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florida_wholesale_5138
Participant
Nov 17, 2025 8:12 PM UTC
Question

InDesign (21.01) does not launch

InDesign (21.01) does not launch

10 replies

florida_wholesale_5138Author
Participant
Nov 19, 2025 7:25 PM UTC

Repairing the Microsoft Visual C++ helped get InDesign up and running.
Thank you!
Now Acrobat is doing the same thing. What do you recommend?
- Why is this happening?
- How do I prevent this from happening?

---

Thank you,
[Personal information removed]

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Anubhav M
Community Manager
Anubhav MCommunity Manager
Community Manager
Nov 19, 2025 8:29 PM UTC

Thanks for the confirmation @florida_wholesale_5138,

Could you create a new post here (https://adobe.ly/49LStQ7) with details of the version of the OS/Acrobat installed, along with a screenshot of the problem, so we can better assist you?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

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plykmadsen_6382
Participating Frequently
Nov 19, 2025 7:27 AM UTC

Well. I'm 12 seconds luckier than you. That is how long I can work on my project before it crashes. Worked fine until the latest update. I can't even download my finger from the cloud to my computer. Amateur hour apparently

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plykmadsen_6382
Participating Frequently
Nov 19, 2025 7:43 AM UTC

Yes. My finger! File obviously. There is something wrong with the entire backbone. Creative cloud doesn't work properly either. I can't even download my files to my computer. 0 kb thumbnails is all I get. On 2 different computers W10 & W11. Sucktacular.

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Percy Roa
Participant
Nov 19, 2025 4:57 AM UTC

Buenas noches, estimada Comunidad de Adobe. En relación con el caso de la usuaria "florida_wholesale_5138", experimenté el mismo error durante varios días. Por iniciativa propia intenté resolverlo, ya que la versión de InDesign 21.0.1 mostraba el error 306 (lamentablemente olvidé tomar una captura, disculpen 🙏). Con el apoyo de la inteligencia artificial "ChatGPT" se logró encontrar una solución:

1.- Dirigirse a la pagina de "Desinstalar la aplicación de Creative Cloud" Desinstalar la aplicación de Creative Cloud

2.- Descargar y ejecutar el programa "Creative Cloud Uninstaller"

3.- Seleccionar la opcion de "Reparar"


4.- Volver a ejecutar el aplicado de "Adobe Creative Cloud"


5.- Listo! para mi persono se logro solucionar y se actualizo a la version 21.0.1 (Adjunto captura)

 



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Peter Spier
Community Expert
Peter SpierCommunity Expert
Community Expert
Nov 17, 2025 10:29 PM UTC

There are a number of threads like this and I believe the solution is to repair the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistibutable packages.

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    plykmadsen_6382
    Participating Frequently
    Nov 19, 2025 7:58 AM UTC

    Doesn't work. I just installed it to a computer that never had it installed before. Went from W10 to W11 too. Exactly the same problem. Their entire backend is reeling! Not only does  InDesign crash after 12 seconds. I can't even download my own file from the cloud to my computer. Pathetic!

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    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    Nov 17, 2025 8:31 PM UTC

    Hello @florida_wholesale_5138,

     

    I'm sorry to learn that InDesign isn't starting for you. Could you provide more details about what occurs when you attempt to launch it? I would like to understand whether the application fails to open completely or if you encounter any error messages. Additionally, it would be helpful if you could specify the version of your operating system.

    In the meantime, please attempt the troubleshooting steps outlined in this thread, as many users have successfully resolved similar launch problems using these methods: https://adobe.ly/4pjldnD

     

    If the issue persists after trying those steps, please inform me of your observations and share the details I requested, so I can investigate this further.

    Abhishek

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    florida_wholesale_5138Author
    Participant
    Nov 17, 2025 9:34 PM UTC
    PLEASE HELP !!!

    We have 2 office computers with InDesign down. All other apps working fine.
    Both machines running Windows 11.
    Computer #1 - After forced InDesign update (21.0.1) only InDesign icon
    appears. Click on it and nothing happens. InDesign (20.5.1) is no
    longer available.
    I have run various cleaners, uninstall, reinstall and nothing. InDesign
    icon just there. Blue wheel spins for 2 seconds then nothing happens. Can't
    even reset preferences.

    Computer #2 - Both InDesign (21.0.1) and (20.5.1) icons are visible. Same
    goes here for update (21.0.1) Icon just sitting there. InDesign does not
    launch.
    Having to convert files previously worked on InDesign (21.0.1) to 20.5.1
    just to get them to open.

    Been like this since last Thursday. Please HELP!!!
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    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Nov 18, 2025 12:23 AM UTC

    When you say "after forced update" do you mean YOU forced the update? Adobe does not force update but follows your Creative Cloud app preferences. 

    Have you used the Adobe CC Cleaner yet? Not enough detail to tell if you meant that.

    https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud-cleaner-tool.html

    (Also, see if you can install the previous version from the CC app.)

     

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