InDesign 19, 2024 version crashes on launch on windows 10 machine

[JessicaTilles]

Help! The system automatically updated all Adobe apps on my computer to 2024. InDesign 2024 crashes every time I open it. I've attempted to open it several times. In fact, it doesn't get past the beautiful artwork.

I've checked the InDesign Recovery folder and there are no files to recover. So, that's not the issue.

I can no longer access previous versions of InDesign that were installed on my computer. They've been removed. 

My OS is Windows 10.

Is there another workaround? I have a boatload of projects that require me to use InDesign today.

Thank you!

<Title renamed by moderator>

[Joel Cherney]

There are two things you can do in Creative Cloud to get your work done today. I personally never install the latest updates on a production system, and that's a policy that I reccomend to everybody. If I'm doing anything with The Latest Version, or with a beta release, I have a whole 'nother Windows partition to do it on. 

First off, I'd suggest turning off Auto-Update in your Creative Cloud preferences; that puts the onus of keeping your apps up to date on you, but then your production environment will never be accidentally hampered by a brand-new update:

Also, if you find that your older apps were removed by an update, you can install older versions by going to the All Apps section of Creative Cloud and clicking on the three "more stuff" dots next to InDesign's Open button:

Lastly, when you're running the installer tool, it will give you a choice regarding whether or not you remove older versions of your app when installing the new one. Here are someone else's screenshots from the 2015 Photoshop installer, and inside the Auto-Update prefs in someone else's install of Creative Cloud. I don't dare install 19.0 today to get relevant screenshots for you because I, like you, have a whole bunch of projects that are due in the very near future, and I'm not going to let a brand-new version of InDesign onto my production system. But: here's how you'd prevent removal of old versions, either in the auto-update case:

or when manually installing:

[JessicaTilles]

Thank you so much, Joel. A rep with Adobe was kind enough to take over my computer and take care of the issue. 

[Barb Binder]

Hi Jessica:

This is happening to others as well. Are you able to tell us what the Adobe rep did?

~Barb

[wtheck]

Same here, crashing upon booting up- on imac ventura

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi @wtheck ,

If this is happening on macOS Ventura, please update the OS to the latest version of Ventura which is 13.6 as we received similar reports from other users and the issue was resolved after updating the OS.

Note: Please ensure that you're updating the OS to the latest version of Ventura which is 13.6 and not macOS Sonoma as we're in the process of testing our latest app to run on Sonoma.

Thanks

Rishabh

[DENISE23215445o8t5]

I had the same problem--installed the 2024 CC update yesterday, and it worked fine. But then IND wouldn't launch this morning. I updated the OS and now it works great. Thanks, Rishabh!

[DENISE23215445o8t5]

ACTUALLY, I updated to Sonoma 14.0. It seems to be working fine. I'm on a MacBook Pro 16" 2021.

[JessicaTilles]

Hi, Barb:

I allowed the rep to share my computer to fix the issue. Now, what the issue was, I don't have a clue. 

[jamesh70351631]

Joel, thank you for your excellent reply.

Turning off Auto-Update in your Creative Cloud preferences is something everyone should do!

[Rishabh_Tiwari · Accepted solution]

Hi @JessicaTilles ,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Can you try the steps in this article and let us know if this helps or if you need further assistance?

Thanks

Rishabh

[JessicaTilles]

Thank you. I'm straight. An Adobe rep took care of me. 🙂

[Randal24127214io0x]

I have the same problem.  Can someone please post the answer.  I tried below and it still doesn't work.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Try CC Cleaner tool from here:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/reset-indesign-preferences-and-other-troubleshoo...

Then re-install or install previous version.

[Raul30922580sbfc]

Me too; I'm having the same issue. Indesign 2024 quits right on the launch. To get the work done; this is the 10th time I had to reinstall 😞

[Sue SCP]

Exactly the same thing has happened to me. It's a new Mac, it's using the latest operating system, nothing else has been added, updated, or gone wrong. There is something seriously amiss with InDesign 2024. Luckily I still have InDesign 2023 installed and running. And won't be doing any upgrades for a while!

[studiohicks]

I'm having this exact problem whilst running Mac OS X Ventura 13.0

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi @studiohicks,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. This has been reported by other users and the issue was resolved after updating to the latest version of Ventura which is 13.6. Please update and let us know if you need further assistance.

Note: Please ensure you're updating to the latest version of Ventura which is 13.6 and not macOS Sonoma as we're currently in the process of testing and optimizing our latest apps to run on macOS 14 Sonoma. 

Thanks

Rishabh

[richardkirkland]

Thanks for the update and information. Unfortunatey, the upgrading did not work as some have had succes with here. For my temporary solution, uninstalling and installing a prior version of InDesign worked.

Would you mind reviewing the steps I also took below before having to revert back to a Prior version?

I quit all Adobe processes in the MacOS task manager.

Then, I ran the Adobe log collector.

I ran the Adobe cleaner tool exclusively on Indesign.

I reinstalled Indesign from the Creative Cloud Desktop app.

That install, which is the most current version of Id 2024, failed to launch after install and gave the same error after the CC app launched Id on its own after install.

I then uninstalled Adobe Id once more.

After these options all failed, I installed a prior version of Id, by selecting the option to install a previous version. The application now opens, saves, closes files, quits and reopens without error.

It is very important to mention that after the link @Barb Binder posted the upgrade process works and my files opened at the outset.

Then, after closing Id and reopening it, the same error on launch recoccurs.

Also, before leaving work on Friday, November 10, at 1700, no updates were done to inDesign and I believe I was on the latest version of Id 2024. I had no notifications of new Id versions in the CC app.

This is also important, as the application openning errors occured after I had been using what seemed to be a stable version last week worked fine until today, Monday, 2023.11.13 at 0800.

This seems indicative that the launch errors could be dormant until a later date when using the most recent version available from the CC app for Id.

My final solution was to use an older version.

These steps have came with a price of losing a 1/2 workday with still no resolution from Adobe. Another pitfall is that there seems to not be any support for MacOS Sonoma, which is very unfortunate.

This large issue should be addressed immediately with a future update.

In Creative Cloud the verbiage for the update could describe the resolution for this issue exclusively so that users know that it has been addressed and aren't worried about new issues that may follow with a new update.

The Adobe discussions and community could also be made aware on topics like these, updated by Adobe employees for users' benefit from a very credible source.

This is a major issue and I'm sure all would like a resolution soon.

Thanks in advance for reading and possibly updating the InDesign team on this feedback.

I can also message you my log files if this would help illustrate the issue in-depth.

Have a great day.

[jamesh70351631]

Thansk for posting your detailed reply. 

This InDesign update is another reminder to NOT enable auto-update for apps you need to use daily.

Most of the time auto-update works well, but when it doesn't... ouch. Update your apps when it fits your schedule, and when you're not on a deadline to complete a project.

[richardkirkland]

@jamesh70351631I understand your approach and usually work in this way. It is certainly safe.

From my post above...

>>

This is also important, as the application opening errors occured after I had been using what seemed to be a stable version last week worked fine until today, Monday, 2023.11.13 at 0800.

This seems indicative that the launch errors could be dormant until a later date when using the most recent version available from the CC app for Id.

---

My auto updates were'nt enabled and it seems as if this is an underlying issue even after what users experience seem to be a stable release. This further complicates what is a large issue for users that seems to not have been addressed for a while. I appreciate your suggestion and approach.

[rosiestem]

I also had the same issue with Ventura 13.0. I upgraded to 13.6.1 and now InDesign 2024 is actually opening for me.... I hope it continues to work. 🙏🏼

[richardkirkland]

Thanks @rosiestem. Good to know.

[Lance219324854a5p]

Having the same problem as of this morning, ID 2024 was working last week but just decided to die today. Can't get past the opening screen, on Win 10 Pro, even after a reboot etc. Anyone got a fix for Windows 10 rather than Mac?

[Lance219324854a5p]

Ok, the solution for me was to reset preferences when opening. On Windows, hold down Ctrl/Shft/Alt when opening until it asks you if you want to delete prefs. It's a pain to have to reset preferences, but better than not being able to use it.

For those who want to step back, as mentio0ned by someone else here, install the previous version, it can still open files that had been saved in the newer version, it just converts them on the fly.