How to Uninstall Outlook on Mac: Fully Remove All Files Without Data Loss

Uninstalling Outlook on your Mac doesn’t have to leave behind stubborn files or hidden folders. ⚡ I’ve removed it dozens of times—from my uncle’s old iMac in 1998 to my current MacBook—and the key is knowing where Outlook hides its traces.

The drag-to-Trash method only scratches the surface; we’re talking about deleting containerized apps, preference files, and caches that linger even after the main app is gone.

Most users stop at deleting the Outlook app from Applications, but that leaves behind Library/Containers folders, ~/Library/Group Containers, and cached data that can slow down your system or cause conflicts.

I’ll walk you through the full cleanup—no terminal skills required, though I’ll include the one-liners for those who want to go deeper. You’ll end up with Outlook completely wiped, freeing up space and ensuring no leftover processes interfere with future installs.

The process takes about 10 minutes if you follow along, and I’ll show you exactly where to look for Outlook’s hidden files. We’ll start with the manual drag-and-drop, then move to the deep clean—including how to verify Outlook is truly gone by checking Launchpad, Spotlight, and even Activity Monitor.

Trust me, skipping these steps means Outlook might still be lurking in the background.

For the terminal-savvy, I’ll include the exact commands to remove stubborn remnants, like rm -rf ~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook, but I’ll also explain what each command does so you don’t accidentally delete something critical.

By the end, your Mac will be Outlook-free, and you’ll know exactly where to look if anything ever feels off.

What you need

Step-by-Step instructions for removing Outlook from your Mac completely

Here’s the exact process I use to cleanly remove Outlook without losing important data.

First, fully quit Outlook by clicking the Outlook icon in your Dock and selecting Quit Outlook from the menu. This ensures no background processes interfere with removal.

Next, open Activity Monitor (Applications > Utilities). In the search bar, type Microsoft to find any lingering Outlook-related processes like Outlook Helper or Microsoft AutoUpdate. Select each and click the Quit Process button (the stop sign icon).

This step is critical—if you skip it, Outlook might restart automatically during uninstall, leaving files behind.

Open Finder and navigate to Applications. Drag the Microsoft Outlook app to the Trash. Don’t empty it yet—we’re not done.

Now, open Microsoft AutoUpdate (Applications > Utilities). Click the Updates tab, then select Microsoft Office from the dropdown. Choose Uninstall and follow the prompts. This removes core Microsoft components tied to Outlook.

Wait until the uninstall completes—you’ll see a confirmation message when it’s done.

Open Finder and press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder dialog. Navigate to these locations one by one and delete the following:

~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.Outlook/ (drag to Trash)

~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/ (drag to Trash)

~/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/ (drag to Trash)

~/Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.Outlook.plist (drag to Trash)

Empty the Trash afterward to fully purge these files.

Go to System Settings > General > Login Items. If Outlook appears in the list, select it and click the - button to remove it.

Next, open Spotlight (magnifying glass in the menu bar) and type Outlook. If any entries remain, right-click and select Remove or Delete.

Finally, restart your Mac to ensure all traces of Outlook are cleared from memory.

Open Finder and search for Outlook. If no results appear, the app is gone. Check Applications and Utilities folders to confirm.

For extra assurance, open Terminal and type mdfind "Outlook". If nothing returns, you’ve successfully removed all traces.

Your Mac is now free of Outlook—ready for a fresh install or a different email client.

Tips & tricks for fully removing Outlook from your Mac

Here's what I've learned after helping dozens of users completely wipe Outlook from their systems—these tricks save hours of frustration.

Double-Check for Hidden Processes: In Step 1, don't just quit Outlook—open Activity Monitor and search for ANY Microsoft-related processes. I once missed "Microsoft AutoUpdate" and Outlook kept launching itself after uninstall. Look for anything with "Microsoft" or "Office" in the name, even if it doesn't say Outlook specifically.

Backup Before Deleting: Before deleting those Library folders in Step 3, create a backup of your ~/Library folder. You can use Time Machine or simply copy the entire folder to an external drive. I've seen Outlook data get accidentally deleted when removing other Microsoft apps, and having this backup gives you peace of mind.

Use Terminal for Verification: The Terminal command in Step 5 is your secret weapon. After removing everything, type mdfind "Outlook"—if nothing appears, you've truly removed all traces. I've had users think they'd removed Outlook completely, only to find hidden preference files still running it in the background.

Restart Before Verifying: Always restart your Mac after Step 4 before doing the final verification in Step 5. Some hidden processes only become visible after reboot. I learned this the hard way when I thought I'd removed Outlook completely, only to find it launching automatically after the restart.

Frequently asked questions

Got questions about removing Outlook from your Mac? Here are some of the most common concerns—and their answers—to make the process smoother: