Will removing the app cancel my Microsoft 365 subscription?

No, the subscription remains active because it is linked to your Microsoft account.

Should I delete the Microsoft AutoUpdate helper files?

Keep them if any other apps from the same company are still installed.

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

Microsoft Word 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 Word left behind, listed in the table below.
Empty the Trash to free up the space.

Everything Microsoft Word keeps on your Mac

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

~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word Sandbox container · sandboxed app data: caches, preferences, AutoRecovery and recent files Yes, once the app is gone~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Word/Data/Library/Preferences/AutoRecovery Other · AutoRecovery copies of unsaved documents Back up first: your data~/Library/Application Scripts/com.microsoft.Word Extension scripts · sandbox script folder created by macOS 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 Word uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.

What Microsoft Word leaves behind

Specific to Microsoft Word

Moving the app to the Trash preserves sandboxed data including caches and AutoRecovery files within its specific container. It also leaves behind shared Office group containers holding sign-in identities, templates, and the Normal template. Background helpers like Microsoft AutoUpdate remain active because they are shared across other apps from the company. These remaining files typically occupy between 200 MB – 5 GB.

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: Office is licensed through the Microsoft account that activated it; removing the app does not cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Preparing to remove Microsoft Word

Since there is no official uninstaller, you must manage your data manually. Ensure any unsaved work is recovered via the app before deletion, as these copies reside in the container. Decide if you need to keep shared components if you still use Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. Note that removing the software does not cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Save any documents offered for recovery within the appCopy custom templates and the Normal template from the group containerQuit the app fully before moving it to the Trash

0 of 3 done

By hand or with OptiClear

	By hand	With OptiClear
Places to check	16 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 Word on Mac

Remove Microsoft Word and everything it leaves behind

Microsoft Word has its own uninstaller

Everything Microsoft Word keeps on your Mac

What Microsoft Word leaves behind

Preparing to remove Microsoft Word

By hand or with OptiClear

See it working

Try it without risk

Frequently asked questions

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