Keyboard modifiers randomly stop working

Question

Modifier keys suddenly stop working in InDesign. Shift, space, control, option, command lose their functionality. For example, option-dragging an element moves it instead of copying it, despite the double arrow cursor being displayed.

This issue appears exclusively in InDesign. All other programs (including Adope apps) are unaffected. Only a reboot temporarily fixes it. After a while, the issue reappears.

I have no software that changes keyboard behaviour. No Webroot installed either.

Downgrading to an older InDesign version does not solve it. The issue appears irrespective of what files are open.

MacOS 26.7
InDesign 21.5.1

Having to reboot multiple times a day just to keep InDesign working is incredibly frustrating. Is there a fix to this issue?

leo.r · Answer

I have no software that changes keyboard behaviour.Keyboard behavior can be affected by software you wouldn’t expect it from. For example, display management utilities.Regardless, update first to just-released InDesign 21.6 and see if it makes a difference.If it doesn’t help, try to reset preferences and caches:https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/Report back if the problem persists.​​​​​​​

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