Bug: Error message "Unable to convert pdf file"

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
October 16, 2025
2 replies
616 views

InDesign no longer opens any pdf file. I tried plenty of times with various different files (even those that worked just fine a week ago) and nothing. It looks like some update completely messed up this function. I tried changing Acrobat's Enhanced Security and save file again I tried to re-export pdf again - nothing works. Other Adobe programms works just fine, it's just InDesign that suddenly lost its ability to open pdf

Bug

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @oww_wwd,

Thanks for sharing the details, and I'm sorry to hear you're running into this. I tested it and it works for me. Could you please confirm the exact version of InDesign and Windows you’re using? Also, try creating a new blank InDesign file and use File > Place to import a PDF instead of opening it directly to see if it behaves the same way. If the issue persists, please share one of the affected sample PDFs for testing, you can use a cloud link like Google Drive or Dropbox if needed. If confidential, share it via DM on the community.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

O

oww_wwdAuthor

Participant

It allows me to place the content of pdf but as a picture, while before I was able to access all layers. It won't do for me, I need to have it working as it was before 😞
I know that it's not pdf's issue because I tried all different files - ones created in InDesign after the issue appeared, before, ones that I was able to open just a few days ago, I also tried changing Enhenced Security as in screenshot attached. None of it worked
cannot-open-pdf-2.jpg (1047×703)
Edition Windows 11 Enterprise
Version 23H2
Installed on ‎7/‎4/‎2024
OS build 22631.5909
Serial number 5CG4223XC3
Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1106.0