Skip to main content
E
elaletz
Participant
June 26, 2018
Answered

Indesign won't open any document, just showing the spinning wheel

  • June 26, 2018
  • 3 replies
  • 8795 views

Recently I'm having this problem, also with illustrator. Indesign wont open any document, there is no error message or anything but the spinning wheel. Sometimes forcing the app to close and open it again works but not always. I'd already deleted the preferences but didn't make any difference. This problem is been for least one week, suddenly works fine but there are days than can't work for

I'm running Mac Os High Sierra 10.13.5

Indesign and illustrator latest version

    Correct answer Derek Cross

    Try resetting your preferences again:

    Close InDesign. Then hold down Cmd + Ctrl + Opt + Shift (Mac), and relaunch InDesign. Respond in the affirmative to the dialog asking if you really want to replace the preferences.

    Also try unticking in InDesign Preferences Use GPU Performance.

    And maybe double check you do have the latest version of InDesign, which is 13.1 (not 13.01).

    3 replies

    CTK Yonkers
    CTK Yonkers
    Participant
    February 5, 2026

    Same issue. Seems that Indesign is intent on Sharing my document and it’s caught in a loop. I did not select that option, btw. 

    DianneK
    DianneK
    Participant
    February 19, 2025

    I was in the final stages of a multipage design, and the file froze.  Since then I can't open it at all.
    I can sometimes get InDesign to open up other files (not always), and never the file I need.  Version 20.1
    I have uninstalled and reinstalled ID, turned computer on and off, and all the usual tricks, but I can't access the file at all.
    Any thoughts?

    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    March 17, 2025

    Hi @DianneK,

     

    Sorry for the delay! Are you still facing the issue, or has it been resolved? If not, could you confirm which version the file was originally created in? Also, have you tried opening it in the latest InDesign 20.2 version? Moreover, if it's stored on a network or external drive, move it locally and try again. Looking forward to your response. 

     

    ^

    Abhishek

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    June 26, 2018

    Try resetting your preferences again:

    Close InDesign. Then hold down Cmd + Ctrl + Opt + Shift (Mac), and relaunch InDesign. Respond in the affirmative to the dialog asking if you really want to replace the preferences.

    Also try unticking in InDesign Preferences Use GPU Performance.

    And maybe double check you do have the latest version of InDesign, which is 13.1 (not 13.01).

    E
    elaletzAuthor
    Participant
    June 26, 2018

    Hi Derek

    it works just fine! Many thanks!

      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices