1829608855 - Word Plugin on MacOs runtime error 4707

ambord

[Admin note, May 19, 2025: See this update.]

Hi together

I've already done all the troubleshooting I could... Since this week, once I have Zotero plugin in word, I can no longer edit any word file without the runtime error 4707.

https://s3.amazonaws.com/zotero.org/images/forums/u14151082/29c1498x5hek9iblqzfz.png

adomasven

Seems like an issue with Word Beta (Insider Release). You need to install a non-beta release. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/kb/microsoft-365-insider-kb/join-the-microsoft-365-insider-program-on-macos/4401756

ambord

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/release-notes-office-for-mac, Version 16.97 should not be a beta version?

adomasven

If you temporarily move other files except for Zotero.dotm out of your Word startup folder and restart Word does it help? Which files do you have there?

jdlang47

I have the same problem. Zotero add in for some reason yesterday needed to be reinstalled (prompted by Zotero). Today Microsoft Word updated to 16.97 (Mac). Suddenly got this same endless 4707 error. I was able to "fix" the error by removing the Zotero.dotm out of the Word startup folder. Reinstalling Zotero add in cause the error again. I NEED THIS FIXED!!!!

jdlang47

Zotero version 7.0.15
Mac 15.4.1

jdlang47

Based on this Microsoft issue, I discovered that the error can be fixed by clicking the "Open with Rosetta" checkbox in the "Get Info" window (when you right click on the Word application)

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/word-for-mac-is-throwing-a-4707-error/28653187-1928-48df-ae17-bf7f4f492c06

adomasven

@ambord You should report this issue to Microsoft with version 16.97 installed by pressing the support button at the very top right with and choosing "Report a Problem". Microsoft is aware of the issue, as it's been reported on the forums linked above, but you should report it to make sure they fix it for the next release.

Open with Rosetta might help, but it also makes Word run slower, so you don't want that as a permanent solution.

poettli

For the record. I have Word Version 16.97 (25051114) and Zotero 7.1-beta.36+1eacc8bbd installed on an Apple M2 with Sequoia 15.4.1 (24E263). I don't see this.

ambord

Hi @adomasven

Unfortunately, as soon as I re-install the Zotero Plugin word stops working. I also removed all other plugins and only the Zotero one is causing this issue.

As I have a company office license, my company admin had to contact Microsoft and I was told afterwards that I have to report this to Zotero...

Currently I have no workaround :(

(Apple M1 Pro, Sequoia 15.4.1 (24E263), Word 16.97)

adomasven

Microsoft user support is likely not aware yet that this is an issue introduced by Word, not Zotero. You should report this via the Word reporter. The more reports Microsoft receives, the more urgently they'll fix it. Otherwise you can use the workaround of running Word with Rosetta in the meantime.

ambord

Thank you, I did that now.

ambord

@poettli

You have to search the Word app in Finder an then right click to open "Information". Here you can activate Rosetta.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/102527

poettli

@ambord.
Thank you, but I am afraid you have misread my comment.

adomasven

@ambord It's probably better to downgrade to Word 16.96.2 and disable Run with Rosetta, because if you don't remember to uncheck that flag later once Microsoft fixes this issue. You can get earlier Word versions here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac

PamelaPatton

Possible solution: I was having the same problem on MS Word 16.97, Mac Sequoia 15.5, slightly older version of Zotero. I tried upgrading Zotero to 7.0.15 and declined the Word plugin when prompted. Now Word is opening with no trouble. Maybe getting rid of the plugin this way did the trick.

calbrecht

It seems that the problem is related to the Zotero Word add in. I have deleted the Zotero.dotm. Then Word works. When Zotero.dotm is added again (manually or via Application Version 7 via Settings --> Quote --> reinstall Word Add in), ‘Runtime error 4707’ (german "Laufzeitfehler 4707) appears again. Who needs to take action here? Microsoft or Zotero?

dstillman

Microsoft. This broke in a Word update and is fixed by downgrading Word, as explained above.

dstillman

One of us was finally able to reproduce this, and it was triggered by having an Adobe add-in — linkCreation.dotm — installed as well. linkCreation.dotm + Zotero.dotm caused a crash, and linkCreation.dotm + another product's .dotm caused a crash, but none of the three alone resulted in a crash.

So if you're seeing this, go to your Word startup folder and look for linkCreation.dotm. If you have it, delete it or move it to a temporary location until this is resolved by Microsoft or Adobe.

If you don't have linkCreation.dotm but have other .dotm files, you can try other combinations of .dotm files to see which result in a crash (and let us know).

klasnja

I can confirm that moving the linkCreation.dotm from the Word Startup folder worked. With just the zotero template in that folder, Word opens without throwing the 4707 error.

One other note: moving back to an older version of Word did not work for me. When I tried to install the 16.96 version with the installer linked from Microsoft's website, the installer ran successfully, but I was still left with 16.97 as the version (with 4707 errors in tow). Removing the linkCreation.dotm was the only fix that worked for me.

dstillman

@klasnja: You might have to delete Microsoft Word from Applications before trying to install the old version. But removing linkCreation.dotm is better if you can do without it. Thanks for confirming that worked.

jamesl

@dstillman I can also confirm that moving linkCreation.dotm from the Word Startup folder worked as well. Removing Zotero.dotm works too but obviously we are here because we need Zotero to function.

dstillman

We talked with Microsoft. They're aware of this issue with the Adobe plugin. They have a fix in testing now, and it should be released soon.