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defaulth80fkinv2pe3
Participating Frequently
November 3, 2024
Answered

InDesign Window Stuck on Second Monitor - Unable to Move or Resize Properly

  • November 3, 2024
  • 6 replies
  • 5472 views

This problem just popped up today. I've been using Indesign since 2001, so a long time user and familiar with how it works.

Indesign was updated 18 days ago, so I doubt it was related to anything in the update.

I have two monitors: 43 inch 4k TV and a 23 inch monitor.

The issue is this: I made the indesign window moveable and moved it to the 2nd monitor. Suddenly the window is like glued to the right side and I can't move it back to the left. I can resize the window using the left side of the window left or right, but the right side is absolutely glued to the right and it is so far right that I can't see much of the window.

I changed the display settings of Windows to use only one monitor (the 43 inch), but it's the same issue.

In order to get back to something I can use, I have to restart Indesign and trash the user preferrences (CTRL-ALT-SHIFT). Then if I keep indesign in full screen mode, it works ok, but I can't change to a moveable indesign window or the problem starts all over again. BIG PROBLEM!

I have uninstalled Indesign, restarted the computer, and reinstalled it; but the problem is still there.

Maybe if I reinstall Windows from scratch, this might fix it? As far as I know, my copy of Windows hasn't been updated for some time, so maybe this is a virus problem. I have no idea, but I need to fix it asap. Any ideas?

I've never seen this issue in Indesign before for 23 years.

 

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

 

    Correct answer Nightshde v2

    Looks like you guys fixed it with the newest update you put out in the last 24hrs as 20.1 no longer has this issue on single screens or dual screens that 20.0 or 20.0.1 had.

     

    But just so you have the information for if this becomes and issue again, I'm on windows 11 with no special desktop management software. I could drag the window to lock into one of the preset setups that windows 11 has but could not drag the window around freely. One of the weirdest things was that If I had it locked to the full screen and tried to drag it to a location it would just jump back to the previous location it was in when it wasn't full screen, but if I pulled it to lock into one of the other positions like split screen and then pulled it out to be a free window it would stay where I initially put the free window but then wouldn't be able to freely move it again. Also all the child windows like properties and such could still be moved around freely without issue. Here is the screen recording I made before applying the 20.1 update this morning: Recording 2025-01-22 092800.mp4

    6 replies

    Capvel Martain
    Capvel Martain
    Inspiring
    February 18, 2025

    Hello ! have you tried to push Alt/Option key when resizing window ? 

    It is the same process than Photoshop layer or Illustrator object transformation : it resize from the center, not only from the corner or side you pick. 

    In this case, you might be able to move the opposit side/corner which is unreachable.

     

    An other workaround : try to set to Default your monitor resolution in the system preference : I had some unconsistency between Retina display paired with non-Retina display.

    You may have to clic "Advance" setting button and then allow "display resolutions as a list" (my translation from French) to select and try different setting.

     

    Hope it helps, cheers.

    Nightshde v2
    Nightshde v2
    Participating Frequently
    January 20, 2025

    I have started running into this issue as well, I swear it was working fine last week but when I came into work this morning I started having this issue when it opened on my laptop screen rather than my larger second monitor like it usually does.

     

    It seems to be an issue the Indesign 2025(20+) only, I do not have this issue with any other adobe program and if I install the last 2024 version(19.5.1) it doesn't have the issue. It also doesn't matter if you have a dual screen setup or not as I disconnected my second screen and restarted the computer and it is still having the issue. I have also completely uninstalled Indesign and wiped the preferences before performing a clean install and the issue still persists. Thing is all the interior windows can still be positioned anywhere on the screens, the issue is only with the main program container window.

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    January 22, 2025

    Hey @Nightshde v2,  

     

    This sounds like a hassle. 

    Just to confirm, you’re saying the issue happens even when there’s no second monitor connected, right? Like you’re unable to move the main InDesign window on your laptop screen at all? 

    First up, what OS and machine are you using? Also, are you running any desktop management software, like Magnet or something similar (if you’re on macOS)? If you are, try disabling or removing it and see if that makes a difference.  

    Could you also share a quick screen recording showing how the InDesign window refuses to budge on your laptop screen? That’ll give me a better sense of what’s happening.  

    Moreover, I ran some tests on my setup, and it’s working fine here. But let’s dig deeper to figure out what’s going sideways on your end.  

     

    Looking forward to your update!  

     

    Best, 
    Abhishek  

    Nightshde v2
    Nightshde v2Correct answer
    Participating Frequently
    January 22, 2025

    Looks like you guys fixed it with the newest update you put out in the last 24hrs as 20.1 no longer has this issue on single screens or dual screens that 20.0 or 20.0.1 had.

     

    But just so you have the information for if this becomes and issue again, I'm on windows 11 with no special desktop management software. I could drag the window to lock into one of the preset setups that windows 11 has but could not drag the window around freely. One of the weirdest things was that If I had it locked to the full screen and tried to drag it to a location it would just jump back to the previous location it was in when it wasn't full screen, but if I pulled it to lock into one of the other positions like split screen and then pulled it out to be a free window it would stay where I initially put the free window but then wouldn't be able to freely move it again. Also all the child windows like properties and such could still be moved around freely without issue. Here is the screen recording I made before applying the 20.1 update this morning: Recording 2025-01-22 092800.mp4

    A
    Anonymous
    November 11, 2024

    I'm having the exact same issue, except the window is stuck to the bottom left corner of the left monitor (primary monitor of my 2 displays). Infuriating. Not happening with the other Adobe apps (Photoshop, Illustrator), just Indesign.

    D
    defaulth80fkinv2pe3Author
    Participating Frequently
    November 12, 2024

    Hello,

     

    Restart Indesign and trash the user preferrences: press (CTRL-ALT-SHIFT) immediately as it is starting up.

    This will at least get your display (I believe) back to full screen.

    I've given up on fixing this problem. I have two monitors and I am unable to move the Indesign window from one to the other monitor, no matter what.

    Hit "Windows"+UpArrow to make ID go to full screen.

    If the window is on the wrong monitor, use display settings in Windows (I assume that's what you are using) to only use the monitor that you want ID to be on and set that monitor as the only one. Then use Windows+UpArrow to make it go to full screen. Then you can reset display settings to turn on your other monitor and it should not go back to the other monitor.

    This is a huge pain, isn't it! I hope Adobe figures this out soon. Take care

    A
    Anonymous
    November 12, 2024

    I am able to get it to go full screen, just can't move it to where I want when I hit restore.

    B
    brook_4359
    Participating Frequently
    November 4, 2024

    Sometimes, InDesign's window positioning can get stuck due to display configuration changes. Before reinstalling Windows, try a few steps:

    1. Reset Workspace: Go to Window > Workspace and select Reset [your workspace name]. This can help reset layout quirks without affecting preferences.
    2. Windows Display Settings: In Display Settings, adjust scaling or rearrange monitor positions to see if it frees up the InDesign window.
    3. Graphic Drivers: Update your graphics driver, as it might affect multi-monitor setups.
    4. Tutorials: Check out tutorials on resetting and troubleshooting InDesign's window management. For more resources, you can also {removed by moderator]for helpful tips and guides.

    If the issue persists, it might be worth exploring a fresh InDesign preferences reset or reaching out to Adobe support. Hopefully, this resolves the issue without needing a full OS reinstall!

    Joel Cherney
    Community Expert
    Joel CherneyCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 3, 2024

    I very much doubt this is virus-related at all; there are enough window-management-related preferences that it is mroe likely that this is merely a UI glitch, likely deriving from the InDesign preferences meeting up with Windows UI stuff.

     

    When your InDesign window is glommed onto the hidden right edge of the window, can you move it around by using the Windows key + arrow keys? I've found that InDesign isn't the only app I have that has a hard time with this feature, but there are a few older apps I use that can't tell where the edge of the window is actually located. When I try to do those window-management tricks that Windows offers, like Win + up arrow to maximize, or WIn + right arrow to glom onto the right window edge, InDesign can't tell and winds up mostly offscreen. 

     

    Win + up arrow is "maximize window" and that usually brings InDesign back into the visible screen space, for me. 

    D
    defaulth80fkinv2pe3Author
    Participating Frequently
    November 3, 2024

    Thanks. Yes, the indesign window does respond to the Win+arrow keys: Win + up arrow maximizes, W+left gloms the window to the left, W+right> gloms the window to the right; however, it should not be "glomming" onto anything! I've never had this issue in 23 years of using this app. I want to be able to move the window wherever I need it, not being stuck to one side or the other. Why is this happening? Any ideas?

    Joel Cherney
    Community Expert
    Joel CherneyCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 4, 2024

    Well, this is a Windows feature, not an InDesign feature, and I wonder how you have managed to avoid it for so long. It's called Snap (or "Aero Snap") and it's not hard to turn off in Settings. Here's a Windows 10 guide if you need one; I expect that the settings in WIndows 11 would be similar, but just different enough to require a different howto. 

     

    What's odd, here, is that it's happening every time you maximize the InDesign window. Also odd that you can't simply grab it off the side it's been glommed onto, as the default behavior is to turn it into a free-floating window the minute you grab it. It really sounds like something wrong with Windows, except for the fact that you don't report programs besides InDesign exhibiting this behavior. 

     

    Not really sure how that's happening, but it shouldn't matter if you simply want to turn the feature off globally. I've come to find it useful (if I have a very wide monitor, it's easy to side-by-side compare two documents in different apps, controlled entirely from the keyboard) but it took me years to come around on that. So probably turning off Aero Snap is your fastest way to keep this from happening again. 

    D
    defaulth80fkinv2pe3Author
    Participating Frequently
    November 3, 2024

    Is anyone else experiencing this issue? Thanks

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