Office Apps Crashing

Fix Microsoft Word Crashing When Adding EndNote Citations

John Wilson Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user experiences Microsoft Word crashing when attempting to insert a citation using the EndNote tab.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Crashing When Adding EndNote Citations

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to add citations into a document via the EndNote integration after a recent Microsoft 365 or EndNote update.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word freezes or crashes entirely during the citation insertion process.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have saved a backup copy of your current document to prevent any accidental data loss. It is also recommended to check if there are any pending updates for both Microsoft Word and EndNote.

Solution 1Recommended

Copy Content to a New Document as Plain Text

Use this method if the crashing issue is isolated to a single corrupted document.

Sometimes a specific Word document becomes corrupted, causing integration tools like EndNote to fail. Transferring your text to a fresh document without carrying over the underlying corrupted formatting can resolve the crash.

Select and copy all text

Open the affected document in Microsoft Word, press Ctrl+A to select all the text, and then press Ctrl+C to copy it.

Create a new document

Go to File > New and select Blank Document to open a fresh Word file.

Paste as plain text

Navigate to the Home tab, click the arrow under the Paste button, and select Keep Text Only (or Paste Special > Unformatted Text).

Reapply formatting and test

Reapply any necessary formatting to your newly pasted text. Try inserting an EndNote citation again to see if the crashing issue is resolved.

Copy Content to a New Document as Plain Text

Warning regarding field codes: Pasting as plain text will strip existing EndNote field codes. You may need to manually re-link previously added citations in the new document.

Solution 2

Update or Reinstall the EndNote Application

If Word crashes across multiple documents, the EndNote plugin might be outdated or experiencing a conflict with a recent Microsoft 365 update.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does EndNote cause Word to crash?

Word often crashes with EndNote due to software conflicts following a Microsoft 365 or EndNote update, or if the underlying XML structure of a specific Word document has become corrupted.

Will I lose my existing citations if I paste my document as text only?

Yes, pasting as 'Keep Text Only' removes all hidden EndNote field codes from your document. You will need to re-insert the citations into the new document to ensure they properly link to your EndNote library.

How do I temporarily disable the EndNote add-in in Microsoft Word?

Go to File > Options > Add-ins in Microsoft Word. Select 'COM Add-ins' from the Manage dropdown at the bottom and click Go. Uncheck the 'EndNote Cite While You Write' add-in and click OK to disable it.

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