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!

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the trouble you are facing with InDesign. I would request if you can share a few more details like:

1. The exact version of InDesign and the macOS.
2. Is this happening with a specific document or with all the documents?
3. If it is happening with every file, you can try resetting the preferences for InDesign by following the steps below:

• Close all Adobe applications 
• Go to Locations:  
• ~/Library/Caches 
• ~/Library/Preferences 
• Rename Adobe InDesign and com.adobe.indesign to Adobe InDesign.old and com.adobe.indesign.old 
• Launch InDesign from the CC 

Disclaimer: Please note that resetting preferences will remove all the custom settings and InDesign will launch with default settings. This way all your old settings will be saved in .old folders and InDesign will recreate new folders with default settings.

Regards

Rishabh

[nils15A8]

This did not work. 

[Steve Werner · Accepted solution]

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-by-one to see which is the culprit.

[egreff89]

Thanks so much, Steve! This was the culprit! The app that was causing the problem was Amazon Music. Adding that tidbit in here in case anyone else runs into this issue! 

[KMonona]

2023 and this solved my issue! THANK YOU!

[jessicalw]

Well, I'm new to Indesign, but I'm having the same issue with the shift key not constraining proportions when trying to scale objects.  Tried a reset and and launched Indesign with nothing else running. Same deal.  Any other ideas? 

[egreff89]

If you're on a Mac, try shift + command before you scale, not just shift. I'm not sure what the hotkeys are for a PC, though. 

[jessicalw]

I'm on a Mac with CC with Indesign 15.0.1 and I've tried all kinds of combinations to constrain while scaling. Nothing works.  

[captainuncertain]

Had issues with Indesign 16.4 on new M1 iMac – seems Spotify was causing the conflict! Bonkers. Sort it out computer people (please). Thanks.

[Derek Cross]

Hi captainuncertain

Welcome to this friendly forum – please note, this is a user-to-user support forum.

Derek

[serendipitypam]

In my case - Webroot was the culprit. Closed it and Eureka. Fixed!

[Kaitlyn5EAD]

Same, Webroot was my issue. I didn't even need to close it, just clicked "Pause secure keyboard entry," and voila. Thank you!

[astarnes00]

Webroot was my issue as well! @Kaitlyn5EAD where did you find the "Pause secure keyboard entry" button? Thanks!

[Madison22703418tp6v]

Thank you guys so much! Webroot was my problem too! I was going insane trying to figure out how to fix this problem!

[JacklynDesigns]

Thank you, this was also my issue!

[rwilkin1]

Thank you! A simple restart fixed this issue. 

[Felix23326418ge6z]

Man, you saved my life!

[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

[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.