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Office for Mac Issues

Fix Mendeley Cite Certificate Error in Microsoft Word for Mac

Natalie TaylorNatalie Taylor Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user encounters an internal server error while using the Mendeley Cite plug-in in Word for Mac, caused by a failure to read the RPS data encryption certificate.

How to Fix Mendeley Cite Certificate Error in Word for Mac
Product
Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS
Mac
Scenario
Attempting to install or use the Mendeley Cite add-in to insert academic citations into a Word document.
Observed behavior
The plug-in fails to load, displaying an internal server error indicating that it cannot read the RPS data encryption certificate.
Before you start

Ensure that your Mac has an active internet connection, and save and completely close all open Microsoft Word documents before attempting to troubleshoot or update the plug-in.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Microsoft Word and Mendeley Cite

Updating both applications to their latest versions is the most effective way to resolve server-side certificate bugs and compatibility issues.

Since this error is often tied to a server-side certificate problem, running the most recent software versions ensures you have the latest security patches and bug fixes.

1
Close Microsoft Word

Quit Microsoft Word completely by right-clicking the Word icon in your Mac Dock and selecting 'Quit', or by pressing Cmd+Q.

2
Update Word for Mac

Open Microsoft Word, navigate to the top menu bar, click on 'Help', and select 'Check for Updates'. Install any available updates.

3
Update the Mendeley Plug-in

Open your Mendeley Reference Manager, check for the latest software updates, and reinstall the Mendeley Cite plug-in for Microsoft Word.

4
Contact Mendeley Support

If the error persists after updating both applications, reach out to official Mendeley Support for further assistance regarding the RPS encryption certificate.

Update Microsoft Word and Mendeley Cite
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  1. 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package tailored for macOS.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Mendeley Cite RPS data encryption certificate error occur?

This error typically occurs due to a server-side certificate validation failure or an unexpected compatibility issue between the current version of the Mendeley Cite plug-in and Microsoft Word for Mac.

Should I modify the ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT variable to fix this?

No. You should avoid altering the ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT variable unless you are specifically performing local developer troubleshooting, as changing it can cause other systemic errors.

Which older versions of Word for Mac work best with Mendeley Cite?

Users experiencing this certificate issue have reported that rolling back to Microsoft Word for Mac versions 16.26 or 16.27 often restores functionality to the plug-in.

What should I do if updating both apps doesn't fix the internal server error?

If the problem persists after updating both Microsoft Word and the Mendeley Cite plug-in, it is recommended to directly contact Mendeley Support to report the ongoing server-side certificate issue.