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elisabethd64374840
elisabethd64374840
Participant
February 2, 2026
Question

File Corruption Issue in InDesign 21.2 on Windows 11

  • February 2, 2026
  • 13 replies
  • 696 views

There is a bug in InDesign 21.2 (and Windows 11 Enterprise): our latest files were corrupted and unavailable when we opened them this morning. (Error message and warning sign.).

No actions were possible, screen freezes

We were all completely blocked, because the previous versions are unable to open our latest files.

Thank’s

 

 

 

      13 replies

      erikah13630568
      erikah13630568
      Participant
      February 5, 2026

      Having all the same issues. Tried repairing all the  C++ Redistributables (as was suggested in another post) and still no luck. Every time I try to save the files I’m working on, InDesign says that are corrupted. Now, I’ve literally lost a full day’s work. This is inexcusable. 

      KaisaV
      KaisaV
      Participant
      February 5, 2026

      I have the same problem. When I tried to save the project with another name, I can see it saved, but ID won’t open it.

       

       

      leo.r
      Community Expert
      leo.rCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 5, 2026

      ​@KaisaV 

      You need to uninstall/install specific Windows updates as described here:

      https://community.adobe.com/questions%2D671/indesign%2Dfiles%2Dcorrupted%2Dand%2Dunable%2Dto%2Dsave%2Dafter%2Dwindows%2D11%2Dupdate%2Dkb5074109%2Djanuary%2D2026%2Dpost%2D2%2D1546893?tid=1546893&fid=671

      TomWellstudio
      TomWellstudio
      Participant
      February 4, 2026

      Just to further update here, I am also getting this error message when unable to save the file

       

      Alphatram
      Alphatram
      Participant
      February 4, 2026

      Hi, have the same problem since two weeks. Impossible to save files because it’s damaged… so impossible to work at all. 

      leo.r
      Community Expert
      leo.rCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 4, 2026

      Hi, have the same problem since two weeks. Impossible to save files because it’s damaged… so impossible to work at all. 

       

      You need to uninstall a specific Windows update or install a newer one as discussed here:

      luke_5280

      TomWellstudio
      TomWellstudio
      Participant
      February 4, 2026

      We have the same problem too.  With both Adobe InDesign 2026 and 2025.

       

      Old files we open to save as to new files say they are damaged, then we cannot even save the original file. Then often the software just crashes and we have to re-open and it restores the file but then the same issue again - completely stuck! If a fix is not found ASAP I will be writing to Abobe for compensation as this is damaging our business. 

      An additional issue, is that when we are editing text inside a text box the screen will just randomly go black and we have to Zoom out to then see the screen again 

       

       

      Bozhidar Y Petkov
      Bozhidar Y Petkov
      Participant
      February 4, 2026

      This is what I get since last week.
      And the file is useless neither can be exported as anythig

       

      leo.r
      Community Expert
      leo.rCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 4, 2026

      This is what I get since last week.
      And the file is useless neither can be exported as anythig

       

      Uninstall a specific Windows update or install a newer one:

       

      luke_5280

       

      BobLevine
      Community Expert
      BobLevineCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 5, 2026

      Hi ​@leo.r.  Those are Mac screenshots.

      HARSHIKA_VERMA
      Community Manager
      HARSHIKA_VERMACommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      February 4, 2026

      Hi All,

      We are sorry to hear you are having trouble using InDesign files. We escalated the issue to the product team for investigation. We will keep you posted here if we need more information from you all.
       

      Appreciate your collaboration and patience.
       

      Thanks,

      Harshika

      Phil the Mack
      Phil the Mack
      Participating Frequently
      February 4, 2026

      Were these troubles only with files stored on Onedrive or other cloud-base storage? 

      TheDrMouse
      TheDrMouse
      Participant
      February 3, 2026

      I’m having this same problem, even tried rolling back to an older version of InDesign and it still happens.

      leo.r
      Community Expert
      leo.rCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 3, 2026

      I’m having this same problem, even tried rolling back to an older version of InDesign and it still happens.

       

      Just to make sure: Can you please post screenshots of the exact error messages you get? The ones posted by OP are quite unusual, so it’s important to get a solid confirmation you get the same ones.

       

      In addition, another user in this thread suggested exporting to IDML to solve this problem.

      Phil the Mack
      Phil the Mack
      Participating Frequently
      February 4, 2026

      I am getting the same message “Can not save document”   also still can’t use Times New Roman, can’t export anything to PDF without crashing InDesign.

      Senne.Bernaerts
      Senne.Bernaerts
      Participant
      February 3, 2026

      I have experienced the same issue over and over again. The only thing that seems to work is exporting te project to an IDML, open it, and save as a new project file. Hope this works

      D
      Draxeiro
      Participating Frequently
      February 2, 2026

      To add something extra: I did not have the problem with my spreads, but with all my files, even the single pages, small file sizes (3-4 mb). And all of it.

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