Run time error 53 and acrobat freezing up 'not responding"

[mw5375]

Ever since Adobe support 'fixed' my issue after loading Acrobat Pro on my new IMAC I have been getting this error when opening MS WORD - Run Time Error 53 - and this path - library/applications support/adobe/macpdfm/macpdfm.framework/Version/A/macpdfm - I spent three hours with adobe support yesterday and ended up getting disconnected on a char - I am hoping some on in the Adobe community can help me fix this issue - I am basically back where I started after loading acrobat pro on my IMAC - IMAC is on Mojave 10.14.5 - Acrobat Pro DC - Version 2015.006.30497 - hopefully someone can help - I was transferred over 8 times in Adobe support and the problem never got solved.

[meganfarber9 · Accepted solution]

I have been trying to resolve this problem for a while. After reading a few things online about possible causes, I started clicking around... I FINALLY found a solution that worked for me and I thought it may be helpful to share! Here is what I did:

1. Open the Word application

2. On the top of your Mac taskbar, click "Tools"

3. Click on "Templates and Add-ins..." at the bottom

4. Under Global Templates and Add-ins, I selected the item - I believe the name was "linkCreation.dotm"

5. Clicked the little (-) button to delete the item.

6. Restarted MS Word and the problem was resolved! 🙂

[Paolo.Ciamarone · Accepted solution]

Hi ACCOUNTS24104747irc1,

Yes, I think I solved it. Basically:

.1. To open your hidden user Library folder, hold down the Option key while clicking on the Go menu and choosing Library.

.2. ~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content.localized/Startup.localized/Word.

Please note that the User Content and Startup folders will not always have .localized appended to the name when you view them in the Finder.

.3. Delete the add-in file, then restart Word to test that the error is gone. Repeat for Excel and Powerpoint....

This is a recompilation of schattered info all over the places but at the end luckily it did work for me.

Have a good one! 

[Vincent28340125mq8l]

After several hours of trying to figure this out - I eventually called MS Office to help me.  They led me through several steps - and eventually, it all worked out!  So, if it's not working for you - try a chat with MS Office online!

[LuckySlam]

Still no fix with April release 2020.005.30467...common Adobe! Please...you can simply disable PDFMaker installation for Apple Silicon CPU.

[Jennifer29740149jvmr]

 I have received this error and it has frozen a Word document in which I was making significant edits that have not saved. I have closed all applications but can't work in-although I can see-my Word docs. Does anyone have a fix? 

[Dr. Flam]

Yes. In the menu bar, click tools, then click PowerPoint/Excel/Word
Add-ins. Select an add on and click minus - to remove it. Remove them all.

[Everett35631469ixpl]

This solution worked for me:

https://wikis.utexas.edu/display/coeito/MacPDFM+error+in+Microsoft+Word+and+Powerpoint

[D. Michael Enfield]

There may be more to this problem, with the roll-out of Mac OS 15 Sequoia. The above fixes do not solve the problem. 

[Everett35631469ixpl]

I agree.  This has not worked for me since last night.

[Robert25354092kmhd]

How does one contact a live person at Adobe to resolve the Run-tinme error 53.  All the solutions are old solutions.? The error is now somewhere else in the system.  If you have a telephone number, please gicve it to me.

[Everett35631469ixpl]

The long-term failure to address this significant issue through a software update or meaningful help to the community is quite frustrating.  Fortunately, there are now a number of Acrobat substitutes that can do everything I need to do.  If this issue persists when Adobe stops "supporting" the version I already paid for, I'm planning to switch .pdf programs.

[GeoffreyQ]

Yes I have had this problem for over a year now. So frustrating to have double click the error message everytime I open a word doc.  Google chrome recent notified me that it can work with PDFs.  May be that is our solution.