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SurrealGraphics
Participating Frequently
August 2, 2019
Answered

Indesign screen keeps moving

  • August 2, 2019
  • 3 replies
  • 11664 views

Every time I'm working in InDesign with a document with several pages (side-by-side), I use the quick key "space bar to show hand" to move about the page or to move over to the next page. When I release the space bar — the page keeps moving!!
This is VERY annoying and I can't find any comments on how to stop this. There are times the page continues to several other pages and I have to do the "go-to" to get back where I was.

Help please!!!!

    Correct answer Katie Houghton

    I've already done that. I've turned down the tracking speed, but InDesign still wanders.

    And if it was something with my mouse — wouldn't other programs be affected, as well? This is ONLY InDesign.

    I guess it's only my version, as I can't seem to see anyone else having the problem.

    I guess I'll turn my tracking speed down even more and see if that stops it.

    thanks


    Try resetting your preferences:

    1. Exit the application
    2. Press and hold Shift+Ctrl+Alt (Windows) or Shift+Option+Command+Control (macOS) as you start InDesign. There will be a prompt to delete the current settings.
    3. The new preferences files are created when you start the application.When you restart the application, If there are not recent files showing on the welcome screen, you have reset the preferences.
    4. Check your file.

    3 replies

    Participant
    February 24, 2026

    I’m writing a book. No issues until I go to page 121 and suddenly I cannot get the pages to stop moving so I can continue! I’ve done the relaunch and holding the suggested keys (several times) and it doesn’t help. In fact, I’ve tried every suggestion I can find. Not sure what else to do, but this is not acceptable! (Mac Pro latest version)

    leo.r
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 24, 2026
    Brad @ Roaring Mouse
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    April 10, 2021

    Which mouse does it happen with the most?

    hekyma
    Participating Frequently
    April 12, 2021

    Hello,

     

    A normal one, I also use Gaomon Tablet. But I had to delete inDesign then download it again and everything went back to normal. I hope that Adobe will find a solution because ppl still have this problem since 2019

    Participant
    August 15, 2022

    2022 here, InDesign still doing this. The worst is when screensharing (or in person) with a client... "You sure you know how to use this App?" ... and after years of resetting prefs and a small trove of mice, apparently I still don't know how to use InDesign without the ghost float. Every once in a while I google this issue to see if others still have the problem and test any new suggestions... so far, nil that work.

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 2, 2019

    Are you seeing something like the picture shown below?

    If this is it, you've invoked Power Zoom. It's a feature to navigate to another part of your layout. It can happen in two ways: (1) select the Hand tool, the hold down the (left) mouse button and press. After a second, InDesign displays a red frame in the window. You can move the mouse to change the area selected and you can make the frame larger or smaller with the mouse scroll wheel. You can end it by releasing the mouse at the new view. (2) It can also happen if you hold down the Space Bar, normally used to pan around. If you long press your left mouse button, rather than just dragging it it invokes Power Zoom.

    Solution: You can avoid it if you just drag, rather then long-press-then drag, your mouse.

    SurrealGraphics
    Participating Frequently
    August 4, 2019

    No, this is not what I see or what happens.

    It's after I have released the  mouse and space bar (creating the hand too) that the screen will continue to keep moving ... just on Friday it scrolled up three pages. It is not magnifying the page ... the page view keeps moving.

    Steve Werner
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    August 4, 2019

    It could be an issue with your mouse or the mouse driver. Do you have another mouse you could test?