Will my license be removed if I delete the app?

No, activation is tied to your Microsoft account and cached in shared containers used by other Office apps.

Which folders should I avoid deleting if I have other Office apps?

Avoid removing shared items like Microsoft AutoUpdate and sign-in identity data located in the Group Containers.

How to Completely Uninstall Microsoft Outlook on Mac (2026 Guide)

Microsoft Outlook has its own uninstaller

Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
Office for Mac has no uninstaller; Microsoft's own steps are to move the app to the Trash and then delete its containers by hand.
Remove the folders Microsoft Outlook left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.

Everything Microsoft Outlook keeps on your Mac

15 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.

~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/Outlook Shared container · Outlook profiles with the local mail, calendar and contacts database Back up first: your data~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook Sandbox container · sandboxed app data: caches and preferences Yes, once the app is gone~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office Shared container · shared Office data: sign-in, templates, Normal template and startup add-ins Back up first: your data/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0 App data · Microsoft AutoUpdate, shared by all Microsoft apps Only if no other app uses it/Library/LaunchAgents/com.microsoft.update.agent.plist Background item · starts Microsoft AutoUpdate checks Only if no other app uses it/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper Other · AutoUpdate helper that installs updates Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.ms Shared container · Microsoft sign-in and identity data shared by Office apps Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.OfficeOsfWebHost Shared container · cache for Office web add-ins Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.com.microsoft.oneauth Shared container · Microsoft sign-in tokens shared by Microsoft apps Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.errorreporting Sandbox container · Office crash reporting, shared by all Office apps Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.netlib.shipassertprocess Sandbox container · Office diagnostics helper, shared by all Office apps Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Office365ServiceV2 Sandbox container · Microsoft 365 service helper, shared by all Office apps Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.RMS-XPCService Sandbox container · document protection (rights management) helper for Office Only if no other app uses it/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist Background item · starts the Microsoft AutoUpdate helper Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.autoupdate2.plist Settings · Microsoft AutoUpdate settings Only if no other app uses it~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.shared.plist Settings · settings shared by Microsoft apps Only if no other app uses it

Locations are the standard macOS folders Microsoft Outlook uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What Microsoft Outlook leaves behind

Specific to Microsoft Outlook

Dragging the app to the Trash does not remove your personal data, settings, or background helpers. Local mail, calendars, and contacts remain in group containers, which typically occupy 1 GB – 50 GB. Shared components like Microsoft AutoUpdate and sign-in tokens also persist to support other Office applications. These items stay on your disk until you delete their specific folders in the Library.

Background items: Microsoft AutoUpdate installs a launch agent and a privileged helper that are shared with every other Microsoft app.
License: Activation is tied to the Microsoft account and cached in the shared Office Group Containers, so it stays in place for any other Office app still installed.
Account and sync: Exchange, Microsoft 365 and Outlook.com mail stays on the server; only POP accounts and items under On My Computer exist solely in the local profile.

Preparing to remove Microsoft Outlook

Before deletion, ensure you have backed up any information that does not sync with a server. While Exchange and Microsoft 365 mail remains online, POP accounts and 'On My Computer' folders exist only locally. You should verify your account types to ensure mail returns upon a future sign-in. Finally, quit the app entirely before attempting to remove its profile folders.

Export POP mail and On My Computer items via Tools > ExportConfirm your accounts are Exchange, Microsoft 365, Outlook.com or IMAPQuit the app completelyKeep Office Group Containers if using Word, Excel or PowerPoint

0 of 4 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	15 folders, one by one	One scan
File sizes	You look them up yourself	Shown for every item
Removing the wrong thing	Easy to delete the wrong folder	Goes to the Trash first, so it can be restored
Cost	Free	Scan is free; cleaning needs Pro (yearly plan has a 7-day free trial)

How to Completely Uninstall Microsoft Outlook on Mac

Remove Microsoft Outlook and everything it leaves behind

Microsoft Outlook has its own uninstaller

Everything Microsoft Outlook keeps on your Mac

What Microsoft Outlook leaves behind

Preparing to remove Microsoft Outlook

By hand or with OptiClear

See it working

Try it without risk

Frequently asked questions

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