Zotero 7: Microsoft Word Plugin/Add-In Not Working

kaitodurkee

Report ID: 515991648

The Zotero plugin/add-in for Microsoft Word is not working.

Steps to reproduce:

1. Download Zotero 7.
2. Try to add the Word add-in. A popup appears saying that the installation was successful:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u14727416/cbz6k92qtv2oorfblm1y.png
This leads to this message in the Zotero interface:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u14727416/353jsi6lbst47urp1cfj.png
Additionally, in Microsoft Word (through Microsoft 365), the Zotero tab appears in the Ribbon at the top:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u14727416/h9k5c63cjtelc4whb4zt.png
3. Try to add a citation or bibliography using the Zotero tab in the Microsoft Word Ribbon. A pop-up appears in Zotero, which says the Zotero could not find a running word instance (even through this task was performed from a running Word instance):
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u14727416/b1sdwk2a1eahoz3tmpj8.png

I tried working through the linked troubleshooting steps as well, including the following:
1. Disabling my antivirus software and performing the above steps.
2. Various combinations of deleting the Zotero.dotm file and reinstalling the add-in within Zotero compatibility mode settings for Zotero and/or Word, restarting Word between each step and trying to reinstall the add-in and try again accordingly.
3. Reinstalling Zotero 7.
4. Manually installing the Zotero plugin after disabling antivirus software.

My final troubleshooting step was to again remove the Zotero.dotm file from the %AppData%\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP folder, and then noticing that Zotero still indicates that the add-in is still installed (even when it should not be):
https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u14727416/vxfbwfsvo3hcs76g3cex.png
This occurred even after restarting both Word AND Zotero AND reinstalling Zotero between these steps. Would anyone be able to help me get Zotero 7 working with Microsoft Word?

dstillman

My final troubleshooting step was to again remove the Zotero.dotm file from the %AppData%\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP folder, and then noticing that Zotero still indicates that the add-in is still installed (even when it should not be)

That doesn't matter — that's just a flag in the Zotero app that gets updated once it installs the plugin. What matters is that the Zotero toolbar goes away in Word when you delete Zotero.dotm. Does it?

Assuming it does, for this issue, you'll want to follow these steps:

https://www.zotero.org/support/kb/could_not_find_a_running_word_instance

kaitodurkee

It does. I went through the steps again, and I found that the "Run as Administrator" setting had been checked for Word for some reason. After unchecking that box, Zotero now appears to be working in Word. Thank you for your help!