Skip to main content
B
bro5150
Participant
September 22, 2021
Question

HELP! Indesign files are reverting to previously "Saved aAs" documents

  • September 22, 2021
  • 7 replies
  • 2890 views

I recently created a 10 page document based on an existing file and did a save as. I spent hours on this document. Once i closed it and reopened it an hour later, it opened up as the old original document is was based on!! I went to open other documents that were created in this way and they all were old files!! what the heck. This is a HUGE problem.

    7 replies

    L
    lisaa36685934
    Participating Frequently
    June 12, 2025

    This just happened to me.

    A
    Community Manager
    Anubhav MCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    June 12, 2025

    Hello @lisaa36685934,

    Would you mind sharing more details, like the version of the OS/InDesign installed, the folder location where your file is saved (internal/external/network drive or a cloud-synced folder) or if it is saved as a cloud document, so I can better assist you?

    Looking forward to hearing from you.
    Anubhav

    Y
    YIFAN26395861xla8
    Participant
    June 15, 2023

    Just happened to me too! This is so frustrating, especially it happen right before deadline. I finished my work long time ago and now it's almost blank. I manually save my file every 30 min, still did not prevent this from happening. This is not acceptable.

    Derek Cross
    Community Expert
    Derek CrossCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    June 15, 2023

    No back-up copies?

      S
      SaraUGP
      Participating Frequently
      April 12, 2023

      Hey if anyone finds a solution for this, please share. This just happened to me on a 48 paged book with 8 hours of work put into it that I have to completely redo. 

      I guess the only thing I can do is hardcore save a ton of versions of it to protect my work. 

      This is an issue that shouldn't actually exist two years after the original post. 

      Derek Cross
      Community Expert
      Derek CrossCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      April 12, 2023

      It's always wise to incrementaly save versions of your work – name1a.indd, name1b. indd and so on. Also, keep copies externally as well as locally (in case something happens to your computer).

      If you've been working on a document for a long time, occasionally save it as an IDML file to clear out the crud that builds up and that can cause a document corruption. 

        M
        margaretc85967665
        Participant
        March 3, 2023

        This just happened to me as well. 5.5 hours working on detailed proposal edits. Saved it, left it open overnight and went to bed. Woke this morning all my work was completely gone and the file was reverted to an older version of the file. I'm working/saving locally, not to the Cloud. I have no idea how CC/InDesign can take so much control of my computer to do this - otherwise it seems like a virus because I cannot figure it our or risk losing work like this.

          Ashutosh_Mishra
          Ashutosh_Mishra
          Inspiring
          September 29, 2021

          Hi there,

           

          Sorry to hear about your experience. Do you still see similar behavior with the app?  Are these files saved on a network drive? Have you tried resetting preferences? If not, then please try doing that & let us know if that helps.
          If it doesn't, Would it be possible for you to share the device information & preference files with us? This information would help us assist you accordingly.

           

          We are looking forward to your response.

           

          Regards,

          Ashutosh

          B
          bonniet_scubadiva
          Participant
          September 22, 2021

          The exact same thing is happening to me. I am on Mac Big Sur OS 11.6, running the latest CC InDesign. This morning, I opened the file and it was the OLD file I originally started with. I totally rebuilt the file, saved it; was having some spinning wheel issues, restarted -- it SHOWS the file was saved right before I restarted -- but the OLD file from yesterday opens up!!!! This is a MAJOR issue for me as well.

            B
            bro5150Author
            Participant
            September 22, 2021

            I completely agree! This bug can potentially wipe out hundreds of files i have created based on others i have "Saved As". This is a MAJOR MAJOR flaw that needs immediate attention before it does major harm.

            Derek Cross
            Community Expert
            Derek CrossCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            September 22, 2021

            Sounds like you overwrote your previous document. It's important to double check your document before doing too much work on it and incremantally naming and saving it regularly so you can revert to an earlier version if necessary. Also, save copies externally, as well as locally, so you can access your files if something happens to your computer. Belt and braces.

            B
            bro5150Author
            Participant
            September 22, 2021

            I didn't. I actually opened the document i based it on, and saved it with a new name. Infact i opened passed docs that I created this way, and they all reverted to the intial document. 

            Derek Cross
            Community Expert
            Derek CrossCommunity Expert
            Community Expert
            September 22, 2021

            Which version of InDesign and OS?
            Have you tried resetting the InDesign preferences?

            Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
            Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices