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How to troubleshoot the ‘Microsoft Teams Keeps Reinstalling Itself’?

Before, Microsoft focused on Skype for Business as its primary collaboration and communication platform for organizations and businesses. However, the tech company has decided to cease support for the product by the end of July 2021. Microsoft has released Teams as a replacement for the platform. As such, as soon as the product was released, many organizations have started transitioning their operations to it.

It is easy to upgrade to Microsoft Teams, especially since the process is user-friendly. However, not everyone needs the platform, and many opt to remove it from their computers. Unfortunately, getting rid of Teams is not as easy as installing it. According to complaints, the application keeps on reinstalling itself.

So, what if MS Teams keeps reinstalling itself? Well, worry no more because we’ve got you covered. We are going to teach you efficient ways to get rid of the program. We will also show you how to prevent Microsoft Teams from reinstalling itself in Windows 10.

Why Is Teams Reinstalling Itself?

  • The ‘Download the Teams app in the background for Skype for Business users’ feature is enabled – If you’re using Skype for Business and this feature is activated in the Microsoft Teams Admin Center, you may experience the issue. Keep in mind that with this app enabled, all the computers within the same network will re-download and reinstall Teams automatically. You won’t even get notified about the action. Teams will keep on reinstalling itself whenever you sign in to your Skype for Business client.
  • The Teams Machine-Wide Installer remains on the device – Getting rid of Teams takes more than a single step. Aside from removing the Microsoft Teams client, you also need to find and uninstall the Teams Machine-Wide Installer. Otherwise, your PC will keep on reinstalling the program.

How to Remove Microsoft Teams From Your Windows 10 PC

There are several ways to get rid of Microsoft Teams. Here are some of them:

Method 1: Using the Settings App

  1. Go to your taskbar, then right-click the Windows icon.
  2. Select Settings from the options.
  3. Once the Settings app comes up, click Apps.
  4. Go to the left-pane menu, then click Apps & Features.
  5. Move to the right pane, then scroll down until you find Microsoft Teams. Alternatively, you can type “Microsoft Teams” (no quotes) in the search bar to locate the app.
  6. Select Microsoft Teams, then click Uninstall.
  7. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the uninstallation process.

Method 2: Using the Registry Editor

To ensure that there are no traces of Microsoft Teams left on your computer, you need to use the Registry Editor. However, before you proceed, do note that this database is sensitive. So, if you make any errors—no matter how small they are—you may cause serious damage to your operating system. You should only use this method if you are confident with your tech skills. To begin, follow the instructions below:

  1. Open the Run dialog box by pressing Windows Key+R on your keyboard.
  2. Once the Run dialog box appears, type “regedit” (no quotes), then click OK.
  3. If prompted to give permission to the app, click Yes.
  4. Go to the left pane, then navigate to this path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE ->SOFTWARE ->Microsoft ->Windows ->CurrentVersion ->Uninstall

  1. Now, look for the sub-key related to Microsoft Teams. Right-click it, then select Delete from the context menu.
  2. If asked to confirm the action, click Yes.
  3. Once you’ve deleted the sub-key, close the Registry Editor, then restart your computer.

Method 3: Uninstalling the Program in Safe Mode

You may be unable to uninstall Microsoft Teams completely because of some interference from a third-party app. So, we recommend that you try removing the program while in Safe Mode. Using this method will allow you to boot your system with only the basic and necessary services and programs. You can boot into Safe Mode by following these steps:

  1. Launch the Run dialog box by pressing Windows Key+R on your keyboard.
  2. Type “msconfig” (no quotes) into the Run dialog box as soon as it appears.
  3. Press Enter on your keyboard to open the System Configuration window.
  4. Once the System Configuration tool comes up, click the Boot tab.
  5. Under Boot Options, select Safe Boot.
  6. Click Apply and OK to save the changes you’ve made.
  7. Once the dialog box appears, click Restart.

After booting your system into Safe Mode, try uninstalling Microsoft Teams, using Method 1. You should be able to remove the program without interference from third-party services or applications.

How to Prevent Microsoft Teams From Reinstalling Itself in Windows 10

As we’ve mentioned, there are underlying issues that cause Microsoft Teams to reinstall itself. As such, we’ve also prepared some solutions that will address the problem from its roots.

Solution 1: Disabling the ‘Download the Teams App in the Background for Skype for Business Users’ Feature

As we’ve mentioned, Microsoft Teams will keep on reinstalling itself if the ‘Download the Teams app in the background for Skype for Business users’ feature is enabled. So, you need to go to the Microsoft Teams Admin Center and disable this option. Now, if you do not have access to this utility, you would need to contact the IT personnel in your workplace and ask them to perform the task for you. Follow the steps below to disable the feature:

  1. Use a supported Internet browser, then navigate to the Microsoft Teams Admin Center page.
  2. Submit your admin credentials.
  3. Go to the left-pane menu, then select Org-Wide Settings and click Teams Upgrade.
  4. Once you get to the Teams Upgrade page, look for the ‘Download the Teams app in the background for Skype for Business users’ option.
  5. Disable the feature, then click Save to apply the changes you’ve made.

After turning off the feature, you need to wait for the action to get synced across all the PCs within your work network. Once this happens, Microsoft Teams should no longer reinstall itself.

Solution 2: Removing the Teams Machine-Wide Installer

You need to ensure that all components of Microsoft Teams are removed from your computer. Of course, you shouldn’t forget to get rid of the Teams Machine-Wide Installer. After all, many users reported that this keeps the program from getting uninstalled completely. You can remove that feature in two ways:

Method 1: Via Apps & Features

  1. Go to your taskbar, then right-click the Windows icon.
  2. Select Settings from the list.
  3. Once the Settings app is open, click Apps.
  4. Select Apps & Features from the left-pane menu.
  5. Move to the right pane, then locate the Teams Machine-Wide Installer app. You can also type “teams” (no quotes) inside the Search box, and all the apps related to Microsoft Teams will appear.
  6. Select the Teams Machine-Wide Installer app, then click Uninstall.
  7. Follow the on-screen instructions to remove the app from your computer.

Method 2: Via the Control Panel

You can also use the Control Panel to remove all the components of Microsoft Teams. A lot of people prefer using the old-fashioned way of uninstalling apps. So, we’ve included that method in this article. You can begin by following the steps below:

  1. Click the Search icon on your taskbar.
  2. Inside the Search box, type “Control Panel” (no quotes), then hit Enter.
  3. Once the Control Panel is up, click the drop-down list beside View by.
  4. Select Small Icons from the options.
  5. Click Programs and Features.
  6. Click the Search box at the upper-right portion of the window.
  7. Type “teams” (no quotes). Any related component of Microsoft Teams should appear on the list.
  8. Select the Teams Machine-Wide Installer app, then right-click it.
  9. Click Uninstall to remove the program.
  10. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the uninstallation process.

Once the process is complete, restart your computer and check if Microsoft Teams is no longer reinstalling itself.

Pro Tip: If you want to ensure that all traces of Microsoft Teams are gone, we recommend that you use a trusted tool like Auslogics BoostSpeed. What’s great about this utility is it has a Force Uninstall feature that can remove all programs that are potentially challenging to uninstall. All you need to do is open BoostSpeed, then click the Force Remove link above the list of programs. The tool will find even the smallest component related to the app—even the Windows Registry keys. You can ensure that BoostSpeed will delete uninstalled software leftovers and residual files without causing damage to your computer.

You’ll get the best value for your money when you install BoostSpeed, especially since it comes loaded with features. Its Uninstall Manager allows you to identify bloatware and potentially malicious programs. You will determine how much space your unneeded apps are consuming on your drive. What’s more, the user-friendly interface of BoostSpeed makes the entire uninstallation process easy and convenient.

Auslogics BoostSpeed has all the features you need to maximize the performance and speed of your PC. So, if you want a convenient and safe way to keep your computer in excellent running condition, this tool is all you’ll need.

How do you remove apps completely from your PC?

Share your preferred method in the comments below!