How to export workspace settings

Forum|Forum|8 years ago
July 13, 2017
3 replies
49037 views

How do I export Workspace settings in Mac InDesign 2017.1 so I can make them the same on laptop/desktop?

Correct answer MatejKriz

In 2024/04: Go to File> User Settings > Export User Settings.

"Export and Import User Settings" a new InDesign feature (already in version 19.4) that was introduced a few days ago.

You can now export or import these user settings: Preferences, Workspaces, Menu Sets, Keyboard Shortcuts, Glyph Sets

More info (source): https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/using/export-import-user-settings-indesign.html

M

MatejKrizCorrect answer

Inspiring

In 2024/04: Go to File> User Settings > Export User Settings.

"Export and Import User Settings" a new InDesign feature (already in version 19.4) that was introduced a few days ago.

You can now export or import these user settings: Preferences, Workspaces, Menu Sets, Keyboard Shortcuts, Glyph Sets

More info (source): https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/using/export-import-user-settings-indesign.html

Feelgood56

Inspiring

@MatejKriz I have just tried this with the latest update to Indesign 2026 and I get the following error message when I try to import the saved settings:

Any ideas?

Feelgood56

Inspiring

Hi @Feelgood56,

Thanks for sharing this, and sorry to hear about the error while importing your saved settings. Could you please confirm your macOS version and if the exported settings were created using the same language version of InDesign? This error appear if the locale (language or regional setting) of the source and target installations doesn't match.

Please go through these similar community posts to see if any of the solutions mentioned there help resolve the issue:
https://adobe.ly/4oGbcAt
https://adobe.ly/4qCe3MO
https://adobe.ly/4oGbd7v

Additionally, you can refer to this HelpX article for detailed steps on using the Export/Import User Settings feature:
https://adobe.ly/4oDA8sy

let me know how it goes.

Abhishek

Hi @Abhishek Rao,

Thanks for your reply.

I am running the English/Arabic version of Indesign on macOS 15.5 and I have just updated from Indesign 2025 (20.5) to Indesign 2026 (21.0).

Your comment regarding checking what language version of Indesign I am exporting from and to prompted me to check the 2026 version and this is also the English/Arabic version.

The exported settings generate a file called IDSettings_20_5_enGB_Mac_2025_10_30.

If I export settings from the newer version of Indesign the file generated is called IDSettings_21_0_enAE_Mac_2025_10_30 so it looks to me like the older version is not registering that it is the English/Arabic version?