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Fix Mendeley Word Plug-in Invalid Request and Redirect URI Error

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users receive an 'invalid_request' error stating that the redirect_uri does not match a registered URI when trying to install or connect the Mendeley plug-in in Microsoft Word.

Product: Mendeley Plug-in for Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Installing or authenticating the Mendeley citation plug-in to work with Microsoft Word.
Observed behavior: The plug-in fails to connect to Microsoft Word, displaying an error message about an invalid request and an unregistered redirect URI.

Before you start

Verify that your default web browser is up to date and that you have the latest version of the Mendeley Reference Manager installed before proceeding.

Solution 1Recommended

Contact Mendeley Support for Authentication Assistance

Since Mendeley is a third-party application, server-side authentication and URI registration errors must be resolved by their official support team.

The 'invalid_request' error occurs when the authorization token or redirect URI in the plug-in's code does not match what is registered on Elsevier's secure authentication servers. Because this is a server-side issue with a third-party tool, adjusting Microsoft Word settings will not resolve it directly.

Visit the Mendeley Support Hub

Open your preferred web browser and navigate to the official Elsevier Mendeley Support Hub at https://service.elsevier.com/app/home/supporthub/mendeley/.

Submit a Support Ticket

Scroll to the contact section to open a chat with a representative or submit an email ticket. Be sure to mention the exact 'invalid_request' and 'redirect_uri' error message you are seeing.

Quick Workaround Attempt: Before contacting support, you can try clearing your default browser's cache and cookies or completely reinstalling the Mendeley Reference Manager to force a fresh authentication prompt.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the Mendeley plug-in show an invalid request error in Word?

This error occurs because the redirect URI sent by the plug-in during the login process does not match the approved URI on Mendeley's authentication server, which is typically caused by a bug in the specific plug-in version or a server-side configuration issue.

Will reinstalling Microsoft Word fix the redirect URI error?

No, reinstalling Microsoft Word will not fix this issue. The problem stems from the Mendeley application's authentication configuration with Elsevier's servers, not from the Microsoft Word application itself.

Are there other reference managers I can use with my word processor?

Yes, if you continue to experience issues with Mendeley, you can explore alternative reference management software such as Zotero or EndNote, which also provide dedicated and fully functional plug-ins for major word processors.

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