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InDesign 21.4 Bug: Unable to Move Multiple Selected Objects When Dragging Over Placed Images

Forum|Forum|25 days ago
May 27, 2026
271 replies
11038 views

In the latest update of InDesign when I have multiple shapes and frames on the page selected, if my cursor is above something like a rectangle with content/picture inside it, I only move the picture that is below it at the time.

Rather than the whole selection of objects as it used to. I tested before and after the update and it was something that only broke with 21.4. If I cursor over a solid shape object while still selecting the entire group (including the photo frame) that then moves the entire section but only if cursor above a placed fill object does it break.

What could possibly be happening?

Correct answer nik.m

Hi, we released InDesign version 21.4.1 today that includes a fix for this issues. Please check out: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/desktop/whats-new/release-notes.html

Please update InDesign and let us know how it goes.

If you do not see the update in the Creative Cloud Desktop App, check out: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/apps/manage-apps/creative-cloud-apps/update-creative-cloud-apps-manually.html

Thanks,

Nikunj

Show previous replies

T

teamstyiep

Participant

We have the same problem. Hope this will be fixed asap.

As a simple workaround I’ll group all objects, move and ungroup them.

--ahl--

Participant

Got the same problem! Unbelievable annoying! Indesign is all about moving objects in different ways –– and now that doesn't work :(

D

DerFremde

Inspiring

Same issue for me.

P

Peter_Adventures

Participant

Yep, this is a newly introduced bug! Please fix ASAP Adobe!!!

A

andre_mac

Participating Frequently

In addition to the problem of moving objects, there's also the inability to select a key object. If you select multiple objects and click on one of them to set it as the key object, only that object is selected; the border selection is often no longer achieved, rendering even this simple function ineffective.

David+A+McFarlane

Participant

I agree, extremely annoying. I shouldn’t have to search the internet to find a “fix” to a problem that didn’t exist before. Only consolation is that it isn’t just me.

Gareth David Studio

Participant

Honestly, Adobe, you are not doing yourself any favours with these silly updates.

You are now competing with software that is free or far more affordable, so you need to stop messing about with the basic functionality of your programs. This is a ridiculous regression.

For years in InDesign, you could quickly drag over a group of objects, select them, click on any selected object, and move the whole selection instantly. That workflow was simple, fast, and it worked perfectly.

Now, after the latest update, if I select multiple objects and click on one of them to move the selection, it only moves that single object. Apparently, I now have to click on the outside bounding box or group the objects first.

That is not an improvement. That is adding extra steps to a process that was already simple.

I do not want to group objects just to move them. I do not want to carefully aim for the outside marquee box every time I need to move a selection. Those are extra steps. They slow down the workflow and make the software more frustrating to use.

Why on earth would you take away something that has been a staple interaction for years and worked perfectly?

This does not make InDesign better. It makes it worse.

This is in enshittification.

Please restore the previous behaviour, where selecting multiple objects and dragging any selected item moves the full selection.

leo.r

Community Expert

It’s a bug. Unfortunate, but still a bug. Not an intentional change. You can revert to InDesign 21.3 until it’s fixed (hopefully, soon) as described in this thread.

M

MilanSperka

Participating Frequently

I LOATHE every single update as I know they will f*ck something up, somehow.