Help! I did the software update for Monterey, now my Indesign files open as READ-ONLY

[karenb46800370]

I just updated my Mac OS to the latest version - Monterey 12.4. Currently, I'm using the newest version of InDesign 17.2.1. I'm the only one with access to my files, however now when I try and open a file or, create a new one, even when I save the file as an IDML, I keep getting an error message saying it is READ-ONLY. I have checked on my permission settings and it says Read & Write. Is anyone else experiencing this? Does anyone have a solution?
Thanks, Karen

[Peru Bob]

I've moved this from the Using the Community forum (which is the forum for issues using the forums) to the InDesign forum so that proper help can be offered.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You checked permissions, but did you repair them with the disk utility?

[Conrad_C]

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@Dave Creamer of IDEAS wrote:

You checked permissions, but did you repair them with the disk utility?

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Apple removed the feature to repair permissions from Disk Utility several years ago, although I can’t remember in exactly which version of macOS. The feature became unnecessary as Apple made important folders more secure and less prone to corruption; Howard Oakley has covered this in some detail:

Should you ever repair permissions?

[Conrad_C · Accepted solution]

Recent versions of macOS introduce new kinds of permissions, to try and restrict the spread of malware. These are not the same kinds of permissions we have used before, so they are not in the same places to check.

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@karenb46800370 wrote:

I keep getting an error message saying it is READ-ONLY. I have checked on my permission settings and it says Read & Write.

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The place where it says Read and Write or Read-Only is the information window you see in the Mac Finder when you choose File > Get Info. That is an example of the old permissions, not the new ones. To adjust the new macOS permissions, follow the instructions in the Adobe tech article linked below. Now, I am not 100% sure this is the cause of your problem, but because it started after a major macOS upgrade, my guess is that it is. The article is for Adobe Lightroom Classic, but just apply the same steps for InDesign (or any other Mac application that gives you the same trouble).

Quick Tips: How to give Full Disk Access to Lightroom Classic on macOS

Then let us know if that fixed it.

Related: If, after the macOS upgrade, you were asked if you wanted to grant permission to certain folders for InDesign, but Don’t Allow was clicked, that could cause this problem. Again, the example below is not InDesign, but it’s an example of how you may be asked for any Mac application.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Thanks @Conrad_C --I was using outdated terminology (from memory--always a dangerous combination) but that is what I was referring to. 

[karenb46800370]

THANK YOU!  The problem seems to be fixed now.