Security Policy Errors

Fix: Microsoft 365 Blocks Mendeley Cite and Office Store Add-ins

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to use Mendeley Cite because Microsoft 365 is configured to prevent the acquisition and execution of Office Store add-ins.

Product: Microsoft 365 / Mendeley Cite
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to install or run the Mendeley Cite add-in for referencing and citation management in Word documents.
Observed behavior: A security policy message appears stating that the organization has blocked users from installing or running Office Store add-ins, preventing Mendeley Cite from functioning.

Before you start

Verify whether you are using a personal Microsoft 365 account or one provided by your school or workplace, as this block is controlled by organizational security policies.

Solution 1Recommended

Request Administrator to Enable User-Owned Apps and Services

Contact your IT department to lift the restriction in the Microsoft 365 admin center, allowing users to access the Office Store.

Because this is an organization-level security policy, individual users cannot bypass the restriction on their own.

Your school or workplace IT administrator has the necessary permissions to modify the tenant settings and enable access to Office Store add-ins like Mendeley Cite.

Identify your IT support contact

Reach out to your school's IT helpdesk or your company's IT support department.

Submit a request

Explain that your workflow requires the Mendeley Cite add-in and ask them to enable Office Store access.

Admin action: Navigate to Settings

Instruct the administrator to log into the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to 'Settings', and then select 'Org settings'.

Admin action: Enable user-owned apps

Under 'User owned apps and services', the administrator needs to check the option that allows users to access the Office Store.

Alternative for Administrators: If the organization prefers not to open the entire Office Store to all users, the administrator can use the 'Integrated apps' section to centrally deploy Mendeley Cite to specific users or groups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft 365 block Mendeley Cite by default?

Many organizations disable access to the Office Store to maintain security and prevent unapproved third-party applications from accessing corporate or student data.

Can I install Mendeley Cite without administrator rights?

No. If your organization has blocked Office Store add-ins at the Microsoft 365 tenant level, you cannot bypass this restriction locally on your computer.

What if the IT administrator refuses to enable the Office Store?

Your administrator can opt for 'Centralized Deployment'. This allows them to specifically deploy the Mendeley Cite add-in to your account without opening the entire Office Store to the rest of the organization.

Does this security error affect the older Mendeley Desktop version?

No, this specific policy only affects Mendeley Cite, which operates as an Office Store add-in. The legacy Mendeley Desktop citation plugin installs locally, though it is currently being phased out by Mendeley.

Microsoft Office Security Issues