Troubleshoot Office 2016 for Mac issues by completely uninstalling before you reinstall

Step 1: Remove Office 2016 for Mac applications

1. Open Finder and click Applications.

2. Command  +click to select all of the Office 2016 for Mac applications.

3. Ctrl+click or right-click the applications you selected and click Move to Trash.

   

Step 2: Remove supporting files

The supporting files you need to remove are in the Library and User folders.

Remove files from the Library folder

1. Open Finder, click Go > Computer, and then click View >as Columns.

2. Go to Macintosh HD > Library > LaunchDaemons.

   

3. In the LaunchDaemons folder, ctrl+click or right-click this file if present, and then click Move to Trash.

   • com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist (if present)

   • com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist (if present)

4. Go to Library > PrivilegedHelperTools, ctrl+click or right-click this file if present, and then click Move to Trash.

   • com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper (if present)

   • com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper (if present)

5. Go to Library > Preferences and ctrl+click or right-click this file if present, and then click Move to Trash.

   • com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.plist (if present)

Remove files from your user Library folder

To remove files from your user Library folder, you'll need to first set the Finder View options.

1. In Finder, press  +Shift+h.

2. On the Finder menu, click View > as List, and then click View > Show View Options.

3. In the View Options dialog box, select Show Library Folder.

   

4. Switch back to Column view (  +3) and click <YourUserName>Library > Containers and ctrl+click or right-click each of these folders if present, and then click Move to Trash.

   • com.microsoft.errorreporting

   • com.microsoft.Excel

   • com.microsoft.netlib.shipassertprocess

   • com.microsoft.Office365ServiceV2

   • com.microsoft.Outlook

   • com.microsoft.Powerpoint

   • com.microsoft.RMS-XPCService

   • com.microsoft.Word

   • com.microsoft.onenote.mac

5. Switch back to Column view (  +3) and click <YourUserName>Library > Group Containersand ctrl+click or right-click each of these folders if present, and then click Move to Trash.

   WARNING: Outlook data will be removed if you move these folders to Trash. You should back up these folders before you delete them.

   • UBF8T346G9.ms

   • UBF8T346G9.Office

   • UBF8T346G9.OfficeOsfWebHost

Step 3: Remove Keychain Entries

1. Open Finder > Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access and remove the following password entries:

   • Microsoft Office Identities Cache 2

   • Microsoft Office Identities Settings 2

2. Search for all occurrences of ADAL in the keychain and remove all those entries if present.

Step 4: Remove Office 2016 for Mac icons from the Dock

If you added Office icons to the Dock they may turn into question marks after you uninstall Office 2016 for Mac. To remove these icons, control+click or right-click the icon and click Options > Remove from Dock.

Step 5: Restart your computer

When you've removed all the files listed in this section, empty the Trash and restart your computer.