As a productivity software expert, I've helped countless Mac users transition from Microsoft Office to more efficient tools like WPS Office. This guide is for you if you're looking to uninstall Microsoft Office on your Mac—whether to free up space, resolve performance issues, or switch to a better alternative.
Why Uninstall Microsoft Office on Mac?
Uninstalling Microsoft Office from your Mac can be brilliant for several reasons. Whether you're looking to free up space, improve performance, or explore better alternatives, here's why many users are saying goodbye to Microsoft Office:
1. High Cost: Microsoft 365 subscriptions cost $69.99/year, while WPS Office is 100% free.
2. Performance Issues: Office apps are resource-heavy, slowing down older Macs.
3. Compatibility Issues: Office for Mac does not have many features of Windows, such as higher functionality in Excel.
4. There are Better Options Available: For example, WPS Office offers native app experiences for the Mac, allows AI-powered functionality, and doesn't have problems with file compatibility.
My friend used to experience Excel crashes for Macs with very complicated formulas. Still, since she moved to WPS Spreadsheet, it no longer crashes, and she got some AI-powered tools for free data analysis.
How to Uninstall Microsoft Office on Mac: Step-by-Step.
That doesn't sound quite easy, but removing Microsoft Office from your Mac is pretty easy if you do the right things. I will explain what to do in detail in this article to guide you through an easy step-by-step process of uninstalling all remnants of Microsoft Office and getting some free space and speed for your Mac again.
1. Find out your office version
Office 2011, 2016, 2019, 2021, or Office 365.
2. Office Using Finder
For Office 2016, 2019, 2021, or 365
Step 1: Quit all the applications of the Office
Step 2: Open Finder Application > Applications
Step 3: Find all Microsoft Office apps and move them to Trash
Step 4: Empty the Trash
Office 2011
Step 1: Quit all the applications of the Office
Step 2: Go to Applications > Microsoft Office 2011 in the Finder.
Step 3: Drag and drop the folder in the Trash, then empty it.
3. Clean up Residual Files
Step 1: Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G.
Step 2: Go to ~/Library and delete those folders that have something about Microsoft Office:
~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft
~/Library/Containers/com. Microsoft.*
~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9*
Step 3: Under the path below, delete Preferences and cache files:
~/Library/Preferences
~/Library/Caches
4. Remove Office from Dock
Right-click each icon of Office applications > Options > Remove from Dock.
5. Restart Your Mac
Restart for the changes to take effect.
Step 1: Open Terminal.
Step 2: In the Terminal window, execute the following
command. sudo rm -rf /Applications/Microsoft* ~/Library/Application\\\\\\\\ Support/Microsoft ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.* ~/Library/Preferences/com. Microsoft.* ~/Library/Caches/com.Microsoft.*
Step 3: When requested, provide the administrator password for your Mac.
Step 4: Restart your Mac.
Common Issues When Uninstalling Microsoft Office on Mac
Office Apps Still Appear After Deletion
Some files may remain behind even after moving Office to Trash.
Solution: Manual removal of leftovers in ~/Library folders. Trash Will Not Go Because It Is "In Use"
Some Office background processes may not be closed.
Solution: Run Activity Monitor, then search for Microsoft-related processes, force-quit them, then try emptying the Trash.
Preferences and Cache Leftovers
Microsoft Office gives your Mac loads of hidden files.
Solution: Go to ~/Library/Preferences and ~/Library/Caches then delete everything from Microsoft-related
Office Won't Uninstall Completely
The finder won't do the job completely.
Solution: Use Terminal to remove all Office files with the command:
sudo rm -rf /Applications/Microsoft* ~/Library/Application\\\\ Support/Microsoft ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.* ~/Library/Preferences/com. Microsoft.* ~/Library/Caches/com. Microsoft.*
Issues in Reinstallation After Uninstall
Sometimes, errors or corrupted files are encountered after reinstalling Office.
Solution: All the Office-related files should be deleted before reinstalling Office.
activations after uninstall
Some of the license files remain in your system.
Solution: Go to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office and remove Office licensing files.
Third-party uninstaller doesn't delete everything
The uninstaller could be failing to remove the hidden system files.
Solution: You can manually search and delete some files from the Library folders or perform an advanced uninstall using AppCleaner.
Why Move Over to WPS Office after Uninstalling Microsoft Office?
Getting rid of Microsoft Office is just the first step; what comes afterward should be much more critical to something more effective and successful. In the case of WPS Office for Mac, since it comes as free, light, and more featured in contrast to Microsoft Office on many aspects, that itself decides to opt for it clear as day. So, here it goes:
1. Fully Free- No Hidden Costs
The Microsoft Office price includes 69.99 per year for Microsoft 365 or 149.99.
Pricing: WPS Office is 100% free for the core functionality in Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation.
Why pay hundreds of bucks for something that you can get for free?
2. Fully Compatible with Microsoft Office Files
Smooth: WPS Office opens, edits, and saves.docx ,.xlsx, and.pptx without formatting issues.
Real-World Example: A friend recently switched to WPS Office and experienced complicated Excel macros and PowerPoint animations running smoothly as silk.
3. Native Mac Optimization
Light Designs: WPS Office is only 200MB, while Microsoft Office claims more than 5GB to install. Easy Flow: Because it is designed for Mac OS, it works faster and hangs less often than Microsoft. Forget what 'slow' means; enjoy the flow of work on the Mac.
4. Innovative AI-powered Tools for Efficiency WPS AI: Correct Grammar Mistakes Summarize many-page documents Automatic Slideshow creators.
Data Analysis: WPS Spreadsheets boast AI-driven predictive analytics and trend forecasting.
Not on Microsoft Office 2019/2021: Users will be able to do that and some other features only with Microsoft 365, their much more expensive subscription packages.
5. Advanced Template Library
10,000+ Free Templates: From resumes to business presentations, WPS Office has a variety of professionally designed templates to suit any need.
Customizable Designs: Tweak your design according to your brand or personal style.
Microsoft Office's template library is elementary unless you pay more.
6. Cross-platform syncing and Cloud Integration
WPS Cloud: Store and access files from any device.
Third-Party Cloud Support: Integrates with Google Drive, Dropbox, and OneDrive.
Unlike Microsoft, WPS Office does not force you to use its cloud service.
7. Regular Updates and Security Patches
Weekly Updates: WPS Office is regularly enhanced with new features and bug fixes.
GDPR Compliance: WPS Office prioritizes the security and privacy of your data.
Microsoft Office 2019/2021: This version no longer has updates, making the system vulnerable.
8. User-Friendly Interface
Familiar Look: WPS Office is modeled after classic Microsoft ribbon, so transition isn't a hassle. Tabbed Browsing: Work in multiple documents from a single window, something Microsoft 365 itself can't pull off.
9. Advanced PDF Tools Free PDF Editor:
Annotate, convert, and compress PDF without any extra tools. Support for OCR: Extract text from a scanned document. This one is premium. Microsoft Office needs to have an Adobe Acrobat, thereby costing extra dollars.
10. Community and Support
Active User Community: Millions of WPS users get tips, templates, and a helping hand on troubleshooting.
24/7 Customer Support: Raise a query anytime.
Since WPS Office is free, offers AI-powered tools, and natively optimizes for Mac, you have nothing to lose when you uninstall Microsoft Office. It has more or less all that you would wish for and more.
Frequently Asked Questions: Uninstalling Microsoft Office on Mac
Q1: Will my files be deleted once I uninstall Microsoft Office?
A: Of course not. Uninstalling Microsoft Office itself will never delete your personal files, whether they're Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, or PowerPoint presentations. But if you have important files, backing them up before changing anything is always good.
Q2: Is it possible to reinstall Microsoft Office after uninstallation?
A2: You can install it anytime from the official website by logging in with your account.
Q3: Will WPS Office support Microsoft Office file types?
WPS Office fully supports all Microsoft Office file formats, including .docx,.xlsx, and .pptx. You can open, edit, and save documents without any compatibility issues.
Summary
Manually uninstalling Microsoft Office from a Mac requires removing, not just dragging and dropping it into the Trash, but also cleaning up residual files thoroughly. If you want something better, WPS Office is lightweight, fully compatible with all Office file formats, and empowered by WPS AI to create and edit documents more intelligently. Switch to WPS Office to ensure an efficient and smooth user experience.
