InDesign won’t save files – says they’re damaged and shows “database error”

This looks like a corrupted InDesign Defaults file or a bad recent update. Quit InDesign, delete the InDesign Defaults and InDesign SavedData files manually, then restart. If it started after an update, rolling back to the previous InDesign version usually fixes it until Adobe patches the bug.

There’s a link to to the microsoft path that is supposed to fix this at 

Just a reminder to everyone: this bug is a Windows patch bug. Roll it back.

And while you are tinkering with things, be sure to patch InDesign up to 21.2 for some other issues and the introduction of improved alt-tagging.

Many threads on this issue. It’s caused by Windows security update KB5074109. I’m sure Adobe is working on it but for now I've reverted the Windows update until there’s a fix either from MS or Adobe. 

I’ve gotten this unable to save error with all two .INDD files I’ve made in Indesign 2026. However, I have not recieved the database error. My first attempt to solve was by making a new file and copying all the assets into a new document. This promptly crashed InDesign.

Today I tried the save as .IDML fix which did work but on the second attempt. The first still crashed the entire program. However, when I reopened the program it restored the document so I didn’t lose any saved data. 

I don’t know why this is happening but I would like a long-term fix. Is it related to OneDrive? The first file that broke down was uploaded and then downloaded from my account, and I’ve had it screw up things in the pasdt, though not with Adobe softwares.

Whatever the reason, I use InDesign constantly for presentations in my major and I CANNOT be dealing with this problem every week. 

Hi Noki, as I've said I have had the same problem on two computers.

Are you using DropBox and working on files on the cloud?

I'm having exactly the same issue! Every time I use a file it damages when I go to Save it! On both my desktop (local) and also when working from my Dropbox account! Its INCREDIBLY frustrating. Come on Adobe - We pay through the nose for this software and you can't even get the basics right - and NOW theres a fee increase AS WELL!?

This is happening to me as well on multiple computers. 

I've tried everything listed here, I've installed and reinstalled and started from new documents and deleted prefs and BLAH BLAH BLAH.

What is going on?

[abuse removed by moderator]

Hi everyone,

Today on two different computers, both running the latest InDesign, I started getting this error every time I edit a file:

“InDesign is unable to save this file. We tried, but it appears to be damaged.”

Then, when I try to close the file, I get another message:

“Could not complete your request because of a database error. The file ‘InDesign Defaults’ is damaged (Error code: 1).”

I’ve tried uninstalling and reinstalling InDesign, resetting preferences, testing files saved locally, in the cloud, and on a USB stick, but nothing helps. I can open and save files as long as I don’t make any changes, but once I edit anything, the error appears.

Everything worked fine yesterday, and now both computers are affected. Is anyone else seeing this problem, or does anyone know how to fix it?

By @Noki789

Could this be caused by a recent Adobe update or a corrupted preferences file?

First thing to try is export the file to .idml, open that and save as .indd with a new name.

Are these files stored on some sort of cloud service? If so, try turning off synching.