Office for Mac Issues

Fix Word Crashing When Combining Files in Adobe Acrobat on Mac

Elise Williams Oct 1, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user experiences crashes in Microsoft Word when attempting to combine Word documents using Adobe Acrobat on macOS.

Fix Word Crashing When Combining Files in Adobe Acrobat on Mac

Product: Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Combining multiple Word documents into a single PDF using Adobe Acrobat.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Word crashes unexpectedly, often displaying an Objective-C Document class script error, particularly after a recent Microsoft Word update.

Before you start

Ensure that you have saved and closed any open Word documents to prevent data corruption during the troubleshooting process.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat

Software conflicts are often resolved in the latest patches. Updating both applications ensures maximum compatibility and fixes known script errors.

Since the error originates during Acrobat's interaction with Word's background processes, running mismatched or bug-prone versions of either app can trigger the Objective-C Document class script error.

Update Microsoft Word

Open Microsoft Word on your Mac, go to the Help menu at the top, and select 'Check for Updates' to install the latest version via Microsoft AutoUpdate.

Update Adobe Acrobat

Open Adobe Acrobat, click on the Help menu, and choose 'Check for Updates'. Follow the on-screen prompts to install any available patches.

Restart your Mac

After installing updates for both applications, click the Apple logo and select 'Restart' to ensure all background services are properly refreshed.

Update History: If the issue started after a specific Word update, rolling back to an earlier stable version via Time Machine might temporarily resolve the issue while waiting for a permanent fix from Microsoft or Adobe.

Solution 2

Export as PDF Directly from Word Before Combining

If Adobe Acrobat's combine tool continues to fail when calling Word, you can bypass the script error by converting the files to PDF individually first.

Use WPS Office to Combine Documents to PDF Without Crashing

You can avoid the Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat script errors entirely by using WPS Office. WPS Office has a robust built-in PDF toolkit that allows you to open Word documents and merge them into a single PDF directly within the application, ensuring a smooth and crash-free experience on your Mac.

1. Download and Install: Download and install WPS Office for Mac from the official WPS website.
2. Open the PDF Toolkit: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab from the home workspace sidebar.
3. Merge Documents: Select the 'Merge PDF' tool. You can add your Word documents directly here; WPS will automatically handle the conversion and merging process without requiring external plugins.
4. Save the Output: Click 'Merge' to combine the files, then save your new PDF document directly to your desired folder on your Mac.

Built-in PDF combining tool avoids third-party script conflicts completely.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including .doc and .docx.Lightweight and highly optimized for macOS performance, preventing software crashes.All-in-one suite that handles word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDFs natively.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word crash with an Objective-C Document class script error?

This error typically occurs due to a communication breakdown or scripting conflict between Adobe Acrobat's automation tools and Microsoft Word's background processes. It is often triggered by a recent software update in either application changing how they interact.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Word fix the Acrobat merge crash?

Reinstalling may resolve the issue if local application files are corrupted. However, if the issue is a bug introduced in a recent Word update, reinstalling the exact same version will not fix it. You may need to wait for a developer patch or temporarily roll back to a previous version.

Where can I report this Acrobat and Word compatibility bug?

You should report the issue to Microsoft via the 'Feedback' tool inside Word (Help > Feedback) and post in the Adobe Acrobat Community forums. Provide your macOS version, Word version, and the specific crash report details for faster assistance.

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