How to Set a Default InDesign Version for INDD Files on Windows 11?

[dublove]

Two versions of InDesign, how do I switch to the default application for Indd files?

Sometimes when the higher version is unstable, I would like to keep the file opened by default with the lower version.
Prevent being opened by the higher version and trying to regret it too late.

I tried using the default app with win11 and realized it was locked and could not be changed.
Then I realized that the later installed version was the default app.

So it didn't work, I re-installed it all over again in order.

<Title renamed by MOD>

[BobLevine]

You may have to do it through the registry. Try setting the associations in Bridge. That seems to stick better.

[Manan Joshi]

I suppose the version installed last is the one that is made the default. If registry tweaks are not your thing then reinstallation in the desired order should do the trick.

-Manan

[Lewis_2688]

I installed Id 2024 and then Id 2025, but wanted to set Id 2024 as the default version because I have to use it most of the time. I tried different methods but none of them worked. The mothod that finally worked is:

1. Uninstall Id 2024.

2. Reinstall Id 2024.

3. Id 2024 became the default version.

[Manan Joshi]

Hi @Lewis_2688 that is what I suggested that the versions installed last becomes the default.

-Manan

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hi @Lewis_2688 that is what I suggested that the versions installed last becomes the default.

By @Manan Joshi

Installed or updated. 

[DTPtutorialyCZ-L.Zalesky]

Forget the answers above.

Right button, open with...select the version you want and check always open with this app. If you don't see your version, click to select a new application and enter the path to the exe file of the previous version.

[hc_8917]

does not work. windows will still use the default version despite selecting the correct exe
that has been stupid windows default behaviour for years

[IvanTyLam]

I try this worked for me, Launch the old version Indesign and open the file from the app (do not double click the file).  

[IvanTyLam]

Another method is change the Windows Registry default app to older version. 

[hc_8917]

sure but that is one big PITA 😉

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @hc_8917,

Yeah, Windows can be stubborn with defaults! Ivan's registry suggestion is a good option, and setting file associations through Adobe Bridge might also help. What worked for me was selecting the default app through Open with > Choose another app > Choose an app on your PC, then navigating to the InDesign application folder, selecting the InDesign.exe file, and checking Always use this app.

Give it a try and let me know if you need any more help!

^
Abhishek

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

@Abhishek Rao 's method is the correct one. It that doesn't work,  you might want to check for registry corruption.

[julia_2126]

When I try this method -- navigating the to exe file for the 2024 version and selecting that file -- it still opens the file in the new 2025 version. Any other suggestions? TIA

[julia_2126]

Or can you  elaborate on "registry corruption"?

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @julia_2126,

There are a few methods you can try to get the files to consistently open in the version you prefer.

First, make sure you've tried the “'Open with' method using the full path to the older InDesign.exe file and checked 'Always use this app'. If Windows is still ignoring that, the next step is to adjust the file association in the Windows Registry, which usually enforces the correct default version.

You can follow the steps below:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\InDesign.Document\shell\open\command

Double-click the (Default) entry, and update the path to point to the InDesign.exe of the version you want as default, surrounded by quotes, followed by "%1".
For example:
"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign 2024\InDesign.exe" "%1"

Close the Registry Editor and restart your system.

Once this is done, double-clicking INDD files should launch them in the version you set.

Give this a try and let me know if it works for you or if Windows still reverts to the latest version. 

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek