Last updated
21 October 2025
Status: Known issue – Fix in progress.
Summary
Some users have reported that EndNote 2025 crashes or freezes when searching for Scandinavian or Nordic characters such as å, ä, ö, æ, ø, and ü. This problem occurs mainly when using the Simple Search function.
Affected versions
- EndNote 2025 (initial release)
- EndNote 2025.1 – issue persists for some users
Both versions are confirmed to be affected when searching for special or accented Scandinavian letters.
Description of the problem
If you run a simple search using Scandinavian characters (for example, searching for å, ä, or ö) in EndNote 2025, the program may:
- Display search results normally.
- Then, it crashes or closes unexpectedly when you click on another reference in the results list.
- Show a blank or frozen summary panel just before the crash.
The error can also occur even if your references do not contain those characters, suggesting the bug lies in EndNote’s internal text-matching or rendering engine.
Workarounds (temporary fixes)
Until an official fix is released:
- Avoid simple searches using Scandinavian or accented characters.
- Try using Advanced Search with field-specific parameters (for example, search by Author or Title).
- If possible, search using Latin equivalents (for example, use a instead of å).
- Save your library files locally, not in cloud folders, to reduce data corruption risk after a crash.
Status and resolution
- The bug is currently open and under active investigation by the EndNote development team.
- Some improvements were seen in EndNote 2025.1, but tests confirm the issue remains for some configurations.
- Developers are reviewing user-submitted libraries and a recorded video demonstration from Alfasoft to assist debugging.
- A permanent fix is expected in a future maintenance release of EndNote 2025.
Recommended actions
- Update to the latest version of EndNote as soon as patches become available.
- Avoid using å, ä, ö, æ, ø, ü in searches until the fix is confirmed.
- If you continue experiencing crashes, report the issue to EndNote Support.
- Back up your EndNote libraries regularly to avoid data loss.
Frequently asked questions
Q: Does this bug affect all languages?
A: It mainly affects Scandinavian and Nordic alphabets using characters such as å, ä, ö, æ, ø, and ü.
Q: Can I still use EndNote 2025 safely?
A: Yes, as long as you avoid simple searches using these characters. Your libraries and references are safe otherwise.
Q: When will the fix be available?
A: The EndNote team has confirmed that a fix is in progress. Updates will be announced via the EndNote release notes.