Skip to main content
Participant
February 6, 2024
Question

InDesign installs but won't open

  • February 6, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 443 views

I've updated my InDesign app to the 2024 version, deleted previous versions, and it opens and works perfectly fine the first time but once I close the application and come back to it, it just won't open. I'm not sure what else to do, I've uninstalled and installed multiple times now just so I can finish my work.

This topic has been closed for replies.

5 replies

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 7, 2024

Or, if you're running Sonoma, the current version is 14.3.

BobLevine
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 7, 2024

Ventura perhaps? Earlier than 13.5?

Update it!

 

And in the future if you want help, always include system specs.

Community Expert
February 7, 2024

Try resetting your preferences:

Windows: Start InDesign, and then press Shift+Ctrl+Alt. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
macOS: While pressing Shift+Option+Command+Control, start InDesign. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
A dialog will appear asking to delete the InDesign Preferences, select 'Yes' on this dialog.
Further info and instructions here if needed:
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/kb/indesign-preferences-support-file-locations.html

 

=======

 

Reinstalling rarely fixes everything - you can do a complete reinstall using the
Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

 

 

Bill Silbert
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 7, 2024

After updating to a new version it is always best to reset your preferences. Using preferences left over from an older version often causes performance problems with the new version. Resetting preferences will restore the program to its defaults and hopefully fix the issue that you're having.

To do so:

For Macintosh Users: The User Library folder in which InDesign’s preferences are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N). With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the folder called “Adobe InDesign” and the file called “com.adobe.InDesign.plist” and delete both that folder and that file. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

For Windows Users: You can try the quick way of resetting on a PC which is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching InDesign and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset. There have been some recent reports that the window asking if you want to reset is not popping up but that the prefs are being reset anyway. If this works great but if it doesn’t you may have to manually delete them.

To do so: On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\<Version #>\<Language>. Make sure that InDesign is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 6, 2024

Its important you tell us about your system: Please tell us what operating system (exactly) you're running.