Error using ID 20.5 - "This file is already open by another user or another application."

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
September 30, 2025
2 replies
329 views

Hello. Our marketing department is using the latest version of InDesign (20.5) and encountering an error that says "This file is already open by another use or another application." For some, this occurs as soon as the file opens, and for others, it occurs after the file has been opened for a while. The files that are encountering this issue are not ones that someone else would have open at the same time. Instead, they are files saved to a local drive and files that are opened from an INDT in CC library. So far, we have tried rolling back to ID 20.4.2 but are still encountering the issue.

Bug

Peter Spier

Community Expert

This is usually caused by a leftover .idlk lock file in the same folder as the .indd you are trying to open. If you see it, delete it.

A

abrown@espassociatesAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thank you! We did find an IDLK and deleted it, but that didn't help the issue.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @abrown@espassociates,

Thanks for sharing the details. Could you please confirm which Windows operating system you're working on and whether this happens with all files or only some? In the meantime, I'd suggest trying to reset InDesign preferences after creating a backup to rule out any corruption in settings. Ref: https://adobe.ly/474qVn2. Also, if you are using any sync services or antivirus software, kindly check once if temporarily pausing them changes the behavior. Try testing the issue in safe mode to isolate any third-party intervention:

https://adobe.ly/42N1dks

Please give this a try and let me know your observations.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

A

abrown@espassociatesAuthor

Participating Frequently

Hi, Abhishek.

Our team is using Windows 10 Pro and Windows 11 Pro. Only some of us are having the issue, but the issue occurs across these two Windows versions. It also happens with multiple files, not just one. Our affected team members have already tried the following without success - reverting to 20.4.2, saving the file in a previous version, resetting InDesign preferences, and exporting as an IDML and unlocking all layers. We will work with our IT department to test out the sync/antivirus and safe-mode options.

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