Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Run time error 53 in Word on Mac - HELP!

D

difrance1217

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 24, 2024
9
0
Hello everyone, I run MS Office on Mac and use Word and PowerPoint. Whenever I open a new (or existing) word file, I get an error message saying "Run-time error '53': with a long path (see attached). I have looked on line and followed instructions to go into the library folder and drill down and remove a particular file related to an adobe extension. I have deleted this file and the problem persists. I have also gone into the "templates and add-ins" subfolder in the word tools menu and attempted to delete the linkCreation.dotm file but I cannot as the removal button is greyed out. Unchecking the file does nothing. If you an help, please advise.

P.S. the same error occurs in PowerPoint and it is far more irritating as it comes up alot.
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2024-09-17 at 9.15.48 AM.png
    Screenshot 2024-09-17 at 9.15.48 AM.png
    67 KB · Views: 106
Hi there, thank you for responding. Where exactly is the startup folder you mention? All of the methods I have read about have me drill down into the Library folder.
 
Hi there, thank you. I selected the "disable all macros without notification" option and restarted word but it still happens.
 
difrance1217 said:
I have also gone into the "templates and add-ins" subfolder in the word tools menu and attempted to delete the linkCreation.dotm file but I cannot as the removal button is greyed out. Unchecking the file does nothing.
Click to expand...
From the link posted by @lostPod, the response provided there by John Korchok:
Go to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Word and delete linkCreation.dotm,
then to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/PowerPoint and delete SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam
 
bogdanw said:
From the link posted by @lostPod, the response provided there by John Korchok:
Go to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/Word and delete linkCreation.dotm,
then to ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Startup/PowerPoint and delete SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam
Click to expand...
Hi there, thank you for this. I have done this. It doesn’t help.
 
OP:

Just something you might try, no promises.

The file that won't open...
CONTROL-click on it, and hold down the mouse button.
A contextual menu should open.
Are you offered any other applications that might be able to open the file?
If so, try them one-at-a-time.

If MS Office won't open it, you might also try:
- LibreOffice
- OnlyOffice
- (Apple) Pages
 
Hi there, thank you. Unfortunately the minus sign remains greyed out...there is no way to remove the template file. I uncheck it...then restart word...and it is back there with a check mark.
 
OP:

Do you by chance have one of these "problem files" that you could post, here, for examination by others?

If so, "compress it" in the finder (into a "zip" archive), then attach it...
 
difrance1217 said:
Hello everyone, I run MS Office on Mac and use Word and PowerPoint. Whenever I open a new (or existing) word file, I get an error message saying "Run-time error '53': with a long path (see attached). I have looked on line and followed instructions to go into the library folder and drill down and remove a particular file related to an adobe extension. I have deleted this file and the problem persists. I have also gone into the "templates and add-ins" subfolder in the word tools menu and attempted to delete the linkCreation.dotm file but I cannot as the removal button is greyed out. Unchecking the file does nothing. If you an help, please advise.

P.S. the same error occurs in PowerPoint and it is far more irritating as it comes up alot.
Click to expand...
Hi there, I have got the same problem. Let me add something: I have the problem for years. With nearly every update on Microsoft365 it comes back. Deleting the mentioned files in the library (for word, powerpoint, and excel) solves the problem. BUT: After having updated to MacOS Sequoia, I have the problem again, and the files I had to delete (to solve the problem) are NO MORE in the library folder!!! So I cannot delete them. When I uncheck "SafeAsAdobePDF" add-in in PPT and close the app and open again, then the problem comes again and the box with the add-in is checked again.
Terribly annoying.
Does anyone have a workaround for MacOS Sequoia??

Thans for any hint!
Michael
 
MichaPM said:
Hi there, I have got the same problem. Let me add something: I have the problem for years. With nearly every update on Microsoft365 it comes back. Deleting the mentioned files in the library (for word, powerpoint, and excel) solves the problem. BUT: After having updated to MacOS Sequoia, I have the problem again, and the files I had to delete (to solve the problem) are NO MORE in the library folder!!! So I cannot delete them. When I uncheck "SafeAsAdobePDF" add-in in PPT and close the app and open again, then the problem comes again and the box with the add-in is checked again.
Terribly annoying.
Does anyone have a workaround for MacOS Sequoia??

Thans for any hint!
Michael
Click to expand...
Hi!
Close all Office apps.
Open your Library and then find these 3 folders.
Backup and delete them.
Please let me know.

No so long ago, this issue could be solved by deleting "Startup" inside Group Containers > UBF8T346G9.Office > User Content, but as it seems, that approach is not working anymore.

Screenshot 2024-10-08 at 18.24.20.png


Edit: Added a new post with the solution below.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: MichaPM and StoneJack
Update:
Solved the issue in a customer machine today.
Go to the MAIN Library, then Application Support > Microsoft > Office365 > User Content > Startup
Delete the Excel, Powerpoint and Word folders inside in.
 
Thank you! Was having the same issue after updating to Sequoia, the old method didn't work anymore but this fixed it. Been dealing with this runtime error 53 for a long time (reappears after every update). Sure would be nice if someone at Microsoft fixed this. Thanks again.
 
  • Love
Reactions: diego.caraballo
I have done all the above - still getting this error. I am on a MacBook Air - and the above resolved my issues a few years ago. Happened after Sequoia and MS updates.

Help!

Thanks!
 
diego.caraballo said:
Update:
Solved the issue in a customer machine today.
Go to the MAIN Library, then Application Support > Microsoft > Office365 > User Content > Startup
Delete the Excel, Powerpoint and Word folders inside in.
Click to expand...
Hi there - I am having the same problem in the same fashion post sequoia, but I don't use Office365. I just have a localized version of Office. So, there is no Office365 folder in the above file path. Is there another solution for this that you might know? So frustrating!
 
dchermak said:
Hi there - I am having the same problem in the same fashion post sequoia, but I don't use Office365. I just have a localized version of Office. So, there is no Office365 folder in the above file path. Is there another solution for this that you might know? So frustrating!
Click to expand...
Check your USER library:
Screenshot 2024-12-02 at 16.57.34.png
 
diego.caraballo said:
Check your USER library:
View attachment 2458168
Click to expand...
Yes - that is what I used to do before I upgraded the OS. Now, in the Startup folder there is a Word folder but that folder is empty. It used to contain the link.creation file and I would delete. But as a previous user remarked, that file is no longer there. I did just delete the word folder, for what it's worth, but the problem persists. Is there another way to solve this?
 
dchermak said:
Yes - that is what I used to do before I upgraded the OS. Now, in the Startup folder there is a Word folder but that folder is empty. It used to contain the link.creation file and I would delete. But as a previous user remarked, that file is no longer there. I did just delete the word folder, for what it's worth, but the problem persists. Is there another way to solve this?
Click to expand...
If you already checked the MAIN library folder as well, then I may suggest to download Find Any File, give it total access to the disk, then search for linkCreation.dotm and/or SaveAsAdobePDF
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back