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EndNote CWYW add-in for Word on Mac is missing or not working

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Want to know what EndNote has to offer? Try our  free  series that guides you through the entire process. Read more here.

 - Here are some suggested solutions to missing or non-working EndNote CWYW toolbar in Word for Mac.

If your system has the Apple M1 chip, and your getting an error message in word stating that Word can’t load an add-in: "Word could not load an add-in. Your add-in is not compatible with this version of Word. Contact the add-in vendor and ask for an update. (EndNote CWYW Word 16.bundle).". Click here to read support article: Word, EndNote and M1 chip compatibility

A. Check that you have the latest version of EndNote

The EndNote 20.1.0 update provides compatibility with Apple Silicon-based Macintosh. Please update to EndNote 20.1.0

Open EndNote and choose EndNote: Check for updates..., and run the automatic update check.

  • If you for some reason need to or want to download and install the full version of EndNote you can download it from the below link. Please note that in this case, you need your license product key during the installation process:

EndNote X9 Windows

EndNote X9 Mac OS

EndNote 20 Windows

EndNote 20 Mac OS

EndNote 21 Windows

EndNote 21 Mac OS

B. Check that you have the latest version of Word

Open Word and choose Word: Check for updates..., and run the automatic update check.

  • Make sure you do not have a future beta version of Word(!) EndNote CWYW only works on stable and tested versions of Word, so do not participate in any early access/beta testing scheme.
  • Make sure you do not have any other add-ins to your Word that can conflict with the EndNote CWYW add-in. Turn off/disable them, to see if this helps with getting your EndNote CWYW to work.
  • You can also check and download the latest updates from here: 
    https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac

C. Run the EndNote Customizer

  1. Close all applications, and then open your EndNote.
  2. Run the customizer (make sure the CWYW checkbox is checked in step 3). EndNote: EndNote > Customizer

D. Check your Mac OS security settings

Mac OS Mojave and higher versions include new Security & Privacy functions which can prevent EndNote from being able to correctly automate. To correctly set these options:

  1. Go into the Apple menu
  2. Click System Preferences
  3. Click Security & Privacy
  4. Click the Privacy tab (along the top)
  5. Click the Automation options, along the left.
  6. Here, make sure that both "Microsoft Word" and "EndNote X#" are both turned on.
  7. With this automation turned off, the Cite While You Write functions will not work.

E. Manually copy the EndNote CWYW add-in files to your Word add-in folder

  1. Close Word and EndNote.
  2. Open your hard drive and go to the following folder:
    EndNote X9: Applications: EndNote X9: Cite While You Write
    EndNote X8: Applications: EndNote X8: Cite While You Write
    EndNote online: Applications: Cite While You Write:Cite While You Write
  3. Word 2016/2019/365 version 16.xx: Copy the file "EndNote CWYW Word 16.bundle" by highlighting the file and going to "Edit > Copy." (see below for download)
    Word 2016 version 15.xx: Copy the file "EndNote CWYW Word 2016.bundle" by highlighting the file and going to "Edit > Copy." (see below for download)

NOTE: If you do not see the "EndNote CWYW Word 2016.bundle" file in the "Applications: EndNote X8(X9): Cite While You Write" folder (or if this file is not the most up to date version), you can follow these steps:

  • Download a copy of the latest EndNote online tools here.
  • Run this file and follow the steps to install the tools in Word.
  • Skip step 3.

4. Go to the folder "[Hard Drive Name] : Library : Application Support : Microsoft : Office365 : User Content : Startup : Word" and paste the file, "Edit > Paste."

Note: If you have trouble finding the above location you need to click on Finder (in the Dock the icon of a face) to the right of Finder click on the Go menu then click on Computer then click on the Macintosh Hard Drive. You should then be able to follow the path above.

Note: In non-English versions of Word, the folder named "Startup" may be called "Start" or be in the localized language of Word.

5. Start Word, go to "Word > Preferences" and click on "File Locations."

6. If the Startup folder is set to any location, highlight "Startup" and click on "Reset."
Click "OK" and Quit Word.

7. Start EndNote and then start Word.

If the tools are still not present, they may not have been installed. Please follow these steps for EndNote X8 Only:

  1. Quit Word.
  2. Download the "EndNote CWYW Word 16.bundle.zip" for Word 2016 version 16.xx or the "EndNote CWYW Word 2016.bundle" file for Word 2016 version 15.xx in the Attachments section at the bottom of this article.
  3. Unzip the "EndNote CWYW Word 16.bundle" or "EndNote CWYW Word 2016.bundle" file as appropriate.
  4. Place this file in the "[Hard Drive Name] : Library : Application Support : Microsoft : Office365 : User Content : Startup : Word" folder.
  5. Start Word and look for the EndNote tab in the Ribbon.

F. Tools are present, but not responsive

If you are seeing the EndNote X8/X9 or EndNote tab in the ribbon, but the commands are not functional, only beep or do nothing when clicked, some settings may need to be reset. Do the following to resolve this:

  1. Create a compressed backup of the library.
  2. Quit EndNote and Word.
  3. Open Finder, hold down the "Option" key on your keyboard and go to the "Go" Menu and choose "Library" then open the "Preferences" folder. [Note: If the Library folder is still not visible, try holding down the "Shift" key instead of the "Option" key with macOS Sierra or later.]
  4. Remove the "com.ThomsonResearchSoft.EndNote.plist" file.
  5. Browse to is the "[Hard Drive Name] : Library : Application Support : Microsoft : Office365 : User Content : Startup : Word" folder.
  6. Delete the "EndNote CWYW Word 16.bundle" and/or "EndNote CWYW Word 2016.bundle" file.
  7. Launch EndNote X8/X9.
  8. Run the Customizer to install the Cite While You Write tools. With EndNote online, run the "Install Cite While You Write" application.

G. Tools are Missing, but everything appears correctly configured

If the issues persist, Try resetting your word preferences:

  1. Quit EndNote, Word and any Microsoft application.
  2. Find and drag the Nomal.dotm template to your desktop.
  3. To access this folder, please click on the Go menu of your Finder and then press the "Option" key on your keyboard. Library should then appear as an option in the Go menu. Click this and proceed to Group Containers : UBF8T346G9.Office : User Content : Templates to find the Normal.dotm file. [Note: If the Library folder is still not visible, try holding down the "Shift" key instead of the "Option" key with macOS Sierra or later.]
  4. Rename this file Abnormal.old
  5. Look for any pre-2016 Normal templates on your computer. Drag them to the desktop and rename. The location would depend on the version of Word:
    Word 2008 and 2011: Click on the Go menu of your Finder and then press the "Option" key on your keyboard. Library should then appear as an option in the Go menu. Click this and proceed to Application Support:Microsoft:Office:User Templates to find the Normal.dotm file.
    Word 2004: Users:[your login name with the house icon]:Documents:Microsoft User Data.
    Word X: Microsoft Office X:Templates.
  6. Remove or rename the following files/folders if they exist:
    Users:[your login name with the house icon]:Library: Containers: com.microsoft.Word
    Users:[your login name with the house icon]:Library:Preferences:Microsoft:Word Settings (10)
    Users:[your login name with the house icon]:Library:Preferences:Microsoft:Word Settings (11)
    Users:[your login name with the house icon]:Library:Preferences:com.Microsoft.Word.plist
    Users:[your login name with the house icon]:Library:Preferences:Microsoft:Office 2011 (The entire folder would need to be renamed or removed here)
    Users:[your login name with the house icon]:Library:Preferences:Microsoft:Office 2008 (The entire folder would need to be renamed or removed here)
  7. Restart your computer.
  8. Empty the Trash.

H. Uninstall and reinstall your Office applications

  1. Uninstall your Office applications. Please find instructions by clicking the link below:
    https://support.office.com/en-us/article/uninstall-office-for-mac-eefa1199-5b58-43af-8a3d-b73dc1a8cae3
  2. Restart your computer.
  3. Install your Office applications. Please find instructions by clicking the link below:
    https://support.office.com/en-us/article/download-and-install-or-reinstall-office-365-or-office-2019-on-a-pc-or-mac-4414eaaf-0478-48be-9c42-23adc4716658
  4. Restart your computer.
  5. Open EndNote and run the Customizer. EndNote: EndNote > Customizer. Check on the CWYW add-in in step 2.

 

 

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