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YUN-FEI5C68
January 14, 2026
Answered

InDesign files corrupted and unable to save after Windows 11 update KB5074109 (January 2026)

  • January 14, 2026
  • 89 replies
  • 47733 views

Hello, is anyone able to use InDesign now ? 

I am experiencing a severe issue with InDesign where files are reported as corrupted, and I am unable to save them under any circumstances.

  1. When opening an older file, InDesign initially reported that some image links were missing. I relinked and updated all the images.
  2. After updating the images,  the file suddenly started showing as corrupted. Attempts to repair the file failed, and I could not save the file.
  3. To troubleshoot, I tried creating a completely new document. Even in a brand new file, as soon as I add a colour block to the parent page, InDesign immediately reports that the file is corrupted and will not allow saving (while it's a brand new file ?!)
  4. I have tried multiple versions of InDesign, including 2025 and 2026/21.1, and also reinstalled the software and reset preferences, disabled GPU preferences, but the issue persists. 
  5. Every time I attempt to add a certain colour block, the file becomes unsavable. I tried to open all of my previous files with InDesign (which were all perfectly fine BEFORE), now they ALL suddenly show as "corrupted".

 

Has anyone encountered a similar problem? Is there a known workaround for this bug or a solution? Please help, I am a startup art business and all my proposals, business plans, and invitations to clients are all based on InDesign. Thank you.

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

    Correct answer Abhishek Rao

    Hi everyone,

     

    Thank you again for your patience while the team investigated this issue. I wanted to share that the fix is now available in the general release version of InDesign 21.4.

    This is the same issue that was being tracked in the following UserVoice report:
    https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180/suggestions/50715731

    If you were affected by the Times New Roman, Calibri, or related font recognition issues, please update InDesign to version 21.4 through the Creative Cloud Desktop app and test your affected documents again.

    Once updated, please let us know your observations. If you still encounter the issue after updating to 21.4, feel free to share the details here, including your InDesign version, OS version, and any screenshots of the missing font behavior, and we'll be happy to investigate further.

     

    Thanks again for all your patience, testing, and feedback throughout this process.

    Abhishek

     

     

    <Marking as correct for better visibility on the thread>

    89 replies

    Show previous replies
    A
    Alex Cole Further
    Participant
    January 21, 2026

    Yeah having the same issue. The only solution I can find right now is saving the InDesign file into my downloads folder and working on it from there. Adobe need to sort this out quickly!!!

    A
    Anonymous
    January 21, 2026

    ITALIANO:
    Buongiorno, ho un pc, con windows 11 home.
    Ho sempre usato indesign e non ho mai avuto problemi ora quando lo uso alcune volte (se non sempre), quando riapro un file che era già stato salvato al momento del salvataggio si corrompe il file.
    Qualche giorno fa avevo provato a sistemarlo seguendo una guida presente su questo forum ma direi che non è funzionato.
    Qualcuno gentilmente mi può aiutare spiegandomi come risolvere il problema, spiegandomi passo passo come fare? Perchè io capisco veramente poco di computer e non vorrei perdermi dei passaggi.
    Allego i 2 errori che vengono fuori.
    grazie mille


    INGLESE:
    Good morning, I have a PC with Windows 11 Home.
    I have always used InDesign and never had any problems, but now when I use it, sometimes (if not every time), when I reopen a file that was already saved, the file becomes corrupted at the moment of saving.

    A few days ago I tried to fix it by following a guide found on this forum, but I would say it didn’t work.

    Could someone kindly help me by explaining how to solve the problem, step by step? I really understand very little about computers and I wouldn’t want to miss any steps.

    I am attaching the two error messages that appear.

    Thank you very much.

    Kathy5FFA
    Kathy5FFA
    Inspiring
    January 20, 2026

    Hello. I have the  most recent version of InDesign on a PC Windows 11. A couple days ago, I noticed that almost every time I try to save any document using the keyboard shortcut for Save (Ctrl+S), I get an error message that says the file may be corrupted and can't be saved. Doing it manually through the menu is fine, but with the shortcut, I get the error. Then the program just automatically shuts down. Unfortunately, I can't get myself to remember to stop using the keyboard shortcut because it's a reflex for me so my program is constantly shutting down and my files need to be auto recovered every time.
    I tried deleting my preferences and it went away for a couple hours and then the problem came back. Any ideas? Thank you!

    A
    abby_3492
    January 20, 2026

    Still having this issue as well

      R
      rich_3308
      January 20, 2026

      Still no fix? Can't remove Windows update on my computer (security issue). At least saving to C drive works and can link image files back to OneDrive in their original folders.

      P
      Paul22519508f4zv
      Participating Frequently
      January 20, 2026

      Discovered a workaround on this, thanks to the help of our support company Air IT Group. On opening the file, make a change in the document (e.g add a cyan square to pasteboard), rather than 'save', click 'save as' and save as over the existing file name > then close the file > reopen the file again and 'save' function should now work without falling over, erroring or crashing out. Each time you open it for the first time, you'll need to do the 'save as' each time over existing file name for it to work. It's a frustrating workaround but at least you'll be able to work on the documents. 

        L
        Lars5E05
        January 20, 2026

         

        Same here.

        That Error occures if I place certain Pictures in the document. Dosen't matter if its .jpg .svg or .ai.
        Its error code 2. 
        even if i work on a copy or remake it.
        Eventually since 19. jan 2026 i cant save Indesign document if i place any pictures... that means i cant use InDesign and i use Win 10 still - living in Europe and got ESU.

          M
          Mr_Wonderstuff
          Inspiring
          January 20, 2026

          Have you tried rolling back any recent security updates?

          M
          Mr_Wonderstuff
          Inspiring
          January 20, 2026

          Specifically KB5073724

          P
          paulocav
          January 20, 2026

          Hello, I have a big problem and I can't solve it...

          Since yersteday, InDesign keeps telling me I can not save my files anymore because the files are broken or corrupt. Besides that, i can't undo anything I do on my file.

           

          This is terrible!

          Mike Witherell
          Community Expert
          Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
          Community Expert
          January 20, 2026

          Hi Paulo,

          Most of the questions on the forum for the past week relate to a Windows 11 update that has to be rolled-back (uninstalled). This generally restores the function of InDesign.

          Mike Witherell
          P
          paulocav
          January 20, 2026

          I tried to fix the issue using the pre-release version, but it doesn’t appear in my Creative Cloud app. Some colleagues said it can take up to 24 hours... is that true?

          A
          Anonymous
          January 20, 2026

          Hi, I'm having the same issue as lots of people since the latest windows update (error messages when trying to save indesign files), I've read that I should uninstall the update bu unfortunatley KB5074109 isn't showing in my update history so I'm unable to uninstall, is there another way? Do you know if windows will resolve this at anytime?, I know this isn't the only issue that this update has created, thank you so much for this feed as I thought it was only my files x

          L
          LM_gd
          Participating Frequently
          January 20, 2026

          Hi, I am encountering the same issue: Indesign crashes when trying to overwrite an existing file. Very annoying indeed! Hoping for a fast solution. My current work-around is simply to change the name slightly and NOT OVERWRITE the same file. Saving the file does work, for me anyway. Ofcourse you have to remember to change the name back and delete the original file to keep things in order.

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