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Inspiring
Sep 14, 2026 4:04 PM UTC
Answered

Page tool does not just select only one page (sometimes)

When I have a multi-page Parent page, I will want to adjust the size of 1 single page. I click on a page but it will select all three instead of 1. It only does this sometimes. At times I can click to the desktop and then back on the desired page a few times and it will work properly. Sometimes not. Any opinions?

    Barb Binder
    Barb BinderCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Sep 15, 2026 12:50 AM UTC

    I find the Page tool to be a bit unpredictable with page selections. Try double-clicking the page icon for the page you want to modify in the Pages panel. That is reliable for me. As is click+shift click for multi-page selections.

    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training

    7 replies

    rob day
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Sep 17, 2026 3:54 PM UTC

    Hi ​@GRAPHICPROF , Not sure if this helps, but if I click on the Pasteboard it will deselect everything. Then I can click anywhere inside the page I want selected:

     

     

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    Inspiring
    Sep 17, 2026 2:39 PM UTC

    That is a good thought. Thanks.

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    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Barb BinderCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Sep 15, 2026 12:50 AM UTC

    I find the Page tool to be a bit unpredictable with page selections. Try double-clicking the page icon for the page you want to modify in the Pages panel. That is reliable for me. As is click+shift click for multi-page selections.

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    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training
    Inspiring
    Sep 15, 2026 2:28 PM UTC

    I will give it a try. Thanks.

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    leo.r
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Sep 14, 2026 4:13 PM UTC

    Just to make sure: is it the latest InDesign, and what’s the operating system version?

    In any case, try to reset preferences and caches:
    https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

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    Inspiring
    Sep 15, 2026 2:29 PM UTC

    Unfortunately, this is for a student lab unit in which they are not able to reset pref and caches.

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    Barb Binder
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Sep 15, 2026 3:32 PM UTC

    Here's one more thought: speaking as a career instructor, regularly resetting preferences in InDesign is a good idea as they do become corrupt over time. In many of the classrooms I worked in, they were automatically refreshed as the systems were powered on each day. It might be worth passing on to IT.

    We would do it for all the CC apps so that a previous student’s preferences didn’t derail the next student’s experience.

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    ~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training