/t5/indesign-discussions/bug-error-message-quot-unable-to-convert-pdf-file-quot/td-p/15549173Oct 16, 2025
Oct 16, 2025
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InDesign no longer opens any pdf file. I tried plenty of times with various different files (even those that worked just fine a week ago) and nothing. It looks like some update completely messed up this function. I tried changing Acrobat's Enhanced Security and save file again I tried to re-export pdf again - nothing works. Other Adobe programms works just fine, it's just InDesign that suddenly lost its ability to open pdf
Thanks for sharing the details, and I'm sorry to hear you're running into this. I tested it and it works for me. Could you please confirm the exact version of InDesign and Windows you’re using? Also, try creating a new blank InDesign file and use File > Place to import a PDF instead of opening it directly to see if it behaves the same way. If the issue persists, please share one of the affected sample PDFs for testing, you can use a cloud link like Google Drive or Dropbox if needed. If confidential, share it via DM on the community.
It allows me to place the content of pdf but as a picture, while before I was able to access all layers. It won't do for me, I need to have it working as it was before 😞 I know that it's not pdf's issue because I tried all different files - ones created in InDesign after the issue appeared, before, ones that I was able to open just a few days ago, I also tried changing Enhenced Security as in screenshot attached. None of it worked cannot-open-pdf-2.jpg (1047×703) Edition Windows 11 Enterprise Version 23H2 Installed on 7/4/2024 OS build 22631.5909 Serial number 5CG4223XC3 Experience Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.22700.1106.0
I'm starting to get the idea. I think I managed to indeed indentify affected pdf and realize that others not opening are an issue only AFTER trying to open this one. I closed InDsign (which each time results with attached error) and opened any pdf it suddenly worked just fine until I tried to open this one. Now again I'm unable to open any of those that worked just a minute ago. I'm reopening InDesign again and again and it's still broke. I'm not even sure how it managed to work properly just a minute ago since I didn't do anything at all. It's starting to look like a joke I'm attaching the file - it might be the problematic one or might not - at this point I have no idea anymore
That file is definetely a problem but it has no effect on other files. That PDF was created in Illustrator and was saved with AI editing enabled so you can open it there and edit it.
Unfortunately that still doesn't solve anything. I'm still unable to open any pdf file that was working before. I still need to access this feature for any other file 😞
Would you mind trying to re-save the affected PDF files from Illustrator and then placing in InDesign to see if it helps? Also, try running InDesign under a different administrator account (Windows) and share your observations.
Like I said, while I'm getting that error with that file, others open just fine so I'm not sure what's up with that. I tried everything with that PDF...saved it in Acrobat, re-opened in Illy and saved it with various changes to color mode, with and without AI editing, etc.
I don't know what's in that file causing this but perhaps @Anubhav M will come up with something.
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