Does a “Run-time error 53” message appear every time you open a Microsoft Word or Powerpoint document?

Table of Contents:

This issue can be solved two ways. Try out both solutions to see which one works.

Users who have Adobe Acrobat 2020 images.png will experience this issue due to an incompatible add-in Acrobat attempts to add into Work and Powerpoint.

Error53.png

The work around to getting rid of these messages is to delete the add-ins:

  • For PowerPoint: SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam

  • For Word: linkCreation.dotm

Full solution: Purchase Adobe Acrobat Pro Subscription Adobe_Reader_XI_icon.png through your IT department.

Solution 1

Step 1: Open the Library Folder

Click on the Finder app Finder.png

Click on the Go menu, hold down the Option key Option Key.png and choose Library.

Library.png

Step 2: Deleting the Problem Files

After opening the Library folder, navigate through the following folders:

  • (blue star) Group Containers

  • (blue star) UB48T346G9.Office
    (blue star) (The name may vary, but should end in ".Office")

  • (blue star) User Content

  • (blue star) Startup

Deleting the PowerPoint File

  • Within the (blue star) Startup folder, open the (blue star) Powerpoint folder

  • Delete the file called “SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam”

Deleting the Word File

  • Within the (blue star) Startup folder, open the (blue star) Word folder

  • Delete the file called “linkCreation.dotm”

Library2.png

Restart Microsoft Word and PowerPoint.

Solution 1 complete! If this did not work for you, please move to Solution 2.

Solution 2

Step 1: Open the Library Folder

Click on the Finder app Finder.png

Click on the Go menu choose Computer.

ComputerFolder.png

Step 2: Deleting the Problem Files

After opening the Computer folder, navigate through the following folders:

  • (blue star) Macintosh HD

  • (blue star) Library

  • (blue star) Application Support

  • (blue star) Microsoft

  • (blue star) Office365

  • (blue star) User Content

  • (blue star) Startup

Pathway.png

Deleting the PowerPoint File

  • Within the (blue star) Startup folder, open the (blue star)Powerpoint folder

  • Delete the file called “SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam”

Deleting the Word File

  • Within the (blue star) Startup folder, open the (blue star) Word folder

  • Delete the file called “linkCreation.dotm”

Step 3: Deleting the Add-in in PowerPoint

While having PowerPoint open, click Tools, click Powerpoint Add-ins,

Check the SaveAsAdobePDF add-in, click the minus button to remove it, and click OK.

Addin-20240925-154119.png

Restart Microsoft PowerPoint.

You’re done! (blue star)