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Participant
Nov 11, 2016 8:38 PM UTC
Answered

can't move objects in inDesign

my InDesign was working fine. finished up a file. opened up a different file, but when I pasted in a graphic, I realized that I couldn't move it. went back to the first file I had been in and I was no longer able to move anything there either! I updated to InDesign 2017. i'm on a windows 10 os. thanks for any feed back.

IanTru
IanTruCorrect answer
Participant
Nov 29, 2016 6:52 PM UTC

Fortunately I figured it out just restart your computer, let me know if it works.

19 replies

Participant
Apr 17, 2025 5:26 PM UTC

I just figured it out for me. Click V and escape at the same time. 

 

Hope this helps,

Lori

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Participant
Sep 26, 2024 12:00 PM UTC

Try closing other ''apps'' if you have open like Illustrator and Photoshop. Worked for me.

 

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Participant
Mar 15, 2022 3:15 AM UTC

Hello, 

I just experienced the same thing, but discovered it was only happening while i was simultaneously working on large photoshop files. While i was waiting for them to load i was working in an Indesign file and could not move any pasted graphics or text. 

 

Once the files finished opening in photoshop, then the indesign program ran back to normal, this happened 2-3 times.

 

Thanks 

 

 

 

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Participant
Aug 10, 2022 2:48 PM UTC

It's a darn bug that Adobe has never been able to resolve. Trashing the preferences is a waste of time ... means you have to go through all your settings again and set them the way you want the app to work. It seems to happen every time that Windows wants to update the system. Many applications go into cardiac arrest mode until one restarts the machine. Is it Adobe's problem, or Windows problem? The blame can go either way. But Windows gets fussy if you don't want to update right away and probably throws a monkey wrench into the works to force users to update.

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Participant
Jun 9, 2021 11:44 AM UTC

Reset Indesign Preference, this will solve the problem
Start InDesign, and then press Shift+Ctrl+Alt. pop up will come
Click Yes when asked if you want to 
delete preference files.

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Participant
Nov 29, 2016 3:11 PM UTC

I'm experiencing the same problem but on a Mac.

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IanTru
IanTruCorrect answer
Participant
Nov 29, 2016 6:52 PM UTC

Fortunately I figured it out just restart your computer, let me know if it works.

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01dmagnoAuthor
Participant
Nov 30, 2016 11:23 PM UTC

yes. sorry I should've responded sooner. I shut down the computer, not just logon/logoff and gave the computer a rest for the night. came back the following morning and all was well. thank you!

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Haeme Ulrich
Inspiring
Nov 12, 2016 10:23 AM UTC

Have you tried to delete the preferences and the cache of InDesign

Troubleshooting 101: Replace, or "trash" your InDesign preferences

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01dmagnoAuthor
Participant
Nov 13, 2016 1:58 AM UTC

i did and that did not work.

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Haeme Ulrich
Inspiring
Nov 14, 2016 7:01 AM UTC

Could you share a Screen Recording and/or your files?

Tip: You could make a simple Screen Recording with this solution:

https://viewedit.com/

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