Office for Mac Issues

Fix Runtime Error 53 Caused by Adobe Mac PDFM in Microsoft Office

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users encounter a Runtime Error 53 related to Adobe Mac PDFM when launching Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint on a Mac, which persists even after reinstalling the software.

Product: Microsoft Office 2021
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Opening Microsoft Office applications after completing an Adobe Acrobat update.
Observed behavior: A Runtime Error 53 prompt referring to Adobe Mac PDFM appears on startup. Reinstalling Adobe Acrobat and Microsoft Office 2021 does not resolve the issue.

Before you start

Before modifying hidden Library files, completely close all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint) and ensure you have administrator privileges on your Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove Adobe Add-in Files via User Library

Manually delete the conflicting Adobe add-in files from your user Library folders to stop the error from appearing on startup.

This error is typically caused by leftover Adobe add-in files that become incompatible with Microsoft Office after an update. Removing them from the specific startup folders resolves the issue without affecting your documents.

Open Go to Folder

Open Finder, select 'Go' from the top menu bar, and click 'Go to Folder'.

Access hidden Library

Type ~/Library in the search box and press Return to access your hidden user Library files.

Remove Word add-in

Navigate to the Word startup folder and delete the file named linkCreation.dotm.

Remove PowerPoint add-in

Navigate to the PowerPoint startup folder and delete the file named SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam.

Remove Excel add-in

Navigate to the Excel startup folder and delete the file named SaveAsAdobePDF.xlam.

File Deletion: Deleting these files will not harm your Office applications; it simply removes the faulty Adobe PDF integration toolbar.

Solution 2

Remove System-Wide Adobe Add-ins using Terminal

If the user Library method fails, the add-ins might be installed globally. Use Terminal to locate and remove them from system-wide startup folders.

Solution 3

Seek Help from Adobe Community

Since the Runtime Error 53 is triggered by Adobe's Office add-ins rather than Microsoft Office itself, Adobe support may provide an updated patch or fix.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office as a Lightweight, Error-Free Alternative on Mac

Avoid frustrating third-party add-in conflicts like the Adobe Mac PDFM Runtime Error 53. WPS Office provides a fully compatible, lightweight, and streamlined suite for all your document needs, natively supporting PDF editing without requiring unstable external plugins.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for Mac.
2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to drag WPS Office into your Applications folder.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without worrying about plugin errors.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formatsBuilt-in PDF editor eliminates the need for problematic third-party PDF add-insLightweight design ensures fast launch times on Mac without annoying startup errorsFree to use with a familiar user interface for a seamless transition

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does reinstalling Microsoft Office not fix Runtime Error 53?

Runtime Error 53 is typically caused by outdated or incompatible Adobe Acrobat add-in files left behind in the Office startup folders. Reinstalling Office or Adobe Acrobat does not automatically remove these isolated third-party template files.

What is the linkCreation.dotm file?

It is an Adobe Acrobat add-in template file used in Microsoft Word to facilitate PDF creation from within the app. If the file is outdated or corrupted after an Adobe update, it triggers a runtime error upon Word's startup.

How do I easily view hidden files in my Mac Library?

Open Finder, click 'Go' in the top menu bar, and hold down the 'Option' key to make the hidden 'Library' folder appear in the dropdown list. Alternatively, select 'Go to Folder' and type ~/Library.

Is it safe to delete these Adobe add-in files from my Mac?

Yes. Deleting these files safely stops the runtime error. The only consequence is losing the Adobe Acrobat integration tab inside Microsoft Office, but you can still save documents as PDFs using the native Mac 'File > Print > Save as PDF' option.

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