How to Fix Error “Compile error in hidden module” on Word for Mac

Getting a Compile error in hidden module: link error when you’re opening or quitting Microsoft Word on your Mac usually happens when code is not compatible with either the version, architecture or platform of the application. It is caused by Acrobat DC, which installs an add-on that causes the error.

You will get this error both when starting, and quitting Microsoft Word, but in the meantime Word will continue to work without absolutely no errors whatsoever. Even though the error doesn’t cause any problems, it can be annoying to have to deal with the popup every time.

Since the error has been diagnosed, there is a known solution that works and does away with the error popup, and you can solve it in a matter of minutes.

Move the linkCreation.dotm file to your desktop and restart Word

linkCreation.dotm is a part of the Acrobat DC add-on which causes the error. The name itself can be easily connected with the error message, and moving it away from the folder it is located in can solve this issue for you.

1. Close Microsoft Word.
2. Open the following folder:

~/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content/Word

You can open the Library folder by holding the Alt key on your keyboard while clicking on the Go menu, and choosing Library.

3. Within the Word folder, you will see the dotm file. This is the file we mentioned earlier, the one that causes the problem.
4. Drag the file to your desktop.
5. Restart Microsoft Word. The error message will be now gone.

While dealing with an annoying popup can be a trivial issue for some users, there are a lot of them who don’t see why they should continue putting up with it. If you’re in the second group, follow the method described above, and you will get rid of Microsoft Word’s annoying popup in a matter of minutes.