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Nicola - Print House
Inspiring
October 27, 2025
Answered

Indesign v21 not starting after update | Win 11

  • October 27, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 7559 views

I installed the latest update to version 21, and InDesign won't launch. It doesn't give any errors, but it won't start. It doesn't do anything at all. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling it, but that didn't work. Version 20 works perfectly, even the beta version 20.6. I tried reinstalling it by deleting the preferences, but that didn't work. I tried reinstalling the Creative app and reinstalling InDesign, but that didn't work.
Bridge does the same thing, but it gives me error OXC0000142. InDesign, on the other hand, doesn't have any errors. Old Bridge works, but the beta version doesn't

I have windows 11 last updated
What can I do?
Thanks a lot
Nicola

    Correct answer Nicola - Print House

    I solved the problem with the help of technical support. It took me two hours to chat with a chatbot, and the operator knew as much as I did. Finally, they put me in touch with real technical support.
    The solution was this:

    Repair the C++ Redistributables:
    1. Open the Control Panel
    2. Go to Programs and Features
    3. Find Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables
    Scroll through the list to find entries such as:
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2012/2013/2015-2022 Redistributable
    (There may be multiple versions installed.)
    4. Repair Each Version
    Select a version.
    Click "Change" at the top.
    In the installation window, choose "Repair."
    Follow the instructions to complete the repair.
    Repeat this for each version you want to repair.
    Reboot your system after repairing all files.
    This fixes everything.

    5 replies

    Earthling v42.0
    Earthling v42.0
    Inspiring
    November 19, 2025

    Having this problem again with InDesign v21.0.1 update.  

    N
    Nicola - Print HouseAuthor
    Inspiring
    November 19, 2025

    This update is for fixing a bug that I find with tabulators, in the v21.0 if you move a tab, the other tabs on the right are deleted.

    I had a session with a technical support, than I send a video and they resolved it with this update. 

    Earthling v42.0
    Earthling v42.0
    Inspiring
    November 19, 2025

    Adobe must have a new QA/QC leader. I am also having problems with Illustrator. I can't copy/paste. Been that way since July. Both old and new versions. 

    R
    rett999
    Participant
    October 30, 2025

    I have this error (0xc0000142) with both with Premiere Pro 25.0 and now Indesign 21.0. The new Photoshop and Illustrator versions that updated yesterday are working. I have restarted. I have uninstalled and reinstalled the software. Does know why these two would have this error? Other forums seem to say just use old versions but I have team members who update and need the latest version. 

    Peter Spier
    Community Expert
    Peter SpierCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    October 30, 2025

    Have you tried repairing the C++ redistributables as suggested?

    N
    Nicola - Print HouseAuthorCorrect answer
    Inspiring
    October 27, 2025

    I solved the problem with the help of technical support. It took me two hours to chat with a chatbot, and the operator knew as much as I did. Finally, they put me in touch with real technical support.
    The solution was this:

    Repair the C++ Redistributables:
    1. Open the Control Panel
    2. Go to Programs and Features
    3. Find Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributables
    Scroll through the list to find entries such as:
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2008 Redistributable
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2010 Redistributable
    Microsoft Visual C++ 2012/2013/2015-2022 Redistributable
    (There may be multiple versions installed.)
    4. Repair Each Version
    Select a version.
    Click "Change" at the top.
    In the installation window, choose "Repair."
    Follow the instructions to complete the repair.
    Repeat this for each version you want to repair.
    Reboot your system after repairing all files.
    This fixes everything.

      toddt43397558
      toddt43397558
      Participant
      October 28, 2025

      This fixed it for me also! Thank you!!!

      N
      Nicola - Print HouseAuthor
      Inspiring
      October 27, 2025

      Thanks a lot, 
      I've already tried all these steps, only the clean up is missing, but I didn't want to lose the settings of the previous version that works and have to reset printers, printing preferences, etc., which are not saved when exporting the settings. Do you have any other ideas?

        A
        Community Manager
        Anubhav MCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        October 27, 2025

        Hello @Nicola - Print House,

        Thanks for confirming. When using the Cleaner Tool, your preferences are not automatically removed. You can manually back up the settings by following the below steps:

        - Close all Adobe applications.

        - Go to Location C:\Users\%USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Adobe
        - Copy the Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Illustrator 29 Settings folders to your desktop.

         

        After backing up your preferences, you can remove or rename the folders in the original location to check if a corrupt preference might be causing InDesign to fail to launch.

        Looking forward to hearing from you.

        Anubhav

        E
        Community Expert
        Eugene TysonCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        October 27, 2025

        Try resetting your preferences:

        InDesign 19.3 and newer go to Preferences > General > and click on "Reset Preferences on Quit" and then quit and restart.

        Or
        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.



        More in-depth cleanse of preferences

        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

        A
        Community Manager
        Anubhav MCommunity Manager
        Community Manager
        October 27, 2025

        Hello @Nicola - Print House,

        Thank you for reaching out, and I'm sorry to hear about your experience. I hope Eugene's suggestions helped resolve the problem. If not, please try the suggestions shared in this help article (https://adobe.ly/4nIqyE1) and let us know if they help.

        Looking forward to hearing from you.

        Anubhav

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