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To remove a Microsoft Office license from a computer, choose the action that matches your goal: remotely deactivate a Microsoft 365 installation, sign out of Word or another Office app, transfer an eligible one-time-purchase license, or uninstall the Office applications. These actions are different; signing out or deactivating does not uninstall Office, and uninstalling does not remove your documents.

Choose the right way to remove Office

Your goal What to do
Stop a Microsoft 365 subscription installation from using your account on a particular computer Sign out of Office remotely from the Microsoft account page for a personal or family subscription, or from the work or school account portal for a business subscription.
Remove your account from the Office apps on the computer you are using Sign out from an Office app, then close all Office apps.
Move a one-time-purchase Office license to another computer Check the license terms for your specific edition and purchase, then follow Microsoft’s transfer instructions if permitted.
Remove Word, Excel, and other Office applications from Windows Uninstall Office separately. This removes the applications, not the documents you created.

Deactivate Microsoft 365 on a computer remotely

Use remote sign-out when you want to stop a Microsoft 365 subscription installation from being associated with a device you no longer use or control. The installed Office apps and documents remain on that computer. Microsoft says the device may take up to 72 hours to detect the sign-out; afterward, Office can still open documents for viewing and printing, but creating and editing require signing in again. Microsoft’s deactivation instructions cover the account portal steps.

Microsoft 365 Personal or Family

  1. Open the Microsoft account Installs page and sign in with the account used for the subscription.
  2. Under Devices, find the computer and choose Sign out of Office.

Microsoft 365 also signs devices out automatically to stay within sign-in limits, so remote deactivation is not necessary solely to free an installation.

Microsoft 365 for work or school

  1. Sign in to the Office account portal with your work or school account.
  2. Open Office apps & devices, expand Devices, and choose Sign out beside the target computer.

If you cannot access the portal or manage the account’s license, contact your organization’s administrator.

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Microsoft Office Home 2024 | Classic Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint | One-Time Purchase for a single Windows laptop or Mac | Instant Download
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Sign out of an Office app on the computer

If the goal is to remove your account from Word, Excel, or another Office app on the computer in front of you, sign out from the account menu in an Office app, then close all Office apps. This removes the account’s Office license from that app. Creating and editing files are disabled until Office is activated again, and recent files and custom settings are no longer shown. This does not uninstall Office. See Microsoft’s explanation of what happens when you sign out for details.

Transfer a one-time-purchase Office license

Office Home & Student, Home & Business, Professional, and individual Office apps do not have the same remote deactivation option as Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Whether a one-time-purchase license can be moved depends on the Software License Terms for the specific edition and purchase; do not assume every license is transferable.

Rank #2
Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 | Classic Desktop Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote | One-Time Purchase for 1 PC/MAC | Instant Download [PC/Mac Online Code]
  • [Ideal for One Person] — With a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024, you can create, organize, and get things done.
  • [Classic Office Apps] — Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote.
  • [Desktop Only & Customer Support] — To install and use on one PC or Mac, on desktop only. Microsoft 365 has your back with readily available technical support through chat or phone.

If the terms permit a move, Microsoft’s instructions are to activate Office on the new computer and uninstall it from the original. Check the activation and different-device instructions and the applicable license terms.

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Uninstall Office from Windows

Uninstalling removes the Office applications, but not documents or workbooks created with them. Microsoft’s steps vary depending on whether Office was installed using Click-to-Run, MSI, or Microsoft Store. Follow the guidance for your installation type in Microsoft’s Windows uninstall instructions.

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Microsoft’s uninstall troubleshooter supports Microsoft 365 and Office 2016, 2019, 2021 on Windows 10 or later, but it cannot currently uninstall Office 2024. If the troubleshooter does not fully remove an installation, Microsoft provides manual uninstall instructions on the same support page.

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TrulyOffice 2024 Family Lifetime License for Windows | 4 in 1 All Access TrulyOffice Suite | Words, Sheets, Slides, and Cloud | 5 Users | Physical Activation Card
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What removal does—and does not do

  • Remote sign-out: stops the subscription installation from using the account on that device; it leaves the apps and documents in place.
  • Signing out of an app: removes the account’s license from that app and can disable editing until reactivation.
  • Uninstalling: removes Office applications from Windows, not user-created files.
  • One-time-purchase transfer: depends on the specific license terms; it is not the same as Microsoft 365 remote deactivation.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.