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How to Fix Run-Time Error 53 in Microsoft 365 on macOS Sonoma
Question details
Users need to resolve a startup error prompt that appears when launching Microsoft Word or PowerPoint after updating their Mac operating system.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint)
- Device & OS
- macOS Sonoma
- Scenario
- Launching Microsoft 365 applications after upgrading to macOS Sonoma.
- Observed behavior
- A "Run-time error 53" dialog box appears upon opening the applications, caused by an incompatible Adobe PDFMaker add-in attempting to load.
Ensure you have completely quit all Microsoft 365 applications, including Word and PowerPoint, before attempting to locate and delete the startup add-in files.
Remove Incompatible Adobe Add-in Files from Startup Folders
Deleting the outdated Adobe PDF add-in files from your Office startup directories prevents them from loading and triggering the run-time error.
The error is predominantly caused by two specific files: linkCreation.dotm in Word and SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam in PowerPoint. Manually removing them from your Mac's Library folder will clear the error.
Press Cmd + Q while in Microsoft Word and PowerPoint to ensure the applications are fully closed and not running in the background.
Open Finder, press Cmd + Shift + G to open the 'Go to Folder' dialog, and paste the path: /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office365/User Content.localized/Startup/Word.
Locate the file named linkCreation.dotm in the folder and drag it to the Trash.
Use the 'Go to Folder' shortcut again to navigate to the corresponding PowerPoint startup folder and delete the SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam file.
Launch Word or PowerPoint, click on the 'Tools' menu at the top, select 'Templates and Add-ins', and uncheck any Adobe-related add-ins that are still listed.
Perform a Clean Reset of Office Applications
Use this method if manually removing the add-in files does not stop the error from returning, particularly on Apple Silicon (M1/M2) Macs.
Try WPS Office for Mac – Fast, Error-Free, and Highly Compatible
If persistent macro and add-in errors in Microsoft 365 are disrupting your productivity on macOS Sonoma, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, unified office suite with built-in PDF tools that do not rely on conflicting third-party add-ins.
- 1. Download the WPS Office installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS installation package.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your documents seamlessly: Launch WPS Office and open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without encountering run-time macro errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly causes Run-Time Error 53 in Microsoft Word on Mac?
Run-Time Error 53 indicates that a file the application is trying to load cannot be found. On macOS, this is typically caused by outdated or incompatible third-party macro add-ins, most commonly the Adobe PDFMaker add-in (linkCreation.dotm), which fails to execute properly on newer macOS updates like Sonoma.
Why does the error keep returning on my M1/M2 Mac after I delete the files?
On Apple Silicon Macs, Microsoft 365 uses complex folder structures including Group Containers. If you only deleted the files from the main Library but not the Group Containers folder, or if the add-in is still checked in Word's 'Templates and Add-ins' menu, the application may attempt to recreate or search for the missing file at startup.
Can I still create PDFs if I delete the SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam file?
Yes. You can easily create PDFs using the native 'Save As' or 'Export' feature within Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, or by using macOS's built-in 'Print to PDF' function, without needing the problematic Adobe add-in.
Where do I find the Group Containers folder on my Mac?
Open Finder, hold the 'Option' key on your keyboard, click 'Go' in the top menu bar, and select 'Library'. From there, open the 'Group Containers' folder, and look for the folder named 'UBF8T346G9.Office' to access Office-specific startup and preference files.
