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. When opening an older file, InDesign initially reported that some image links were missing. I relinked and updated all the images. After updating the images, the file suddenly started showing as corrupted. Attempts to repair the file failed, and I could not save the file. 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 ?!) 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. 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>

Question

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

Forum|Forum|4 months ago
January 14, 2026
87 replies
47570 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.

When opening an older file, InDesign initially reported that some image links were missing. I relinked and updated all the images.
After updating the images, the file suddenly started showing as corrupted. Attempts to repair the file failed, and I could not save the file.
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 ?!)
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.
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.

Show previous replies

C

Crawlspace17307549

Participant

Saw this in another forum and it seemed to have helped.

If you re-install Creative Cloud...Doing the same to In-Design seems to do nothing

A

Anonymous

This is starting to become a real pain. InDesign has become practically unusable.
Yes I know there's a slight workaround by saving/working off files on a local drive but when you work off multiple shared files per day that's not really ideal is it?
Also, the other workaround of deleting the latest windows security update (KB5074109) is not possible, the IT department in work just will not allow it for obvious reasons.

This issue needs fixed ASAP.

A

André25979760z5sl

It`s such a mess that Adobe had nothing to fix it. Deinstalling this update don't works.

Nix5tar404

Inspiring

This isnt the first time this has happened either.. I'm getting sick of this! Affinity is looking better every day..

W

Wendy TLN

Participant

Between this Error Code 2 and the disappearing text boxes... it's driving me crazy. Please find a fix ASAP.

C

chaimm14507597

My solution that is working. I have moved my Indesign file to a new folder that is NOT in Dropbox. I have the images and other files that will be placed into the file, still in my Dropbox folder. After I am finished with my file, I save a copy of the file in a Dropbox folder as a backup. But only work on the file not in the Dropbox. This works and I am back in business.

I

ivant17698847

Participant

chaimm14507597's solution is the best temporary workaround we've found so far, would recommend to anyone still struggling.

A

AndrewKelley

Participating Frequently

Wow. This bug just cost me several hours of work tonight as I was scrambling to make a deadline. (I thought my NVME might be failing before I found this thread.) I appreciate that this issue was created by Microsoft, but please, Adobe, find a fix as quickly as possible.

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ReggieJ

Participant

Keen to know the progress on the fix from Adobe on this issue. I work with Onedrive and even though i keep a copy of all files on my local drive Indesign keeps crashing and I'm unable to progress any of my work. I'm also not authorised to roll back the latest Windows update for security reasons. This issue is having a significant impact on my work productivity, appreaciate a fix ASAP.

Regards

F

Fancy_protector5867

I installed an older version of Dropbox (specifically 232.4.5988) and everything started working perfectly again. After that, InDesign stopped crashing and the files were no longer getting corrupted.

J

Julia2358074035ef

The exact same is happening to me. I have made several new documents from scratch and soon enough those get the same corrupt message stopping me from saving or exporting. However, I noticed its not just certain images / links / colour blocks, as one file that its happening to is entirely just black and white text.

I'm honestly so frustrated and stuck just restarting files over and over again so I can get a quick export for the time being.

A

Anonymous

It's been borking on me the last few days, too. I uploaded the prerelease 21.2 as suggested in previous threads and jumped through all the other hoops. That didn't work. Then I moved everything I'm working on to a physical hard drive instead of saving to OneDrive. It's been working like a champ this morning. Might try that.

1

12winters

Yes, I've been experiencing these problems -- have tried several "solutions" to no avail. Sometimes files save (or changes are saved) even though I'm told it couldn't be saved; but sometimes not too. Very frustrating.

leo.r

Community Expert

Yes, I've been experiencing these problems -- have tried several "solutions" to no avail. Sometimes files save (or changes are saved) even though I'm told it couldn't be saved; but sometimes not too. Very frustrating.
By @12winters

Did you try to uninstall the Windows update mentioned here? Because this should solve the problem.

E

Emma309851271704

Participant

For several days I have been unable to save anything from InDesign. I get this message:

“InDesign is unable to save this file. We tried, but it appears to be damaged.”

Then, when I try to close the file, I get another message:

“Could not complete your request because of a database error. The file ‘InDesign Defaults’ is damaged (Error code: 1).”

I’ve tried:

- Uninstalling and reinstalling InDesign

- Resetting preferences

- Saving files as a mark-up and then opening and resaving as an InDesign file

- Testing files saved locally

Has anyone got a fix? Currently InDesign is unusable / I have no trust that if I start working in a file it's going to save.

Thank you

leo.r

Community Expert

Uninstall the latest Windows update:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-files-corrupted-and-unable-to-save-afte...

Nix5tar404

Inspiring

This isnt an option for a lot of people. I asked my IT department, they said no can do. So do I just sit and wait for it to be fixed?

A

Anonymous

Bonjour,

J'ai effectivement le m^me problème que vous. et je n'ai pas de solution au problème. comment faire ?

M

Madeleine5E49

I want to post an update for the indesign team- I deleted windows update KB5074109 and paused dropbox syncing. I've been able to work no problem for the last couple of days. I've just tried working with syncing unpaused, and Indesign crashes- different error message, but there's still a problem.

R

REfan82

I started getting the same/similar errors as mentioned in this thread last week. Not syncing with dropbox has worked for me over the last two days and allowed me to save files without errors. I also uninstalled the KB5074109 windows update today after reading your post and have had no errors so far, although syncing is still disabled.

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