When launching InDesign, the process appears in Task Manager with CPU and memory usage, but no window appears on screenOS: Windows 11 23H2 InDesign Version: 2026 v21.4.1 Tried: Reinstallation, deleting AppData folder, compatibility mode, running as administrator — none worked

lee00

Participant

Question

When launching InDesign, no window appears on screen

Forum|Forum|2 days ago
June 19, 2026
4 replies
32 views

When launching InDesign, the process appears in Task Manager with CPU and memory usage, but no window appears on screen

OS: Windows 11 23H2
InDesign Version: 2026 v21.4.1
Tried: Reinstallation, deleting AppData folder, compatibility mode, running as administrator — none worked

Mike Witherell

Community Expert

Hi Hyunju,

Here is an exhaustive troubleshooting compendium that covers up to 4 ways to reset InDesign. You might need the atomic option (the 4th one).

Mike Witherell

Anubhav M

Community Manager

Hello @hyunju0809

I’m sorry to hear about your experience. I hope Bob and Leo’s suggestions helped resolve the problem. If not, please try running Illustrator under a different administrator account (Windows) and after rebooting your computer in Safe Mode (Windows), and share your observations.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Anubhav

BobLevine

Community Expert

How much RAM do you have? Also, while I can’t say it’s the reason, your Windows installation is more than two years out of date. I strongly suggest that you update it.

lee00Author

Participant

Yeah. I think the RAM is enough.

I never thought the Windows version would be a problem because other Adobe programs worked🫢

I'll try to update it.

Thanks for the answer

leo.r

Community Expert

Try these general troubleshooting steps:

https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

Will it make a difference?

lee00Author

Participant

No..😭

The first method was not possible to attempt because after launching InDesign, no window appears on screen, making it impossible to access any menus or settings.

For the third method, I renamed the folders as instructed and then tried opening an InDesign file, but the window still did not appear.

Also, a new "InDesign" folder has been automatically recreated after the renaming.

I was using InDesign without any issues until April, but it suddenly stopped working after that.😫

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