Keyboard modifiers randomly stop working

Forum|Forum|22 days ago
September 16, 2026
6 replies
82 views

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?

nik.m

Community Manager

Hi @a522 | Florian, just wanted to follow up on this conversation to see if you're still experiencing this behavior. If yes, could you check if you have software like 1Password, the way @Incredible_Breeze1674 mentioned, or any of the apps Monika mentioned.
If you do, please quit them and then check if you continue to experience the same issue.

Thanks,

Nikunj

I

Incredible_Breeze1674

Participant

I had this issue crop up just now. In my case quitting 1Password immediately fixed the issue - without needing to reboot or relaunch Indesign. May or may not help but worth a look.

leo.r

Community Expert

In my case quitting 1Password immediately fixed the issue

That’s important info. If you can, you may want to contact 1Password and request to fix this problem

Monika Gause

Community Expert

THis is a list of apps and settings that interfere with the keyboard. Do you have any of them?

WhatsApp on the web being the active tab in the browser
WebRoot
Apple Terminal
Word, Excel, Powerpoint
»Enable Full Keyboard« in Settings > Accessibility > Keyboard on Mac OS
»Keyboard Navigation« in Apple settings > Keyboard
Apple Mail, Outlook
Spacebar is used as a shortcut by the system
Chrome, Internet Explorer, Safari
Wacom Desktop Center, Wacom settings
Windows Touch Pad problem
LastPass, Bitwarden (password managers)
The VPN
LangSwitcher app (it needs to be closed and disabled)
Notes

leo.r

Community Expert

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.

M

Manan Joshi

Community Expert

Try it by booting your computer in safe mode.

-Manan

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