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Uninstall Updates in Office 'Click to Run'

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› Outlook › Uninstall Updates in Office ‘Click to Run’

Last reviewed on January 30, 2025     55 Comments

Applies to: Outlook (classic), Outlook 365 (Win)

A spate of recent updates caused problems in Outlook and the short-term fix is to uninstall the update; however, updates can’t be uninstalled from the Click-To-Run installations of Office, and almost all users have the Click-To-Run installation.

Instead, you will need to revert to an earlier version.

First, you need to disable Office updates. If you don’t disable updates, the problem update will reinstall itself. You can disable updates from the File menu in any Office application.

In Outlook (this is an Outlook help site after all), go to File, Office Account, Update Options and click on Disable Updates.

disable office updates

Next, create an appointment in your calendar for 30 days from now to remind yourself to check for updates. In many cases, the “bad” file will be removed or replaced with a corrected update, and you can allow Office to install updates without reinstalling "trouble" after a few weeks have passed.

Now you’re ready to roll back the click-to-run installation.

Windows 10: Start typing cmd on the Start screen in the task bar search field to find the Command Prompt then click Run as Administrator

open the command prompt

Older Windows version: Right click on the Start button and choose Command Prompt (Admin). If you don't see Command Prompt on the menu, you'll need to type cmd on the Start screen to find the Command Prompt then right click on it and choose Run as Administrator

If you are using Outlook 2016, 2019, or 365, copy the following line, then right click in the command prompt window to paste it. Replace xxxx.yyyy with the build number you want to revert to. You can look up build numbers at Version numbers of update branches for Office 365 clients.

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.xxxxx.yyyyy

paste the command into the window

 

April 22 2024

There are a couple of bugs in Outlook 2016 and newer and reverting to an older version will fix it.

The first: The Out of Office indicator bar on appointments is the same color as the appointment (either calendar color or category color). This command line will revert to the previous build.

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17328.20184

The second: Outlook 2016 has the newer interface in Outlook 2019/2021 with larger reply / forward buttons. To revert that you need to go back several weeks then up to the January 2024 build.

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.16924.20150

Then this to update to the January 9, 20 Version 2312 update to keep the old buttons.

"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17126.20132

Release DateCommand
July 2021"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.14131.20320
April 23 2021"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.13901.20462
March 30 2021"C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\officec2rclient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.13901.20312

Press Enter and the "update" will download and install.

the "update" starts to download

Outlook 2013

Outlook 2013 users will change the directory to the path of officec2rclient.exe. To do this, in the command prompt window, type (or copy and right-click paste) the following if you are running 64-bit Office:
cd %programfiles%\Microsoft Office 15\ClientX64\

or this if using the 32-bit version of Office:
cd %programfiles%\Microsoft Office 15\ClientX86\

You’ll revert to a previous version of Office by running officec2rclient using a command line in this format, where 15.0.xxxx.xxxx is the previous version.
officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=15.0.xxxx.yyyy

The command line you'll use will look something like this (this is the July 2014 build):

officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=15.0.4631.1002

Use the command prompt dialog box to roll back Office installations

You can get the Office 2013 version numbers from Microsoft Office 2013 Click-to-Run virtualization or Office 2016 versions here: Version and build numbers of update channel releases for Office 365 clients

Choose Online Repair. Once repair is complete you can check your version to verify it updated properly. Note: you'll probably be asked to log in again and verify your license.

Choose Online Repair

More Information

For a complete list of version numbers, see Microsoft Office 2013 Click-to-Run virtualization
How to revert to an earlier version of Office 2013 or Office 2016 Click-to-Run (MSKB)
Version and build numbers of update channel releases for Office 365 clients
Uninstall Updates in Office 'Click to Run' was last modified: January 30th, 2025 by Diane Poremsky

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About Diane Poremsky

A Microsoft Outlook Most Valuable Professional (MVP) since 1999, Diane is the author of several books, including Outlook 2013 Absolute Beginners Book. She also created video training CDs and online training classes for Microsoft Outlook. You can find her helping people online in Outlook Forums as well as in the Microsoft Answers and TechNet forums.

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Blake Ramsey
January 29, 2025 8:20 pm

Dear Diane,
The code you show with "updatetoversion=16.0.xxxx.yyyy" appears to be just for Outlook 2016 as the build number is xxxx.yyyy. I want to update Outlook 365 with a build number of Version 2408 (Build 17928.20114). Is there a difference in the cmd command for such? Or you just use the 17928.20114 after the updatetoversion=16.0. anyway? Was thinking the 16.0 stood for 2016. Just don't want to mess it up!

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Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Blake Ramsey
January 30, 2025 9:21 am

It's the same command - the article was written when they used 4-digit numbers.
You'll use this:
updatetoversion=16.0.17928.20114

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Joseph
February 15, 2024 1:15 pm

Much appreciated. I followed your instructions and removed the crazy search... went back to the old search and its ok than that ugly one. Thanks

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Tomasz
August 4, 2023 9:43 am

Hi Diane, could you advise if there's any way to revert to OneNote old look? The new one (https://insider.microsoft365.com/en-us/blog/introducing-new-layout-options-in-onenote-on-windows) is much less efficient for me - many visual features that made navigation smooth were erased from ON with the recent update. Many thanks!

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Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  Tomasz
August 15, 2023 7:47 am

No, I'm not aware of a way to roll it back. Sorry.

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Andrew
July 31, 2023 3:16 pm

Hi Diane,

I recently reset my old laptop to a clean Windows 10.

I reinstalled Microsoft Outlook 2016 Home & Business - 16 MSO (16.0.13 901.204 36) 64-bit and put all my accounts back. Ever since then, no HTML pictures/images will show on the reading pane (right-hand side) of the email.

I followed your instructions here, but it did not work. Of the 3 release date commands you cited here, does it matter which one I use? I think I copied the top one (July 2021).

Any ideas where I may have gone wrong?

Thank you.

Andy

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Andrew
July 30, 2023 11:06 am

Hi Diane,

I find you the most accomplished brain regarding Outlook. I am having trouble with Outlook 2016 not showing HTML content on the reading pane in my email accounts. Have you any idea what will fix this? I have tried all the basic things that Google recommends you try, but to no avail. Cheers,Heathsideboy.

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isa L
April 1, 2023 6:44 am

Thank You Diane ! it works !

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ashton
February 28, 2023 7:22 pm

I tried reverting back to a previous installation, but the changes aren't being applied, or at least that's what I think. I'm trying to go back to a previous installation of Word, as the new updates haven't been to my liking, but each time I've reverted back to another installation nothing has changed with the Word application. If there's any solution, it would be greatly appreciated!

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Diane Poremsky
Author
Reply to  ashton
April 1, 2023 4:42 pm

did you disable automatic updates? Did you roll back far enough to undo the changes?

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Jim
February 28, 2023 1:40 pm

Hi Diane,

Sor some reason the comment I posted yesterday I am unable to find. I am currently running Office 2021 LTSC. The version Version 2108 (Build 14332.20461)

I am looking to roll back to Version 2108 (Build 14332.20447)

Of note. I have downloaded and installed this from a network drive. So it is not connecting to the cloud for the install. Is that perhaps why?

In addition, I need to test this out with Office 2019 as well. Same install method.

Thanks!

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