How to Uninstall Microsoft Word Without Removing Microsoft Office

Many users wonder whether they can uninstall Microsoft Word without removing the entire Microsoft Office suite. The answer typically varies based on the version of Office you are using. In this article, we will explore the possibilities and provide a detailed guide on how to achieve this for different Office versions.

Uninstalling Microsoft Word in Earlier Versions

For Microsoft Office 2013 and earlier, the process is relatively straightforward. You can uninstall Word without affecting the rest of the Microsoft Office applications. Here’s how you can do it:

Navigate to Programs and Features under Add or Remove Programs. Locate Microsoft Office in the list. Right-click on Microsoft Office and select Modify. In the resulting window, you should see an option to Remove just Word or any other application while keeping the rest of Office installed.

Uninstalling Microsoft Word in Office 2016 and Office 365

The process for Office 2016 and Office 365 is a bit more complicated. Microsoft has moved away from allowing partial uninstallation for these versions. However, there are alternative methods to achieve a similar result:

Option 1: Disable Microsoft Word

If you simply want to hide Word and temporarily use the other Office applications, you can disable it:

Open Word. Go to File and click on Accounts. Under the Microsoft Account section, click on Remove an app. Choose Microsoft Word and click Remove.

This will hide Word from your Start menu and taskbar, making it easier to access the other Office applications. To re-enable Word, return to the same settings and click Microsoft Word to add it back.

Option 2: Use the Office Repair Tool

If you need to fix any issues within the Office suite, you can use the Office Repair Tool. This can help resolve conflicts and potentially free up space:

Navigate to Programs and Features. Right-click on Microsoft Office and select Change. Choose Quick Repair or Online Repair and follow the prompts to repair any issues.

While this might not remove Word, it can help ensure the rest of the Office suite operates smoothly, which can be beneficial for your workflow.

Conclusion

While it might not be possible to completely remove Microsoft Word without removing the entire Microsoft Office suite, there are still ways to manage and control its presence on your system. Whether you choose to hide it temporarily, repair the Office installation, or manage the suite through the Add/Remove Programs feature, you have options to keep your workflow as smooth as possible.

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