How to remove Microsoft AutoUpdate from macOS?

Question

I tried Microsoft Edge, but It installed "Microsoft AutoUpdate" app. Its very annoying that Microsoft installs crap I didn't want on my machine.

I tried to look for the Application but no luck.

Answer 1

I finally managed to find the Microsoft AutoUpdate.

You need to go to /Library directory, at the root of your HD, and search "Microsoft autoupdate" on that location (which finds /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft AutoUpdate.app on my system.

Then just move it to the trash.

Answer 2

If you are a cli person, this should suffice:

sudo rm -rf "/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/Microsoft AutoUpdate.app"
sudo rm -rf "/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist"
sudo rm -rf "/Library/LaunchAgents/com.microsoft.update.agent.plist"
sudo rm -rf "/Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper"

Answer 3

In case you're using macOS Ventura you need to delete:

1. The Microsoft AutoUpdate.app app located in /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0
2. The com.microsoft.update.agent.plist agent located in /Library/LaunchAgents
3. The com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist daemon located in /Library/LaunchDaemons

To delete them from Terminal, run

sudo rm -rf /Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0
sudo rm /Library/LaunchAgents/com.microsoft.update.agent.plist
sudo rm /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist

Source

Answer 4

To clean uninstall it:

1. Install the great free and small app AppCleaner
2. Open Finder, press Cmd Shift G, and paste /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/
3. You will find "Microsoft AutoUpdate.app", drag it to AppCleaner
4. Click Remove

There may be some unchecked boxes I suggest to not check (because they may relate to other Microsoft apps).

For more experienced users, visit these three locations using Finder's Cmd Shift G shortcut:

1. /Library/LaunchAgents, drag com.microsoft.update.agent.plist to the Trash
2. /Library/LaunchDaemons, drag com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist to the Trash
3. /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools, drag com.microsoft.autoupdate.helper.plist to the Trash

Answer 5

I ended up with this. Run it as a single line in Terminal app.

Prevent AutoUpdater to be re-installed:
for F in /Library/{PrivilegedHelperTools,Launch{Agents,Daemons}}/com.microsoft.*update*.plist /Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/MAU* ~/Library/Microsoft/*Updater; do echo 'Processing '"${F}"'..'; sudo rm -rf "${F}" && sudo mkdir "${F}" && sudo chflags uchg "${F}"; done

In case if you wish to revert that later and allow AutoUpdater:
for F in /Library/{PrivilegedHelperTools,Launch{Agents,Daemons}}/com.microsoft.*update*.plist /Library/Application\ Support/Microsoft/MAU* ~/Library/Microsoft/*Updater; do echo 'Processing '"${F}"'..'; sudo rm -rf "${F}"; done

It is removing AutoUpdater folders, creating empty ones and locking them via chflags uchg command, Microsoft apps can't handle that.