. Hi Carl I install Office 11 in my father’s Mac but it is in english and my father want it in spanish, if I use your tool, can I install the office 2011 spanish version without any problem? I mean is the spanish version going to work Ok? thanks in advance

    Reply

  38. Hi Carl … your tool comes to me highly recommended. However, I have been thwarted at the start by the following message when I try to start up the uninstaller (after the file has been extracted from the ZIP):

    “Office 2011 Uninstall” is damaged and can’t be opened. You should move it to the trash.

    Any idea why I am getting this message?

    Reply

    1. Hi Lewis,

      Can you try downloading the file again? If that doesn’t work then try downloading it from another computer.

      Reply

  43. I tried this to remove office from my Mac, but I still get the error : A version of the software required to install this update was not found on this volume. Any idea how to fix this ?

    Reply

    1. It sounds like you may be launching the Office 2008 uninstaller. If my uninstaller prompts you to launch it, then click No.

      Reply

      1. Nope the 2011 uninstaller works fine, its just that when I install an update for Office, that message appears. I think there is a corrupt file somewhere the that uninstaller is not deleting.

        Reply

  44. I have office home and business and thought I had purchased a multiple license until I installed it on my child’s computer as well as mine only to discover it’s just a single (D’oh!). I know I will have to purchase another license but my question is, if I buy the (cheaper) student version and enter that product’s key number, will it activate the program I have installed (without outlook, obviously, and anything else not included in the student version) or will I have to uninstall the business version (using your tool) and then install the student version from scratch? I am nervous about attempting the uninstall because of the font issue others have mentioned. Your advice is appreciated…

    Reply

    1. The uninstaller will remove the Fonts installed by your current version of the Office. However, when you install the student version, it will reinstall them.

      Reply

  45. Folks –

    I used the script to uninstall office 2011 and re-installed the office. Now, with outlook – I seem to be missing the .plist files and everytime I shutdown outlook and re-launch, it does not save my preferences.

    How can I go about saving my preferences and get back the .plist file?

    Regards
    Kishore

    Reply

  48. Hi,
    I had some up grades installed this morning on my microsoft office for mac, now office wont open . When I click on outlook the logo comes up and immediately a message comes up ” you dont have sufficent permissions to view contents of this folder, the only options is to click OK and back to the same, can you help please, cheers Gabrielle

    Reply

  49. Hi, thank you so much for this INCREDIBLY helpful and thorough manual. Below is some additional feedback from my researching all the steps necessary to remove Microsoft Office 2011 for Mac from your computer. I am not a techie, just a lay user who is very paranoid about clean installations. I had to reinstall Office because I wanted to change my “registered to” information without messing with editing .plist files.

    — In the step regarding ~/Library/Preferences, in addition to deleting all files beginning “com.microsoft.office” in that Preferences folder, you also need to check the “By Host” subfolder (~Library/Preferences/BY HOST) and remove all files that have to do with Microsoft (there were several there on my install, including one called MicrosoftRegistrationDB.x).

    — In the step regarding removing Automator actions that were installed by Microsoft from the Macintosh HD/Library/Automator folder, note that you have 95 actions listed in your manual instructions, but there were only 94 actions in my installation. I did not have the action called . Anyway, your point about Automator was a good reminder, since the official Microsoft Support Uninstall directions (at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2398768) do not mention removing the Microsoft-installed Automator actions.

    — As noted in your comments above, after removing Macintosh HD/Library/Fonts/Microsoft folder, note that there is still a folder created by Microsoft in Macintosh HD/Library/FONTS DISABLED containing versions of Arial, Brush Script, Times New Roman, Verdana, and Wingdings (16 files total). When Microsoft Office first installs, it disables these fonts and removes them to the FONTS DISABLED folder in order to install its own duplicate version of these fonts. Do not delete the Disabled Fonts since they are original OSX items (just leave the folder as is). It is necessary to reinstall Microsoft Office with all the Fonts package, or else Arial, Brush Script, TNR, Verdana, and Wingdings will not work. (The alternative is to re-enable these fonts and properly install them back to the Fonts folder, provided you do not plan on ever re-installing Microsoft Office with Fonts.)

    — Before re-installing Microsoft Office, or before installing Microsoft Office on a BRAND NEW MAC COMPUTER, be sure to remove or delete the folder ~/Documents/MICROSOFT USER DATA so that the Office installation wizard does not recognize, and extract personalization information, from this archive. The existence of an old Microsoft User Data folder under ~/Documents causes the Office installation wizard to ask you to use “existing information” instead of prompting you for new information (name, company name).

    Reply

  50. Hi, could I get the silent uninstaller scripts you mentioned above? Oh and is there anyway you could add Lync into the uninstaller? Thank you for such a great and useful tool.

    Reply

  51. Installed new HD on same Macbook Pro by TimeMachine backup. No problems and all working except MS Office 11. Office 8 already deleted. Cannot determine if Service Pack 2 is installed because cannot open program, but assume it has been.

    Are there any issues with MS Office 11 FAMILY EDITION? [loaded on 3 computers and no additional slots left].

    When you have been into MS Hell more than once, it is NOT paranoia when you are standing at the gates again.

    Thanks!

    Reply

  52. you are a lifesaver- i had demo office on and instead of just putting in licence number when i purchased disc i tried to load cd and what happened then was office completely stopped working. 2 days of work were solved in 10 secs using your programme -MANY MANY THANKS

    Reply

  53. I’m new to Mac, before to buy Office 365 I downloaded, to test only purpose, a “non original” Office 365.

    Now I bought my “Original” Office 365, I installed it in another Mac and I had the admin account requested, when I install on my MBP I don’t have any request and checking on Office site I can only see the first mac as registered.

    It’s a business license that permits to be installed on 5 PC/Mac

    So, the request is, how can I completely remove the previous installation?

    TIA

    Reply

  54. I just uninstalled it from my kids mac mini so I could put it on their new macbook air.
    Incredibly easy and done in about 10 seconds.
    Then, i just removed the icons from the dock…..

    Way better than the 3 pages and 11 steps from microsoft….

    Reply

  55. Hey everyone, I just wanted to add if you go to microsoft.com, click “office” and log in, there is an uninstall button on the website and also a cancellation of the subscription. So you don’t have to download a tool or have to go threw all the trouble of deleting every file. That’s what I did, but if that doesn’t work I know these KB guys can help:)

    Reply

    1. Hi Michelle, I read your uninstall MSOffice Mac 2011 suggestion, but can’t seem to find it on MS site. I would appreciate any further guidance you may wish to offer. For as yet unknown reason the KB procedure isn’t working on my mac. Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

      Reply

  56. Hi Carl, I am trying to use your MSOffice Mac 2011 uninstaller, but it stops and shows the following message: “mv: rename / Applications/Microsoft Office 2011/toUsers/myname/.Trash/Microsoft Office 2011/:Directory not empty.” and will proceed to uninstall. I have tried selecting yes and no to Keep user data to no avail. I am not very technical and don’t know what to do to get the uninstaller to work. Thanks in advance for your assistance.

    Reply

    1. Hello Anonymous,

      Have you tried the manual method for removing Office?

      Regards
      Russell

      Reply

  58. Hi there

    I tried to install your “uninstall tool” but my computer will only allow microsoft or files developed by authorised developers’ So i have started by deleting the office suite 2011 … Microsoft now instructs me to find individual files… looks really time consuming and dodgy… is there anyway I can install your uninstall?

    Cheers

    Julie

    Reply

    1. Where the message blocking the tool from running is displayed. there is a “More info” link bottom left. Click that then click “Allow Anyway”
      Hope this helps

      Reply

    1. your documents should not be affected. However we would always suggest you create backups if you are concerned.
      Hope this helps.

      Reply

  60. Hi could you send me the silent uninstall scripts for this?
    Thanks for creating this tool!!!!

    Reply

  64. I have 30 MAC’s that I need to upgrade to office 365/ office 2016 and could really use you command line uninstall.

    Thank you again!!!!!

    Reply

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