Run-Time Error 53 (Word for Mac)

Question

Run-Time Error 53 (Word for Mac)

Susan M. Smith 86

Every time I open MS Word, I get a Run-Time Error 53 message. It says:

File not found: /Library/Application Support/Adobe/MACPDFM/MacPDFM.framework/Versions/A/MacPDFM

How do I fix this?

Locked Question. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

Emi Zhang-MSFT 30,191 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-09-19T03:01:57.34+00:00

Hi @Susan M. Smith ,
I have not heard back from you in a few days and wanted to check on the status of the problem. If you have any questions with the previous information I've provided, please don't hesitate to let me know. I am glad to be of assistance.
Susan M. Smith 86 Reputation points

2022-09-22T02:59:06.337+00:00

Hello. There is no file called "Group Containers" in my library. My laptop is a MacBook Air.

But I did find the .dotm by searching for it and I moved it to my documents folder (as a precaution) rather than trash it.

And Yes it was just with Word.

Susan
Kim Leighton 11 Reputation points

2022-11-19T16:33:48.403+00:00

Done, thank you!
Robert Sette 1 Reputation point

2022-12-07T15:20:55.657+00:00

I have the same problem, same file path/file name, but it is when I open Excel. I deleted "linkcreation.dotm" and that resolved the problem with Word.

Any tips on how to resolve this on a Mac running current Office 365?

Thanks,
Robert
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2022-12-07T16:36:17.587+00:00

Please see my answer to this thread, but use the path ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Excel instead.
Robert Sette 1 Reputation point

2022-12-07T16:40:10.93+00:00

I tried that initially, but the only file in the Excel folder is SaveAsAdopePDF.xlam.
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2022-12-08T15:57:30.81+00:00

SaveAsAdopePDF.xlam is the file to delete. If you're feeling uncertain, drag it to your desktop first to test whether it fixes the Excel error message.
Anonymous

2023-02-24T16:30:23.4866667+00:00

That didn't resolve my error
Tony Cortes 0 Reputation points

2023-03-09T11:00:48.67+00:00

@John Korchok Thank you for your helpful tip on this problem. It worked for Word and Excel but the error persists in PowerPoint. The startup folder is empty for Word, Excel & PowerPoint. Any ideas on why the PowerPoint error is not fixed?
Shelly Kindler 0 Reputation points

2023-03-13T12:57:13.5333333+00:00

I am having the same issue on my mac. Please help! Thank you.
Anonymous

2023-04-12T17:55:07.62+00:00

Both work. Why on Earth does the MS installer do this to us??
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Mollee Rucker 0 Reputation points

2024-04-02T20:12:30.51+00:00

I finally found the "Go" menu, but I have no "Library."
Karen Dodo 0 Reputation points

2024-04-08T13:41:56.42+00:00

Thank you, that helped for me!
Mortal Wombat™ 1 Reputation point

2024-07-09T10:13:40.3166667+00:00

After all these years and after one million updates this is still an issue... I wonder why MS cannot handle this.

Yes, I know they blame it to everything else... same old story: Stuff at MS sucks but its the fault of all the other companies whose Apps run flawlessly unless MS comes in...
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-09-19T17:19:31.32+00:00

I continue to have this same issue in Word for Mac. I have followed the directions, and yet every time I remove linkcreation.dotm from the folder in my library, then re-start Word, I get the error again and linkcreation.dotm shows as selected in the Tools menu (see images). And yet there is no such file in my library - it's been deleted, I've emptied the trash, etc.

Here you can see I've unchecked linkcreation.dotm in Templates and Add-ins:

I guess I can only add one image per post? I have images of the empty Word folder under the Libraries tree, and the same Templates and Add-Ins window showing linkcreation.dotm selected again after restarting Word.
Riker75 0 Reputation points

2024-09-21T00:24:20.33+00:00

I had exactly the same problem and solved it like this: complete deinstallation of both MS Office 365 and Adobe Acrobat Professional 2020. Then reinstall Adobe Acrobat first, then reinstall Office 365. The bug is gone - for now. I'm not sure if it returns after the next update of either one of the programs...
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2024-09-21T14:26:48.5766667+00:00

The error is caused by an Acrobat installation gone awry, so re-installing Acrobat is a good move if you intend to keep using it. Reinstalling Office will not help the issue.
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-09-21T17:05:31.3966667+00:00

My Acrobat install is not new though, nor did it recently update, so why did this problem just begin a few days ago?
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2024-09-21T17:19:22.7733333+00:00

Sorry, only Adobe could answer why the problem began a few days ago.
Riker75 0 Reputation points

2024-09-21T22:37:15.46+00:00

Reinstalling Adobe Acrobat alone didn't solve the problem for me, the bug was still present. Only complete reinstallation of Office 365, too, solved it. I guess Adobe corrupted the Office installation with the bug.
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-10-15T02:03:50.0966667+00:00

I have reinstalled Acrobat and the issue persists.
BRAHMANANDA REDDY 0 Reputation points

2025-10-06T15:03:41.7+00:00

word and power point not working

7 answers

Emi Zhang-MSFT 30,191 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2022-09-19T03:01:57.34+00:00

Hi @Susan M. Smith ,
I have not heard back from you in a few days and wanted to check on the status of the problem. If you have any questions with the previous information I've provided, please don't hesitate to let me know. I am glad to be of assistance.
Susan M. Smith 86 Reputation points

2022-09-22T02:59:06.337+00:00

Hello. There is no file called "Group Containers" in my library. My laptop is a MacBook Air.

But I did find the .dotm by searching for it and I moved it to my documents folder (as a precaution) rather than trash it.

And Yes it was just with Word.

Susan
Kim Leighton 11 Reputation points

2022-11-19T16:33:48.403+00:00

Done, thank you!
Robert Sette 1 Reputation point

2022-12-07T15:20:55.657+00:00

I have the same problem, same file path/file name, but it is when I open Excel. I deleted "linkcreation.dotm" and that resolved the problem with Word.

Any tips on how to resolve this on a Mac running current Office 365?

Thanks,
Robert
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2022-12-07T16:36:17.587+00:00

Please see my answer to this thread, but use the path ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Excel instead.
Robert Sette 1 Reputation point

2022-12-07T16:40:10.93+00:00

I tried that initially, but the only file in the Excel folder is SaveAsAdopePDF.xlam.
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2022-12-08T15:57:30.81+00:00

SaveAsAdopePDF.xlam is the file to delete. If you're feeling uncertain, drag it to your desktop first to test whether it fixes the Excel error message.
Anonymous

2023-02-24T16:30:23.4866667+00:00

That didn't resolve my error
Tony Cortes 0 Reputation points

2023-03-09T11:00:48.67+00:00

@John Korchok Thank you for your helpful tip on this problem. It worked for Word and Excel but the error persists in PowerPoint. The startup folder is empty for Word, Excel & PowerPoint. Any ideas on why the PowerPoint error is not fixed?
Shelly Kindler 0 Reputation points

2023-03-13T12:57:13.5333333+00:00

I am having the same issue on my mac. Please help! Thank you.
Anonymous

2023-04-12T17:55:07.62+00:00

Both work. Why on Earth does the MS installer do this to us??
Deleted

This comment has been deleted due to a violation of our Code of Conduct. The comment was manually reported or identified through automated detection before action was taken. Please refer to our Code of Conduct for more information.
Mollee Rucker 0 Reputation points

2024-04-02T20:12:30.51+00:00

I finally found the "Go" menu, but I have no "Library."
Karen Dodo 0 Reputation points

2024-04-08T13:41:56.42+00:00

Thank you, that helped for me!
Mortal Wombat™ 1 Reputation point

2024-07-09T10:13:40.3166667+00:00

After all these years and after one million updates this is still an issue... I wonder why MS cannot handle this.

Yes, I know they blame it to everything else... same old story: Stuff at MS sucks but its the fault of all the other companies whose Apps run flawlessly unless MS comes in...
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-09-19T17:19:31.32+00:00

I continue to have this same issue in Word for Mac. I have followed the directions, and yet every time I remove linkcreation.dotm from the folder in my library, then re-start Word, I get the error again and linkcreation.dotm shows as selected in the Tools menu (see images). And yet there is no such file in my library - it's been deleted, I've emptied the trash, etc.

Here you can see I've unchecked linkcreation.dotm in Templates and Add-ins:

I guess I can only add one image per post? I have images of the empty Word folder under the Libraries tree, and the same Templates and Add-Ins window showing linkcreation.dotm selected again after restarting Word.
Riker75 0 Reputation points

2024-09-21T00:24:20.33+00:00

I had exactly the same problem and solved it like this: complete deinstallation of both MS Office 365 and Adobe Acrobat Professional 2020. Then reinstall Adobe Acrobat first, then reinstall Office 365. The bug is gone - for now. I'm not sure if it returns after the next update of either one of the programs...
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2024-09-21T14:26:48.5766667+00:00

The error is caused by an Acrobat installation gone awry, so re-installing Acrobat is a good move if you intend to keep using it. Reinstalling Office will not help the issue.
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-09-21T17:05:31.3966667+00:00

My Acrobat install is not new though, nor did it recently update, so why did this problem just begin a few days ago?
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2024-09-21T17:19:22.7733333+00:00

Sorry, only Adobe could answer why the problem began a few days ago.
Riker75 0 Reputation points

2024-09-21T22:37:15.46+00:00

Reinstalling Adobe Acrobat alone didn't solve the problem for me, the bug was still present. Only complete reinstallation of Office 365, too, solved it. I guess Adobe corrupted the Office installation with the bug.
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-10-15T02:03:50.0966667+00:00

I have reinstalled Acrobat and the issue persists.
BRAHMANANDA REDDY 0 Reputation points

2025-10-06T15:03:41.7+00:00

word and power point not working

Answer 1

John Korchok 231.5K Volunteer Moderator

Sorry that you've been getting Windows advice for your Mac problem. Please try these steps to get rid of the error message:

Close Word
While holding down the Option key, click on the Go menu in the macOS menu bar and choose Library. Your hidden user Library folder opens.
Open ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Word.
Drag linkcreation.dotm to the trash.
Restart your computer. Open Word and check that the message does not appear.

Kim Leighton 11 Reputation points

2022-11-14T08:10:35.313+00:00

Thank you John for preventing me from losing my mind. I was getting close.

Now off to find the solution for PPT as I don't see a linkcreation.dotm file in that folder. There is a .ppam file though. Does it take care of the same problem?

Appreciate the help with the Mac.
Kim
Anonymous

2022-11-18T19:50:16.57+00:00

I tried several other suggested solutions and this was the only thing that worked. Thank you so much!
John Ellsworth 6 Reputation points

2022-12-06T13:56:33.35+00:00

It worked. Thank you for this useful and effective tip! I had the same problem for Word and Excel. I removed "SaveAsAdobePDF.xlam" from the corresponding Excel folder as well.
Mimi 1 Reputation point

2022-12-06T19:03:54.66+00:00

This was year ago, still works today. thank you!
Leonard Balk 1 Reputation point

2022-12-19T04:52:54.64+00:00

Thank You
Susan M. Smith 86 Reputation points

2022-12-19T16:38:30.45+00:00

I cannot find a folder called Group Containers undertone Library folder. Help?
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2022-12-19T16:44:16.083+00:00

Most likely, you can't find Group Containers because you're looking in the wrong Library folder (macOS had more than one). Hold down the Option key while clicking on Go in the macOS menu bar. Choose **Library*. Your hidden user Library folder opens. Group Containers is in there.
Susan M. Smith 86 Reputation points

2022-12-19T17:11:38.01+00:00

Okay but now I am holding down the Option key but where should I be... in system settings?
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2022-12-19T17:48:24.13+00:00

In the Finder, hold down the Option key and click on Go>Library.
Susan M. Smith 86 Reputation points

2022-12-20T15:06:31.843+00:00

Yes! I finally found it. Thank you for being patient with me. Happy Holidays!
Henry Morris 1 Reputation point

2023-01-08T11:54:59.843+00:00

Thank you John for your solution to this problem, something that I wouldn't have found in a million years of digging through files. Much appreciated!
Derek Wilson 0 Reputation points

2023-01-12T18:47:23.16+00:00

Getting this error with Excel as well.

Is there a similar file I need to look for to delete?
Tarek Tawfik 0 Reputation points

2023-03-08T21:00:03.7133333+00:00

Perfect, it solve my same problem, Thank you
alyssa 0 Reputation points

2023-04-22T06:55:49.52+00:00

omg, thank you so much!! it really works!!!
Linda Crawford 0 Reputation points

2023-05-04T16:02:23.4633333+00:00

Thank you so much! This worked and got rid of that annoying box for good!
Matt Kadioglu 0 Reputation points

2023-09-15T10:36:08.41+00:00

This solution has worked for me, thank you!
Josephine Boyce 0 Reputation points

2023-09-18T11:43:44.8566667+00:00

This works!
Ross, Tierra 0 Reputation points

2023-09-19T14:56:34.8666667+00:00

thank you it worked for my mac air
Steven Leigh 0 Reputation points

2023-09-20T12:34:11.2466667+00:00

Perfect, thank you!
Mengxia Yu 0 Reputation points

2023-10-09T15:14:00.9266667+00:00

This really works! Thank you!
Mechelle Sweet-Preston 0 Reputation points

2023-10-17T20:34:09.7866667+00:00

It worked perfectly, thank you.
Mollee Rucker 0 Reputation points

2024-04-02T20:11:35.9033333+00:00

I do not have "Library" when i follow these steps
Patrick Wouters 0 Reputation points

2024-04-06T14:12:04.0866667+00:00

thank you ! worked for ppt, word and excell
Brooklyn Cadwallader 0 Reputation points

2024-07-08T14:24:01.06+00:00

Worked for me too after dealing with the issue for over a year - you've restored my sanity! Haha thank you sooo much!
Kobrlová Jana 5 Reputation points

2024-08-12T13:33:43.0866667+00:00

Hello, I have the same problem with Excel, but the ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Excel folder is empty :(. Any suggestions please?
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2024-08-12T14:42:33.85+00:00

Type 53 errors can be raised by other add-ins, not just Acrobat. Please post the exact wording of the error message, or post a screen shot using the Image tool:
Kobrlová Jana 5 Reputation points

2024-08-12T14:47:51.2866667+00:00

It is related to visual basic-looks like this:
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2024-08-12T15:41:52.1+00:00

Most likely, you are running a macro or have installed a VBA add-in that was written in Windows. It's trying to access a .dll file that exists in Windows, but not in macOS. There's no easy fix.

Sometimes Microsoft has written equivalent routines for the Mac, but they are stored in different files, so the macro would have to be rewritten to work under your OS.
Mike C 5 Reputation points

2024-10-11T05:25:08.2233333+00:00

Following your instruction, I removed the "linkcreation.dotm" file, rebooted my system and the "Run-time error '53'" still pops up.
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2024-10-11T15:10:06.1433333+00:00

Adobe has changed the files that are installed with Acrobat, so the previous answers no longer apply. This issue displays in Office but is caused by Adobe Acrobat. To find an answer, please post your question at the Adobe Acrobat Community page:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/ct-p/ct-acrobat?page=1&sort=latest_replies&lang=all&tabid=all
Davis, Bob 5 Reputation points

2024-10-14T14:24:47.14+00:00

The file structure that you describe =does not contain the .dotm and the error are still occurring? Any new thoughts ?
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-10-15T01:38:31.19+00:00
I have removed the file from this location but still get the error every time I launch Word. I have done a search of my hard drive and find no file with that name.

John Korchok says this is an Adobe issue. Adobe says this is a Microsoft issue. https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/mac-powerpoint-run-time-error-53/m-p/14675885
Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-10-15T02:11:12.85+00:00

I've deleted the file in my Group Container for Word, but continue to get an error 53. Every time I launch Word, the Tools->Templates and Add-Ins dialogue shows that linkCreation.dotm is chosen, but no matter how many times I uncheck it and choose "OK," it reappears as selected when I re-start Word. There is no linkCreation.dotm file anywhere on my hard drive, I've searched.
Mike C 5 Reputation points

2024-10-15T16:13:22.29+00:00

Thanks to John for providing the link to the Adobe support website! I found an answer on the Adobe website, tried it and it worked for me. Here is the link to the answer page: https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat-discussions/run-time-error-53-and-acrobat-freezing-up-not-responding-quot/m-p/10567310
Ehud Wolpe 0 Reputation points

2024-12-14T07:06:36.3366667+00:00

Thank you so much, you saved the day!
R Mills 0 Reputation points

2025-05-27T14:22:56.5933333+00:00

John,

I'm getting this same error on my MacBook Pro for Word and PPT but cannot find the linkcreation.dotm file in the path above. Neither in word or ppt folder. Please advise.
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-05-27T15:42:47.06+00:00

Recent editions of Acrobat place the files in new locations. You can try doing a Spotlight search for linkCreation.dotm, or you can ask for the new locations at the Acrobat Community Support page.
BRAHMANANDA REDDY 0 Reputation points

2025-10-06T15:04:10.0366667+00:00

error 53

Answer 2

John Korchok 231.5K Volunteer Moderator

Yes, removing the .ppam should get rid of the error message.

Candace R 1 Reputation point

2023-01-07T15:48:42.173+00:00

I’m having same error on power point. But when I follow your instructions above there is no file under ppt in the library to drag to trash. Other suggestions? TIA!!

Answer 3

Jonri 20

I had the same issues for many years on my MAC. The solution that frequently worked was to uncheck the linkCreation in word (and remove PDF add-in i PPT) delete the files accordding to a path that many suggested.

However, one morning this solution did not work anymore. I discover that the location of the files was changed and appeard in the following path(s):

/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office365/User Content/Startup/Word/

(and /Powerpoint instead of /Word if the problem appear with PPT)

Deleting the linkCreation.dotm in the Word folder and the SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam located in the Powerpoint folder solved the issues with Runtime 53 Error

Addison, Sheila 0 Reputation points

2024-09-28T01:32:03.0233333+00:00

Interesting. Sadly I don't find a Microsoft folder in /Library/Application/Support or SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam anywhere on my drive so I'll have to keep searching.
Carsten Burfeind | Beratung 0 Reputation points

2024-10-08T14:59:36.2066667+00:00

👍 That's what I was going to write using Office 365 on Mac. Since the GroupContainer-solution did not work for me (anymore), I today found that "> Library > Application Support > Microsoft > Office365 > User Content > Startup > Word" OR "> PowerPoint" is the place to look for the linkcreation or SaveAsAdobe files.

@Addisson: its "Application Support" not "Application/Support".
Anthony Boarman 0 Reputation points

2025-01-02T21:10:40.18+00:00

Thank you for this! My folder names were slightly different, but I was able to delete the startup files in Office, Excel, and PowerPoint so I no longer received that message. Appreciate the help.

Answer 4

Teplitz, Pamela 15

Removing SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam in the User Content/Startup/PowerPoint folder works for PPT too. Thank you!

0 comments

Answer 5

Hi @Susan M. Smith ,
Did this problem only appear in Word? How about other Office products?
Did this problem appear in all Word documents?
Where did you save the documents?
You can try to create a new Word document in desktop and check the result.
I suggest you try to re-set the Word default template, go to C:\Users\user name\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates. Rename the Normal.dotm to Normal.dotm.old, then re-open Word.
If the issue still existed try to open it in safe mode running the following command: Press Win + R, type "winword/safe" in the blank box, press Enter. If it works fine in safe mode, please check the add-ins in your Word and disable them.
Just checking in to see if the information was helpful. Please let us know if you would like further assistance.

If the response is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and upvote it.
Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

BRAHMANANDA REDDY 0 Reputation points

2025-10-06T15:05:23.79+00:00

run time error 53
John Korchok 231.5K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator

2025-10-06T15:27:33.7966667+00:00

Though the problem appears in Office, it is caused by Adobe Acrobat. Please post your request for help at https://community.adobe.com/t5/acrobat/ct-p/ct-acrobat?page=1&sort=latest_replies&lang=all&tabid=all

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Run-Time Error 53 (Word for Mac)

7 answers