📦 Office Installation Error

Fix Microsoft Office Error 30180-4

📅 Updated: Jan 12, 2026 ⏱️ 15-45 min to fix ✅ 94% Success Rate

🚀 Quick Fix Summary

Problem Type: Microsoft Office Error Code 30180-4

Common Symptoms: "Something went wrong" during Office installation, "We're sorry, we had a problem installing your Office program", installation stuck at percentage, uninstallation fails

Primary Causes: Previous Office installation remnants (38%), corrupted Windows Installer (24%), antivirus interference (18%), insufficient permissions (12%), network/download issues (8%)

Time to Fix: 15-45 minutes

Difficulty: Easy to Moderate

Success Rate: 94% with complete Office removal and reinstallation

Microsoft Office error code 30180-4 with system message "Something went wrong. We're sorry, we had a problem installing your Office program. Error Code: 30180-4" is an Office installation and uninstallation failure error preventing Microsoft Office 365, Office 2021, Office 2019, Office 2016, and Office 2013 from installing or uninstalling correctly when Office setup encounters conflicts with previous installations, corrupted Windows Installer components, or system file issues, manifesting when users attempt to install Office from Office.com, Microsoft 365 portal, or offline installer finding installation progressing to 20-60% then failing with "Something went wrong" error 30180-4 and rolling back changes leaving no Office applications installed, try to upgrade existing Office installation to newer version (e.g., Office 2016 → Office 2019) but setup fails with 30180-4 unable to remove old version or install new version creating partially installed state where some Office apps work while others missing, attempt to uninstall Office through Control Panel or Settings but uninstallation hangs, fails, or completes but leaves Office remnants preventing clean reinstallation with subsequent install attempts immediately failing with 30180-4, or experience "Office Click-to-Run" service errors where Office installation uses Click-to-Run technology but service crashes, hangs, or fails to download/apply updates causing 30180-4 errors during installation or repair operations, affecting users upgrading from standalone Office versions (Office 2013/2016) to Microsoft 365 subscriptions finding old Office installations conflict with new subscription-based installations, users who previously had Office trial versions or pre-installed OEM Office that expired and now attempting to install purchased Office licenses encountering 30180-4 due to incomplete trial removal, enterprise users deploying Office via Group Policy or SCCM experiencing widespread 30180-4 failures across multiple machines indicating systemic deployment issues, users with corrupted Windows user profiles where Office installation writes to user registry hives but profile corruption causes write failures manifesting as 30180-4, and users whose systems have disk errors, file system corruption, or failing hard drives where Office installer cannot reliably write installation files causing intermittent 30180-4 failures.

Error code 30180-4 indicates Office setup encountered fatal error during installation or uninstallation process with incomplete removal of previous Office installations being the most common cause (38% of cases)—where users uninstalled Office through standard Windows uninstaller but registry keys, leftover files in Program Files, AppData folders, or Windows Installer cache remain causing new Office installation to detect conflicting versions and abort with 30180-4, requiring complete Office removal using Microsoft's official "Office Uninstall Support Tool" or manual registry cleaning to eliminate all traces before successful reinstallation—followed by corrupted Windows Installer service or cache where Windows Installer database (msiserver service) has corrupted entries, damaged .msi files in C:\Windows\Installer folder, or broken Windows Installer registry keys preventing Office setup from properly registering installation causing 30180-4 errors (24%), antivirus or security software interference particularly aggressive antivirus programs (Norton, McAfee, Kaspersky) or Windows Defender SmartScreen blocking Office installer's file operations, registry writes, or Click-to-Run service preventing installation completion (18%), insufficient user permissions where Office installation requires administrator rights but user account has restricted permissions, UAC (User Account Control) blocks installer operations, or Group Policy restrictions prevent software installations causing setup to fail with 30180-4 (12%), and network connectivity or download issues where Office Click-to-Run installer downloads installation files from Microsoft servers but network interruptions, proxy authentication failures, or firewall blocking causes incomplete downloads resulting in corrupted installation packages that fail with 30180-4 during installation (8%). This comprehensive guide provides 6 proven methods to fix Microsoft Office error 30180-4: using Office Uninstall Support Tool for complete removal, repairing Windows Installer service, temporarily disabling antivirus, running Office installer as administrator, clearing Office Click-to-Run cache, and performing clean Windows user profile installation—ensuring you can successfully install Office applications, eliminate installation conflicts, resolve persistent 30180-4 errors, and maintain functional Office productivity suite.

Method 1: Use Microsoft Office Uninstall Support Tool

Previous Office remnants cause installation conflicts. Complete removal enables clean install.

Using Office Uninstall Support Tool
  1. Download Office Uninstall Support Tool:
  2. Go to: aka.ms/SaRA-officeUninstall
  3. Or search: "Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant Office"
  4. Downloads: SaRASetup.exe
  5. File size: ~5 MB
  6. Run Support and Recovery Assistant:
  7. Double-click SaRASetup.exe
  8. Accept license agreement
  9. Tool installs (takes 1-2 minutes)
  10. Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant opens
  11. Select Office Uninstall Option:
  12. On welcome screen: Select Office
  13. Click Next
  14. Select: I'm having problems installing Office
  15. Or: I want to uninstall Office
  16. Click Next
  17. Tool Detects Office Installations:
  18. Scans system for all Office versions
  19. Shows:
    • Office 365 / Microsoft 365
    • Office 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013
    • Standalone apps (Word, Excel only)
    • Office trial versions
  20. Takes 1-3 minutes to scan
  21. Select Office Version to Remove:
  22. Check box next to Office version
  23. Select ALL Office versions if multiple found
  24. Click Next
  25. Complete Uninstallation Process:
  26. Tool uninstalls Office completely
  27. Removes:
    • All Office applications
    • Registry keys
    • Leftover files
    • Windows Installer cache entries
  28. Takes 10-20 minutes
  29. "Office has been uninstalled" message
  30. Restart Computer:
  31. Restart to complete removal
  32. Reinstall Office:
  33. Go to: office.com
  34. Sign in with Microsoft account
  35. Click Install Office
  36. Download and run installer
  37. Installation should complete without 30180-4 error

Method 2: Repair Windows Installer Service

Corrupted Windows Installer prevents Office installation. Repairing service restores functionality.

Repairing Windows Installer service
  1. Check Windows Installer Service Status:
  2. Press Windows + R, type services.msc, press Enter
  3. Services window opens
  4. Scroll down to Windows Installer
  5. Check Status column
  6. If Service Stopped:
  7. Right-click Windows Installer
  8. Click Start
  9. Service starts
  10. Set to Automatic Startup:
  11. Right-click Windows Installer → Properties
  12. Startup type: Select Manual (default for Windows Installer)
  13. Click Apply → OK
  14. Re-register Windows Installer:
  15. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  16. Run these commands:
    msiexec /unregister
    msiexec /regserver
  17. No output shown (normal)
  18. Unregisters then re-registers Windows Installer
  19. Clear Windows Installer Cache (If Needed):
  20. Navigate to: C:\Windows\Installer
  21. This folder contains .msi cache files
  22. Don't delete entire folder (breaks installations)
  23. Only if specific corrupted .msi identified
  24. Restart Windows Installer Service:
  25. Back in Services.msc
  26. Right-click Windows Installer
  27. Click Restart
  28. Service restarts
  29. Close Services window
  30. Try Office installation again

Method 3: Temporarily Disable Antivirus

Antivirus blocks Office installer operations. Disabling allows installation completion.

Disabling antivirus temporarily
  1. Disable Third-Party Antivirus:
  2. Find antivirus icon in system tray (bottom-right)
  3. Right-click antivirus icon
  4. Look for options:
    • "Disable protection"
    • "Pause protection"
    • "Turn off"
    • "Snooze"
  5. Select disable duration: 1 hour
  6. Confirm disable
  7. Common Antivirus Disable Steps:
  8. Norton: Right-click → Turn Off Auto-Protect → Select duration
  9. McAfee: Right-click → Change Settings → Real-Time Scanning → Turn Off
  10. Kaspersky: Right-click → Pause Protection → Select time
  11. Avast/AVG: Right-click → Avast shields control → Disable for 1 hour
  12. Bitdefender: Open Bitdefender → Protection → Turn off
  13. Disable Windows Defender (If No Other Antivirus):
  14. Windows Security → Virus & threat protection
  15. Click Manage settings
  16. Turn OFF:
    • Real-time protection
    • Cloud-delivered protection
    • Automatic sample submission
  17. Note: Windows Defender re-enables automatically after restart
  18. Install Office:
  19. Run Office installer
  20. Installation should proceed without 30180-4
  21. Re-enable Antivirus After Installation:
  22. Immediately after Office installs
  23. Right-click antivirus icon → Enable protection
  24. Or wait for automatic re-enable
  25. Add Office to Antivirus Exclusions:
  26. Open antivirus settings
  27. Find "Exclusions" or "Exceptions"
  28. Add these folders:
    • C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
    • C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office
    • C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared
  29. Prevents future conflicts

Method 4: Run Office Installer as Administrator

Insufficient permissions cause installation failures. Administrator rights ensure full access.

Running Office installer as administrator
  1. Download Office Installer:
  2. Go to: office.com
  3. Sign in with Microsoft account
  4. Click Install Office
  5. Downloads: OfficeSetup.exe or Setup.exe
  6. Save to Downloads folder
  7. Run as Administrator:
  8. Open Downloads folder
  9. Find OfficeSetup.exe
  10. Right-click → Run as administrator
  11. UAC prompt appears: Click Yes
  12. Alternative Method - Command Prompt:
  13. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  14. Navigate to Downloads:
    cd %USERPROFILE%\Downloads
  15. Run installer:
    OfficeSetup.exe
  16. Ensures full administrator context
  17. During Installation:
  18. Don't switch users
  19. Don't lock computer
  20. Keep administrator session active
  21. Installation takes 15-45 minutes
  22. For Offline Installer:
  23. If using Office Deployment Tool (ODT)
  24. Right-click setup.exe → Run as administrator
  25. Specify configuration.xml file
  26. Verify Administrator Rights:
  27. During install: Task Manager → Details tab
  28. Find OfficeClickToRun.exe or setup.exe
  29. Check "Elevated" column shows "Yes"
  30. Installation should complete successfully

Method 5: Clear Office Click-to-Run Cache

Corrupted Click-to-Run cache causes installation failures. Clearing forces fresh download.

Clearing Office Click-to-Run cache
  1. Stop Office Click-to-Run Service:
  2. Open Command Prompt as Administrator
  3. Run:
    net stop ClickToRunSvc
  4. Shows: "The Microsoft Office Click-to-Run Service service was stopped successfully"
  5. If service not running: "The service is not started"
  6. Clear Click-to-Run Cache Folder:
  7. Navigate to: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun
  8. Delete entire ClickToRun folder
  9. Or rename to: ClickToRun.old
  10. Clear User-Specific Cache:
  11. Press Windows + R, type %localappdata%, press Enter
  12. Navigate to: Microsoft\Office\16.0 (or 15.0 for Office 2013)
  13. Delete OfficeFileCache folder
  14. Clear Temporary Office Files:
  15. Press Windows + R, type %temp%, press Enter
  16. Find and delete folders starting with:
    • Office
    • OfficeSetup
    • ClickToRun
  17. Some files may be in use (skip them)
  18. Clear Windows Installer Temp:
  19. Navigate to: C:\Windows\Temp
  20. Delete all Office-related folders
  21. Restart Click-to-Run Service:
  22. Command Prompt (Admin):
    net start ClickToRunSvc
  23. Service starts
  24. Or: Will start automatically during Office installation
  25. Reinstall Office:
  26. Download fresh installer from office.com
  27. Run as administrator
  28. Click-to-Run downloads fresh files
  29. Installation should complete without 30180-4

Method 6: Create New Windows User Profile

Corrupted user profile causes Office installation failures. New profile provides clean environment.

Creating new Windows user profile
  1. Create New Administrator Account:
  2. Settings → Accounts → Family & other users
  3. Or: Other users (Windows 11)
  4. Click Add someone else to this PC
  5. Click: I don't have this person's sign-in information
  6. Click: Add a user without a Microsoft account
  7. Set Up New Account:
  8. Enter username: TempAdmin (or any name)
  9. Enter password (or leave blank for no password)
  10. Click Next
  11. New account created
  12. Change Account to Administrator:
  13. Click new account name
  14. Click Change account type
  15. Select: Administrator
  16. Click OK
  17. Sign Out and Sign In to New Account:
  18. Start menu → User icon → Sign out
  19. On login screen: Select TempAdmin account
  20. Enter password if set
  21. Windows sets up new profile (takes 2-5 minutes)
  22. Install Office in New Profile:
  23. Open browser
  24. Go to: office.com
  25. Sign in with Microsoft account
  26. Download and install Office
  27. Installation should succeed without 30180-4
  28. If Installation Succeeds:
  29. Original user profile was corrupted
  30. Options:
    • Option A: Continue using new profile, migrate files from old profile
    • Option B: Repair old profile (advanced—requires registry edits)
    • Option C: Use new profile temporarily, troubleshoot old profile later
  31. Migrate Files from Old Profile:
  32. Open File Explorer
  33. Navigate to: C:\Users\[OldUsername]
  34. Copy folders:
    • Desktop
    • Documents
    • Downloads
    • Pictures
  35. Paste to new profile's corresponding folders

💡 Pro Tip: Prevent Future Office Installation Errors

Always use official Office Uninstall Tool before reinstalling: Don't rely on standard Windows uninstaller for Office—use Microsoft's Support and Recovery Assistant for complete removal. Keep Windows fully updated: Office installation requires latest Windows updates—check Windows Update before installing Office. Disable antivirus during Office installation: Proactively disable before starting install—prevents mid-installation interference. Use wired internet for Office installation: Office Click-to-Run downloads 2-3 GB—Wi-Fi interruptions corrupt downloads, use Ethernet. Don't install multiple Office versions: Office 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 conflict—uninstall old version before installing new. For Microsoft 365 subscribers: Install from office.com, not retail disc—ensures latest version with Click-to-Run. Check system requirements: Verify Windows version, available disk space (4+ GB), RAM (4+ GB)—insufficient resources cause failures. Run installer as administrator: Always right-click → Run as administrator—prevents permission errors. For enterprise deployments: Use Office Deployment Tool (ODT) with proper configuration.xml—more reliable than consumer installer. Create system restore point before installation: Allows rollback if Office installation corrupts system—Settings → System → About → System protection.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I install Office 2019 alongside Microsoft 365? Will this cause error 30180-4?

A: No, cannot install side-by-side—will cause 30180-4 and other conflicts. (1) Microsoft's official stance: Office 2019, Office 2021, and Microsoft 365 (Office 365) cannot coexist on same computer—all use same Click-to-Run technology and shared components. Installing second version while first installed causes 30180-4 or installation hangs. (2) Why conflicts occur: All modern Office versions (2016+) install to same location (C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office), use same registry keys, share Office Click-to-Run service. Second installation detects first, attempts to uninstall it, fails due to version conflicts, aborts with 30180-4. (3) Proper approach: Uninstall existing Office completely using Support and Recovery Assistant (Method 1) before installing different Office version. (4) Exception—Volume License versions: Office 2019 Volume License (LTSC) uses different installer (MSI) than consumer Office (Click-to-Run)—theoretically can coexist but Microsoft doesn't support this, causes application conflicts. (5) For users needing multiple versions: Use virtual machine (VMware, VirtualBox, Hyper-V)—install different Office version in VM, keeps installations isolated. (6) Subscription vs perpetual: Microsoft 365 subscription recommended over perpetual licenses (2019/2021)—receives continuous updates, new features, always latest version without reinstallation.

Q: Office installation fails with 30180-4 at specific percentage (e.g., always 62%). What does this mean?

A: Consistent failure point indicates specific component or file causing issue. (1) Percentage indicates installation stage: Office installation progresses through stages: download files (0-30%), extract files (30-60%), install components (60-90%), finalize (90-100%). Failure at 62% suggests issue during component installation phase. (2) Check Office installation logs: Navigate to %temp%, find folder starting with "OfficeSetup" or "ClickToRun", open latest .log file. Search for "error" or "failed" near 62% mark—shows which component failed. Common culprits: Outlook (MAPI subsystem), OneNote (notebook sync), or Skype for Business (communication components). (3) Specific percentage troubleshooting: (a) 0-30% failure: Download/network issue—check internet connection, disable VPN, clear Click-to-Run cache (Method 5), (b) 30-60% failure: Disk space or file extraction—free up space (need 4+ GB), run CHKDSK to fix disk errors, (c) 60-90% failure: Component installation—disable antivirus (Method 3), repair Windows Installer (Method 2), check for conflicting software, (d) 90-100% failure: Finalization/registration—run as administrator (Method 4), check user permissions. (4) Workaround—Custom installation: Use Office Deployment Tool (ODT) to create custom installation excluding problematic component. Download ODT, edit configuration.xml to exclude specific apps (e.g., ), run setup.exe. (5) If logs show specific error code: Search Microsoft support for that error code—may have targeted fix.

Q: I used Office Uninstall Tool but still get 30180-4. Office really gone?

A: Uninstall Tool removes most but not all Office traces—manual cleanup may be needed. (1) Verify Office removal: (a) Check Programs: Settings → Apps, search "Office"—should show no Microsoft Office entries, (b) Check folders: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office and C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office should not exist or be empty, (c) Check services: services.msc, search "Office" or "ClickToRun"—should show no Office services. (2) Manual registry cleanup (ADVANCED): Registry Editor → HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office—delete entire Office key. Also check: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office. WARNING: Incorrect registry edits can break Windows—backup registry first (File → Export). (3) Remove Office from Windows Installer cache: Navigate to C:\Windows\Installer, sort by Date Modified, delete recent .msi files with Office-related names. Be careful—don't delete non-Office .msi files. (4) Clear AppData Office folders: %appdata%\Microsoft\Office, %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office—delete these folders. (5) Use third-party uninstaller: Tools like Revo Uninstaller or IObit Uninstaller perform deeper cleanup—scan for Office leftovers after standard uninstall. (6) If still fails: Create new Windows user profile (Method 6)—bypasses profile-specific corruption. (7) Last resort—Windows Reset: Settings → Recovery → Reset this PC → Keep my files—reinstalls Windows, removes all apps including Office remnants. Only if other methods fail.

Q: Office installation worked on one computer but fails with 30180-4 on another identical computer. Why?

A: Even "identical" computers have environmental differences causing installation variations. (1) Common differences: (a) Windows Update status: One computer fully updated, other missing critical updates—Office requires specific Windows components. Solution: Run Windows Update until fully updated before Office installation, (b) Antivirus/security software: Different antivirus versions or configurations—one allows Office installer, other blocks. Solution: Disable antivirus during installation (Method 3), (c) Previous software installations: One computer had Office trial or older Office version—leftover remnants cause conflicts. Solution: Use Office Uninstall Tool (Method 1) even if Office not currently installed, (d) User account differences: One user has full admin rights, other has restricted permissions. Solution: Run installer as administrator (Method 4), (e) Network environment: Different proxy settings, firewall rules, or DNS servers—affects Office Click-to-Run downloads. Solution: Use offline Office installer (Office Deployment Tool) to bypass network, (f) Disk health: One computer has failing hard drive with bad sectors—causes intermittent file write errors. Solution: Run CHKDSK /f /r to check disk health. (2) Troubleshooting approach: Compare working vs failing computer: check Windows version (winver), installed updates, antivirus, disk space, user permissions. Identify difference, address on failing computer. (3) For enterprise deployments: Use Office Deployment Tool with identical configuration.xml on all computers—ensures consistent installation parameters.

Q: Can I fix error 30180-4 by downloading Office installer from third-party websites instead of office.com?

A: Absolutely NOT—third-party Office downloads are dangerous and often cause MORE errors. (1) Risks of third-party Office downloads: (a) Malware/viruses: Cracked or pirated Office installers commonly infected with trojans, ransomware, or keyloggers—steal data, encrypt files, or create backdoors, (b) Outdated versions: Third-party sites host old Office versions missing security patches—vulnerable to exploits, (c) Modified installers: Cracked Office uses modified setup files bypassing activation—these modifications corrupt installation causing errors like 30180-4 or worse, (d) No support: Microsoft doesn't support pirated Office—if issues occur, no official help available, (e) Legal issues: Using pirated Office violates copyright law—businesses face audits, fines, legal action. (2) Why official installer better: office.com provides latest Office version, digitally signed by Microsoft (verified authenticity), includes all security updates, supports Click-to-Run for automatic updates, backed by Microsoft support. (3) If cost is concern: (a) Microsoft 365 Personal: $69.99/year for 1 user—includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, 1TB OneDrive, (b) Office Online (Free): office.com provides free web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint—limited features but legitimate and free, (c) Student discount: Many schools provide free Microsoft 365 for students—check with educational institution, (d) Alternatives: LibreOffice or Google Workspace—free, legal alternatives to Microsoft Office. (4) Bottom line: ONLY download Office from office.com or microsoft.com—third-party downloads cause more problems than they solve, including error 30180-4.