Can't scale proportionally anymore with shift command in InDesign on macOS

[egreff89]

Since I updated to 2020, I can't seem to use shift+command to scale my images or text proportionally - it just changes the size of the object's box - not the content within the box. When I click on the content itself, I can scale it but it is disproportionate. This is one of my go-to shortcuts! Help!

[leo.r]

Slack was my issue. Any way to get around? I need Slack on.

By Sara_K

Does Slack have some kind of setting that affects this behavior? If not, then the only solution is to report this bug to Slack.

[Spenno]

I use the same shortcuts constantly and whilst there are a few I have left as default, things like paste in place / centre content / scale proportionally are shortcuts I use hundreds of times a day, so any of the default settings that tie my fingers in knots got changed years ago. I save these preferences so I can now just hit one key or 2 max, conveniently placed. I dread to think how many hours, weeks and days have been saved by using shortcuts.

[Coret5ECE]

inDesign 2022, iMac (Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020) with bluetooth keyboard (no batteries! still weirds me out)

I was experiencing the same issue but as the answers from 2019 were no longer relevant, I've discovered it may be a slow keyboard problem. Select what you want to scale, press down Command, then Option, then Shift (holding them all down) and only THEN click the object corner you want to scale from, and drag. So basically: slow down.

[captainuncertain]

:O)

Thanks

[rital57762373]

2024 - really. It was as easy as slowing down. Thanks for the suggestion!!!

[ParthoSwe]

I have the same problems from time to time, that key shortcuts, for example drag view (space bar), scale image box proportionally (shift+cmd+alt), stops working.

My remedy is to reboot my mac, and it usually starts woring again.

It's a problem that has been around for years, updates has not helped.

Usually it stops working in both InDesign and Photoshop at the same time.

And it only affects Adobe applications. I have never experienced this bug in any non Adobe applications.

My gut feeling tells me it's something that can be fixed, without blaming third party applications or plugins....

[carlas28827493]

@ParthoSwe I got exactly the same issue and can only fix it by rebooting which should not be the way when working on a project. Anyone recently discovered anything new, any other reason for those keys to stop working after a while? – for me it is the proportional scale (shift) and drag view (sapce bar) and copy object (alt)

[ParthoSwe]

Same here. Just happens out of nowhere. Same keys you describe.

Now running Ai 26.5, InD 17.4 and Psd 23.5 on a Macbook Pro M1 Max, Monterey 12.4.

The functionality is lost in all above apps att hte same time.

Really annoying.

[blue heeler]

Same for me, out of nowhere it stops scaling. Wasting tons of time. I do not have time to reboot while producing fast oin an hourly billing rate. This is an issue InDesign needs to fix. Not a thiord party issue on my computer.

[joehahi]

Yup, exact behaviour for me aswell. Multiple hotkeys like that stop working.

[Rossi Beag]

i recently installed onedrive with all the microsoft programmes and had this issue until i just quit word ect didnt even have to restart indesign

[DBFRL_NL]

Yes !!! This is working!

[joshc75620796]

It was Word doing it for me, too!

[Rachele Smith]

This also worked for me! A little annoying because sometimes text copy I'm putting into an InDesign project is in Word, but I'm glad I know how to get the key commands working again. 

[Anemona23998974nsd2]

Hey all,

I found the problem for mac, it's webroot for sure. if you click on it at the top right corner on it's green little icon, you'll find an option "pause secure keyboard entry" that's it, you click on it and you'll be able to resize the image proportionally again. What I don't know is how to keep the option off. If you know, just let the other know too please.

[FlipFriddle]

I don't have webroot and; it randomly happens to me all of the time (Mac running Monterrey, ID 18.1). Yesterday I was working ID and all was fine, then I command+tab to read a text, command+tabbed back and scaling and drag didn't work. It's so infuriating that such basic level functions that have been in the app since it debuted simply don't work some times.

[FlipFriddle]

Also, option+drag to duplicate breaks as well when I'm having the scaling problem.

[Anemona23998974nsd2]

Hi,

I am sorry that you're going through this, I know how fustrating can be...

I've done so much research until I found the issue for me..at least.

Unfortunately, I don't have an answer for you, but Steve's reply from above is a start. I suggest to try to look for apps that intervene with the keyboard. Hope that makes sense. 🙂

This is Steve's Werner answer:

"When modifier keys like Shift and Option/Alt are not working, a likely cause is a conflicting third party application/plug-in/extension. Try restarting your computer and launch InDesign before any other application (including your normal startup applications). If you find that your keyboard shortcuts are now working, then it's a third party application causing the problem. Likely candidates: Extensions and plug-ins for browsers, anti-virus applications and so on. Open your other applications one."

I wish you good luck with your problem & that maybe someone else sees your comments and have the answer for them.

[Samantha346569307obg]

Hi,

I have followed this thread but I am still having the issue.

Using an iMac 2023 

I have never had Webroot but have shut down spotify and have nothing else open and it's still not working...
Any help or advice is much appreciated!

[Rossi Beag]

when iinstalled onedrive with all the microsoft programmes i had this issue until i just quit word ect didnt even have to restart indesign

[Samantha346569307obg]

Hey,

I don't have OneDrive installed, I have quit all my programmes and yet it still won't work. Feeling deflated and confused 😞

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Please try the suggestions shared in this discussion and let us know if this helps or if you need further assistance.

Thanks

Rishabh

[Samantha346569307obg]

I had Auto-fit unchecked in the main fitting menu!

[andrag55747497]

I had the same problem after getting a new Mac computer and went through all the solutions litsed on this page but none of them worked. I also was on a session with Adobe where they accessed my computer remotely to see what was wrong. They deleted a few folders but that didn't solve the issue. They called me back a few days later to suggest I udate my operating system, and miraculously that fixed the scaling issue in Indesign. Hope this answer helps someone in this same situation. 

[tinadejarld]

Restarting solved for me, InDesign 2024