After a Microsoft 365 update, Word may crash immediately on startup or when you open a PDF-related menu. The crash is caused by a compatibility conflict between the updated Office code and an outdated version of the Adobe Acrobat add-in. This article explains the root cause of the crash, provides step-by-step instructions to disable or update the add-in, and lists other failure patterns you may encounter.
Key Takeaways: Fixing Word Crashes Caused by the Acrobat Add-in After an Update
- File > Options > Add-ins > COM Add-ins > Go > Uncheck “Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM addin”: Disables the add-in so Word can start without crashing.
- Safe Mode (hold Ctrl while starting Word): Bypasses all add-ins to confirm the crash is add-in related.
- Adobe Reader or Acrobat > Help > Check for Updates: Installs the latest add-in version that is compatible with the current Microsoft 365 build.
Why the Acrobat Add-in Causes Word to Crash After a Microsoft 365 Update
Microsoft 365 updates frequently change internal APIs and object models that third-party add-ins rely on. Adobe Acrobat’s add-in, named Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM addin, integrates with Word to create PDFs, attach PDFs to emails, and convert Word documents to PDF format. When Microsoft ships a new update, the add-in may call a deprecated or removed function, causing an unhandled exception that crashes Word.
The crash typically occurs during Word’s add-in loading phase. Word tries to initialize every registered COM add-in at startup. If the Acrobat add-in fails during initialization, Word terminates the process. The crash can also happen later when you click the Acrobat tab or any Acrobat-related button on the ribbon.
Known Problematic Microsoft 365 Updates
Users have reported crashes after updates released in October 2023, February 2024, and September 2024. Each update changed how Word handles protected view and PDF conversion calls. Adobe typically releases a compatibility patch within two to four weeks of a Microsoft update. If you apply a Microsoft 365 update before Adobe releases a corresponding patch, the crash is likely to occur.
Steps to Disable the Acrobat Add-in and Restore Word Stability
Use Safe Mode first to confirm the add-in is the cause. Then disable the add-in through Word’s options. After Word runs normally, update Adobe software to re-enable the add-in safely.
Step 1: Start Word in Safe Mode to Verify the Add-in Is the Cause
- Hold the Ctrl key and double-click the Word icon
A dialog box appears asking if you want to start Word in Safe Mode. Click Yes. If Word opens without crashing, the problem is caused by an add-in or extension. - Close Safe Mode
Exit Word normally. Do not make changes in Safe Mode yet.
Step 2: Disable the Acrobat COM Add-in
- Open Word normally
If Word crashes during startup, proceed directly to the next step using the workaround below. If Word opens but crashes later, go to File > Options. - Navigate to Add-ins
In the Word Options dialog, select Add-ins from the left pane. - Open the COM Add-ins dialog
At the bottom of the Add-ins page, locate the Manage dropdown. Select COM Add-ins and click Go. - Uncheck the Acrobat add-in
In the COM Add-ins dialog, uncheck the box next to Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM addin. Click OK. - Restart Word
Close and reopen Word. The Acrobat tab should be gone, and Word should start without crashing.
Step 3: Update Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader
- Open Adobe Acrobat or Adobe Reader
Launch the Adobe application from the Start menu or desktop shortcut. - Check for updates
Click Help in the menu bar, then select Check for Updates. Follow the prompts to download and install the latest version. - Restart Word and re-enable the add-in
After the Adobe update completes, open Word. Go back to File > Options > Add-ins > COM Add-ins > Go and recheck Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM addin. Click OK and restart Word.
If Word Still Has Issues After the Main Fix
Word Crashes When Opening a PDF Inside Word
If you disabled the add-in but Word still crashes when you try to open a PDF file directly in Word, the problem may be with Word’s built-in PDF converter rather than the Acrobat add-in. Go to File > Options > Advanced. Under the General section, uncheck Enable PDF import and restart Word. Use Adobe Acrobat to open PDFs instead.
Acrobat Tab Is Missing After Re-enabling the Add-in
If you updated Adobe but the Acrobat tab does not appear in Word, the add-in may be disabled in the registry. Open a Command Prompt as administrator and run regsvr32 "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat DC\PDFMaker\Office\PDFMOfficeAddin.dll". Adjust the path based on your Acrobat version. Restart Word.
Word Freezes When You Click the Acrobat Tab
This indicates the add-in loaded but a specific function is failing. Update Adobe to the latest version. If the issue persists, run the Microsoft 365 Repair tool from Control Panel > Programs > Microsoft 365 > Change > Quick Repair. If that does not work, use Online Repair.
Disabling the Add-in via Registry vs Word Options
| Item | Disable via Word Options | Disable via Registry |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Uses the COM Add-ins dialog inside Word | Removes or renames the add-in registry key |
| Ease of use | Easy, no technical knowledge required | Requires Registry Editor access |
| Reversibility | Recheck the box in COM Add-ins dialog | Restore or rename the key back |
| Effect on other Office apps | Only affects Word | Can affect other Office apps if the key is shared |
| Best for | Most users | When Word crashes before you can open Options |
To disable via registry, press Win+R, type regedit, and navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\Word\Addins\PDFMaker.OfficeAddin. Rename the key by adding .old to the end. Restart Word.
You can now start Word without crashes by disabling the Acrobat PDFMaker Office COM addin through Word Options or the registry. After disabling the add-in, update Adobe Acrobat or Reader to restore full PDF functionality. As an advanced tip, set Microsoft 365 updates to Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel to receive updates four months later, giving Adobe time to release a compatible add-in version.