How to Fix Word for Mac Freezing on the References Tab
Question details
The user needs to stop Word for Mac from freezing and displaying errors when accessing the References tab.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Clicking the References tab to insert citations or manage document references.
- Observed behavior
- Word freezes, becomes unresponsive, or closes abruptly. Error messages such as 'Undo Edit button not found' and 'Insert citation button not found' appear, often persisting even after Mendeley is uninstalled.
Ensure you have saved all open documents and completely closed Microsoft Word before modifying any add-in settings.
Remove Leftover Mendeley Templates and Add-ins
This is the most effective solution for resolving freezing issues caused by hidden third-party citation add-in remnants.
Even if you have uninstalled the Mendeley application or it does not appear under your basic Add-ins menu, template files can remain in Word's system folders. These leftover files conflict with Word's native References tab, causing the software to freeze or display missing button errors.
Launch Microsoft Word on your Mac. In the top Apple menu bar, click on 'Tools' and then select 'Templates and Add-ins' from the drop-down menu.
In the new window, check the 'Global templates and add-ins' section. Look specifically for any files related to Mendeley or other third-party citation managers.
Select the Mendeley template or add-in from the list, then click the minus (-) button to remove it. If the minus button is grayed out, uncheck the box next to the add-in to disable it.
Close Microsoft Word completely and relaunch the application. Open a blank document, click on the References tab, and verify that it no longer freezes.
Isolate the Issue Using Mac Safe Mode
Use Safe Mode to determine if a background application or system-level add-in is causing Word to become unusable.
Try WPS Office for a Stable and Seamless Mac Experience
If Word for Mac continues to freeze or crash due to complex add-in conflicts or messy updates, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, fast, and highly compatible word processing environment for Mac users without the bloated add-in issues that cause unexpected crashes.
- 1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for Mac from the official website and complete the quick installation process.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Right-click any existing Word document on your Mac, choose 'Open With', and select WPS Office.
- 3. Edit Without Freezing: Enjoy a stable editing experience and utilize built-in referencing tools without worrying about sudden crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Word for Mac freeze only when I click the References tab?
This specific freezing issue is almost always triggered by outdated or incompatible third-party citation add-ins, such as Mendeley. When you click the References tab, Word attempts to load the custom buttons for these add-ins. If the add-in files are corrupted or missing, Word gets stuck in an error loop and freezes.
I uninstalled Mendeley, so why am I still getting 'Undo Edit button not found' errors?
Uninstalling the main Mendeley application from your Mac does not automatically remove the integration templates from Microsoft Word. You must manually open Word, go to Tools > Templates and Add-ins, and remove the remaining Mendeley files to stop the errors.
Will upgrading to a newer Microsoft 365 version fix the crashing issue?
Not necessarily. If a problematic template file is left in your Word startup folder, the new version of Microsoft 365 will still attempt to load it, resulting in the same freeze. Manually clearing the Templates and Add-ins menu is the best way to resolve this.
How do I know for sure if an add-in is causing my Word app to freeze?
You can boot your Mac into Safe Mode or launch Word while holding the Shift key (which opens Word in its own Safe Mode). If the References tab works normally in Safe Mode, you can be certain that an add-in or background program is responsible for the freezing.
