Office for Mac Issues

How to Fix Mendeley Cite Error ECITE 40001 in Word for Mac

Camila Milosovich Oct 12, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve an issue where the Mendeley Cite add-in stops working in Microsoft Word for Mac, displaying error code ECITE 40001.

How to Fix Mendeley Cite Error ECITE 40001 in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac, Mendeley Cite Add-in
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Using the Mendeley Reference Manager plug-in to insert citations after a recent Microsoft Office update.
Observed behavior: The Mendeley add-in stops responding, insert actions fail, and the synchronization process returns error ECITE 40001.

Before you start

Ensure that your current document is fully saved and back up your reference library to the Mendeley cloud before attempting to reinstall or update any add-ins.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Mendeley Cite and Consult Developer Support

Because error ECITE 40001 is typically caused by an Office update breaking compatibility with third-party add-ins, updating the Mendeley plugin is the primary solution.

Microsoft frequently updates Office for Mac, which can sometimes outpace the development cycle of third-party add-ins like Mendeley Cite. The add-in developer is responsible for releasing a compatible version.

Update the Mendeley Cite add-in

Open Microsoft Word for Mac, navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon, click on 'Get Add-ins', and check 'My Add-ins' to update or reinstall the latest Mendeley Cite release.

Check for Mendeley workarounds

Visit the official Mendeley Support website to see if a temporary workaround guide has been published specifically for the latest Microsoft Office update.

Contact Mendeley Support

If updating does not resolve the ECITE 40001 error, submit a support ticket to Mendeley directly, as they are best equipped to resolve integration issues with their software.

Update Mendeley Cite and Consult Developer Support

Avoid Downgrading Office: Do not downgrade your Microsoft Office installation solely to accommodate an add-in unless Mendeley Support explicitly recommends doing so.

Solution 2

Monitor for Microsoft Office Bug Fixes

Some compatibility issues between Word for Mac and Mendeley are triggered by underlying bugs in the Office update itself, requiring a subsequent patch from Microsoft.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What causes the ECITE 40001 error in Mendeley Cite for Mac?

This error generally occurs when Microsoft Word for Mac is updated to a newer version before Mendeley has released a compatible update for their citation add-in, causing integration failures.

Should I downgrade Microsoft Word for Mac to fix Mendeley?

It is not recommended to downgrade your Office installation to fix an add-in error unless Mendeley Support specifically advises you to do so, as older versions may lack important security updates.

How do I update the Mendeley Cite add-in in Word?

To update Mendeley Cite, open Word, navigate to the Insert tab, click Get Add-ins, go to the My Add-ins section, and either refresh the add-in or reinstall it from the Office Store.

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