Runtime error 53 when using Microsoft Word and Powerpoint

[D668458]

Help!  Been on the phone 3x with Adobe staff, 12 hours on this Runtime Error 53 Visual Basic MACPDFM. Adobe has been helpful in doing a temporary fix (they acknowledge it's an issue ADOBE has) but then the problem continues to come back for Microsoft Word and Powerpoint. 

Does any user or Adobe customer have a solution that is PERMANENT or is this something I will need to live with this error every time I open a word or ppt file?

Seeking "HOW TO", "GENERAL TROUBLESHOOTING" guidance from the experts

[LuckySlam]

Please vote here, if you have the same problem with PDFMaker :

https://acrobat.uservoice.com/forums/590923-acrobat-for-windows-and-mac/suggestions/45577624-adobe-a...

I guess we will have to deal with this bug until 6/1/2025 😛

[D668458]

I found a temporary solution and that is within the Microsoft Word and Powerpoint products go into TOOLS, templates and Add-ins and Uncheck the Global Template and Add-ins if it's checked (*usually is as that is the generator of the error message).   Another option is to do a Full System Search on that "named template add-in" and DELETE the item.  This should solve the issue.   Best of luck and I fully agree that Adobe should address this problem sooner, 2025 is really an unreal response, imho. 

[DrAddison]

I've done both of those things - linkCreation.dotm is the file at issue, but I've deleted it and emptied my Trash, it's nowhere on the system, and yet Word keeps showing it as selected every time I re-launch even though I keep disabling it under the Template and Add-ins menu.

[Anne22855035mn3e]

Having this exact same problem.  I don't have the file anywhere on my compute to delete and the above command (-) is also greyed out.  Did you find a solution?

[dr._robert_1578]

I am having the same issues. Anyone solve this yet?

[dr._robert_1578]

The files do not show up in global search. 😕

[fantastic_mentor0D4D]

Hello,

M2 Mac Studio Ultra running macOS Sonoma 14.2. I've read through every thread I can find on the internet and tried every solution etc. till I found one that worked.

Actully, I found many but all involve "linkCreation.dotm" which is Microsoft, not Adobe. You can check a box to unlink the add-in in Word, Excel and Powerpoint by going to Tools/Templates and Add-ins….

You can also remove the SaveAsAdobePDF.ppam and SaveAsAdobePDF.xlam but those only work for PowerPoint and Excel.

There is a Terminal Command is supposed to fix all three. I won't bother with it since it does not work.

None of these fixes are permanent. Updates to your Microsoft or Adobe apps may reinstall the problem. At least you now know how to deal with it — until next time.

[patriciam45564283]

I think I had the same problem (new Macbook/installed Word/every time I opened a document I got the "runtime error 53" message) but I went to the Word/Tools/Templates and Addins and unchecked the only addin which was "linkCreation.dotm" -- had nothing to do with Adobe Acrobat but the next word document I opened opened without the error message so tada!! thank you Adobe forum! [ps the Word forum was 99% useless, just said to go to this forum haha]

[fantastic_mentor0D4D]

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@patriciam45564283 wrote:

I think I had the same problem (new Macbook/installed Word/every time I opened a document I got the "runtime error 53" message) but I went to the Word/Tools/Templates and Addins and unchecked the only addin which was "linkCreation.dotm" -- had nothing to do with Adobe Acrobat but the next word document I opened opened without the error message so tada!! thank you Adobe forum! [ps the Word forum was 99% useless, just said to go to this forum haha]

---

Yep, I posted the fix there and got an unbelievabe amount of pushback from those who knew mothing.

[Stephan35878553ffll]

...doesn't work for me, in ppt you can even remove the addin, in word only uncheck, but always reappears the next time I start the program...

[Stephan35878553ffll]

The (well-known) runtime-error 53 reappears after installing MacOS Sequoia 15. This time, the well-practiced routine (deleting linkCreation.dotm or Save AsAdobePDF.ppam respectively from their respective folders Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office365/User Content.localized/Startup/… does not work anymore, as the two files are no longer there and thus can't be deleted… (in fact, I searched the files with the finder search engine and could’t find them anywhere else).

So what to do about this tiresome error?

Thanks a lot,

Stephan

[Sam_Stein7332]

Same issue here... 😞

[Cesar A26073538wnjo]

Same issue here, it would be great if anyone has a solution for this NEW issue.

[tina12775142]

Agreed. Same issue here: 2 Files are not there to be deleted. 

[D668458]

Stephan, You are 100% correct, the prior solution of deleting the files which worked GREAT is no longer there as the files seemed to disappear.  The ONLY workaround is to manually delete the add-ons when using Word or Powerpoints. I can not tell you how frustrating this is as a user and one that is president of my Rotary Club when I have to manually do this EACH and every time I do presentations and communications.   I called Adobe and they are very aware of this problem and say a fix (without any date of implementation) is going to come, but its low priority.  How hard could this be?   Anyway will keep my eye on posts with this issue, that appears to be growing in size with user reported errors. 

[michaelm42620682]

Hi everybody, same problem at my Mac (MBP 14). Workaround was fine, but no more since I upgraded to MacOS Sequoia. No more files to delete. 

I uninstalled Adobe a couple months ago with no effect. I just wonder whether any of you managed to get rid of the add-ons? I would ban Adobe Acrobat and never install again if I just had a chance to get rid of the problem...

[michaelm42620682]

I had the same problem and found the solution (files are in another folder under MAC OS Sequoia):

Run-Time Error 53: File Not Found LinkCreation.dotm -- NOTHING in the proper folder to delete 

[9jennifer9]

Thank you - this link finally helped me find the "disappeared" file. I haven't even upgraded to Sequoia yet but this folder was also the solution in Sonoma 14.7...

[Alexandra38466306k5mh]

Same issue here! 

[michaelm42620682]

See my post with the solution above. BR Michael

[9jennifer9]

Between this error and Acrobat crashing randomly every couple of times I use it, I'm ready for a new piece of software.

[fantastic_mentor0D4D]

The error is Microsoft, not Adobe. The correct solutions are found here and on many other boards. They work.

If Adobe keeps crashing, that is not normal. Reach out to Support.

[9jennifer9]

I was able to find the last remaining linkcreation file in the "new location" (Office 365 folder) given by another user. The old way always worked for me but now finding this new location did the trick. And yes, the crashing is an extremely bothersome issue I will contact them about...

[Alexandra38466306k5mh]

I had the same issue. I´m no expert, but I tried to find linkCreation.dotm or Save AsAdobePDF.ppam in other directories. The finder was not sucessfull, the tool "Find any file" was. I deleeted both files and the problem is solved 😉