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Participant
June 25, 2025
Question

Dropdown Menus Not Working After Updating to InDesign 20.4.1

  • June 25, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 588 views

I recently updated Adobe InDesign to the latest version (20.4.1), and since the update, most of the dropdown menus in the application are not functioning properly. When I click on a dropdown, it either freezes or doesn't respond at all.

This issue is significantly impacting my workflow. I’ve already tried restarting the application and my system, but the problem persists.

Could you please suggest a fix or let me know if this is a known issue in the latest version?

3 replies

Participant
September 4, 2025

Hi @Bill Silbert @Abhishek Rao,

im facing the same issue as @ganesh_babu_1003 with dropdown menu in Adobe InDesign version 20.5.0 when using Playground of Adobe UXP Developer Tools

the dropdown menu got freeze when i try to click on it

 

<h1> Simple Example </h1>

<label for="cars">Choose a car:</label>

<select name="cars" id="cars">
  <option value="volvo">Volvo</option>
  <option value="saab">Saab</option>
  <option value="mercedes">Mercedes</option>
  <option value="audi">Audi</option>
</select>

 

leo.r
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 4, 2025
quote

Playground of Adobe UXP Developer Tools

By @thanhetn_fnp

 

You may also want to ask any UXP-related questions here:

https://forums.creativeclouddeveloper.com/c/indesign/72

Bill Silbert
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 8, 2025

Functional problem with InDesign are quite common after an update if you chose the option to import previous preferences and settings when you updated. Try resetting your InDesign preferences. This will restore the program to its defaults. Hopefully, this will fix the problem.

To reset preferences:

For Macintosh Users: The User Library folder in which InDesign’s preferences are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N). With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the folder called “Adobe InDesign” and the file called “com.adobe.InDesign.plist” and delete both that folder and that file. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

For Windows Users: You can try the quick way of resetting on a PC which is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching InDesign and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset. There have been some recent reports that the window asking if you want to reset is not popping up but that the prefs are being reset anyway. If this works great but if it doesn’t you may have to manually delete them.

To do so: On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\<Version #>\<Language>. Make sure that InDesign is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

Participant
July 9, 2025

I think you miss understanding the context here. Indesign is working as is but my pluggin in break, some select dropdown isn't responsible when click on it.

Bill Silbert
Community Expert
Community Expert
July 9, 2025

If your problem is with a third party plug-in not working then make sure that plug-in has been updated for full compatibility with the latest version of InDesign. Check on the third party's website for any information as to its functionality with the updated InDesign.

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
June 25, 2025

Hi @ganesh_babu_1003,

 

Thanks for reaching out and for sharing the screenshot. I totally understand how disruptive this can be. From what you described, it seems like the issue might be related to a plugin conflict or possibly a UI rendering problem.

Could you please confirm your OS version and let me know if the issue occurs across all documents or only when working with specific panels like Mirabel's InDesign Plugin? If you can, a short screen recording showing the dropdown issue (especially including a few dropdown menus that are part of native InDesign and not the plugin), would really help us get a clearer picture.

In the meantime, I'd suggest launching your system in Safe Mode to check if any third-party software or extensions might be interfering. Reference:
For Windows: Start your PC in Safe Mode
For macOS: Start up your Mac in Safe Mode

 

Give that a try and let me know how it goes.

Abhishek

Participant
July 8, 2025

Hi there,

I got the same issue with him.

My OS: MacOS Sequoia 15.5

Chip: M4

Indesign version: 20.4.1

Regards,

HaCT