Color mixer not working in IND 21.0.2

Forum|Forum|7 months ago
December 18, 2025
6 replies
163 views

I just upgraded to IND 21.0.2 and Mac OS Tahoe (26.2) and since then my color mixer isn't available. When I click on an object and want to change the color, the mixer is simply grayed out. Is anyone else having this problem? Is there a solution?

Bug

Correct answer Mike Witherell

Click the Fill icon, because you might have the stroke icon active (or vice-versa). This can be done at the bottom of the toolbar, or at the upper left of the Swatch panel and the Color panel.

If these are still not waking up, you likely need to reset InDesign, possibly with the delete-the-InDesign-cache-files option.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/reset-indesign-preferences-and-other-troubleshooting/td-p/11990234

D

DENISE23215445o8t5Author

Participating Frequently

This problem has reoccurred, probably after my latest system update (to Tahoe 26.5.2 (25F84)). It’s odd that no one else has reported or commented on this.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @DENISE23215445o8t5,

Thanks for reporting this, and I'm sorry to hear the issue has reappeared.

I tested this on both Windows and macOS with InDesign 21.4.1, but I wasn't able to reproduce the behavior on my end. To start with, could you please manually reset your InDesign preferences by following the video at the bottom of this HelpX article?
https://adobe.ly/4fMjJ3j

If the issue persists, please test the same workflow in a brand-new InDesign document and let us know whether the Color panel behaves the same way there.

Additionally, please make sure InDesign has Full Disk Access by going to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Full Disk Access, then relaunch InDesign and test again.

Please let us know your observations after trying these steps, and we'll be happy to investigate further.

Abhishek

D

DENISE23215445o8t5Author

Participating Frequently

I reset the preferences per Mike’s instructions below and it fixed the problem. I also just set Full Disk Access preference.

For my work, I use a base IND file that I’ve created myself as a template for a lot of my work. I’m not sure if there’s a corrupt object in the template that then gets propagated out to my other files or if it’s something else. I believe the problem appears when I am working with gradient objects. I’m not sure if it’s generally complicated or overlapping transparent objects, if it’s something in my template, or something else. Both times this has happened was after I updated my OS and then was working on the files for this one particular client.

Mike Witherell

Correct answer

Community Expert

Click the Fill icon, because you might have the stroke icon active (or vice-versa). This can be done at the bottom of the toolbar, or at the upper left of the Swatch panel and the Color panel.

If these are still not waking up, you likely need to reset InDesign, possibly with the delete-the-InDesign-cache-files option.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/reset-indesign-preferences-and-other-troubleshooting/td-p/11990234

Mike Witherell