...Zotero Tab Does not Appear in MS Word 2016 - Windows 10

ethan417 · October 22, 2017

I recently changed my Zotero installation from Firefox to Zotero 5.
I am using Word 2016 on Windows 10.
Zetero 5 sees all my docs but I just can't seem to make the Zotero-Word connection.

Any thoughts?

adamsmith · October 22, 2017

Have you tried re-install Zotero Word components from the "Cite" tab othe Zotero preferences?

ethan417 · October 23, 2017

Thank you for responding to my post.
I did re-install from the Cite tab.
It said installation was successful.
I still do not see the Zotero tab in Word

Thoughts?

bfsalvail · October 23, 2017

it's happening to me and a friend too, i've tried reinstalling zotero and restarting my computer. im realy not sure what to do

bwiernik · October 23, 2017

If you go to the Word Startup folder, is Zotero.dotm there? Do you see the tab if you manually open Zotero.dotm?

ethan417 · October 25, 2017

Yes I see the tab when I manually open Zotero.dotm.
But - when I open an existing document that I want to use with Zotero, the Zotero Tab is no longer visible.

Thoughts

bwiernik · October 25, 2017

Okay, check your macro security settings in Word. What are they set to?

ethan417 · October 26, 2017

it says

"Disable all Macros - except digitally signed macros"

bwiernik · October 26, 2017

Okay, make sure that the Office Startup folder (where Zotero.dotm is located) is in Word's list of Trusted Locations:
https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Add-remove-or-change-a-trusted-location-7ee1cdc2-483e-4cbb-bcb3-4e7c67147fb4

ethan417 · November 1, 2017

Thank you for your continued help.

The Word Startup folder where my Zotero docs are located are in a Word Trusted location.

When I launch Word - I still do not see the Zotero tab

adomasven · November 2, 2017

Please follow these instructions https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_troubleshooting#zotero_tab_does_not_appear_in_the_word_ribbon

jbae0008 · November 26, 2018

Solved this issue differently.
Follow these instructions: https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_manual_installation

BUT please notice whether your Word Startup folder is named "STARTUP" or "START".
You can find out by launching Word -> options -> add-ins -> select the "site.dot" from the dropdown list and notice its path.
Here my path led to the Word/START instead of Word/STARTUP.
You therefore have to make sure that your zotero.dotm file is located in this folder in order to make Zotero work.

victoria.cohen · January 8, 2019

Hi, I followed both of these options and the Zotero tab still isn't on my word ribbon.
I have made a work around but it is not ideal. I made a custom ribbon and put the Zotero macros in the custom ribbon. Is there a better way for me to fix this? I'm using Microsoft office 365 Pro plus if that changes anything.

adomasven · January 8, 2019

Try renaming your Normal.dotm to Normal.dotm.bak and restart Word. The Ribbon tab for Zotero should appear automatically, but heavy modifications of your Normal template might prevent it.

CellWhisperer · January 9, 2020

Hi, I have the same issue here : Zotero.dotm is indeed in the correct Word Startup folder, if I launch it I see the Zotero tab, but all new documents or existing ones are missing it. Creating a new Normal.dotm is not an option as it has already been modified. Has a new solution been found since then ?

dstillman · January 9, 2020

Creating a new Normal.dotm is not an option as it has already been modified.

You should still test with a new Normal.dotm as Adomas suggests. If that fixes the problem, your best bet is to reapply any changes you have in Normal.dotm to the new one.

CellWhisperer · January 24, 2020

So I tried creating a new Normal.dotm and it did not change anything. My work PC has the same Office version, and Zotero works fine there. So I copied over my work's Normal.dotm and it's still not working on my home PC, the Zotero tab is still missing... Any ideas ?

dstillman · January 24, 2020

@Caro-LGBC: What's the full path of your Word Startup folder? (You can x out your username.)

CellWhisperer · January 24, 2020

Word Startup folder (where Zotero.dotm lives):
C:\Users\Caro\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Word\STARTUP

Normal.dotm folder:
C:\Users\Caro\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Templates

dstillman · January 25, 2020

https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_troubleshooting#zotero_tab_does_not_appear_in_the_word_ribbon

Follow these steps and, if you're still having trouble, say everything you tried and what happened at each step.

CellWhisperer · January 26, 2020

Problem solved for me!

Problem was at the very first step: in the "Word add-ins" of the Developer tab, Zotero.dotm was indeed present BUT not ticked. Ticked it, closed and relaunched Word and Zotero tab finally appeared, thanks!

simluk · March 2, 2021

For those on Word 2016, once all the settings are in place, Make sure you scroll the file toolbar until the very end, Zotero icons are the last on the right