InDesign 2023 - how can i get that version back

[amandalorian77]

Hello, I have had Indesign 2023 , and just formatted my computer. When reinstalling from the creative cloud I have now the latest version which is nothing like the 2023. I really don't like this new version and find it is not user friendly. I tried installing an earlier version but the earliest was 19.0 and it was exactly the same.

Any suggestions?

Thank you in advance.

[leo.r]

The earliest you can install is InDesign 2024, that is v.19.

I wonder if you can elaborate on what specifically is not user-friendly in InDesign 2024 (or 2025 for that matter) compared to 2023? Their UIs are pretty much identical.

Also, what's your operating system version?

[amandalorian77]

Hi Leo,

it was the layout when opening, which I dont know what happened this time, but it seems to be the way it was before.. I don't use it much except for updating a few documents so I'm not that skilled in the program. Must've been a rookie move. Thanks for jumping in.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@amandalorian77 

Adobe only makes available for download nad install only ONE prior version - so right now it's 2024 / v 19.x

There is not much of a difference between 2023 and 2025 - User Interface is pretty much identical.

You might just need to select / configure your Workspace again?

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi @amandalorian77:

If you have a touchscreen on a Windows computer, InDesign will launch into the Touchscreen workspace after an installation, or after deleting preferences. It looks entirely different from the workspaces most of us use and is startling if you were not expecting it.

You just need to click through the Gestures tutorial and then you can choose your workspace from the workspace list in the top right corner. Click the Home button in the top left corner to see the old Welcome screen. 

~Barb

[amandalorian77]

Thanks Barb, that was it. Even though it is the same touch screen computer, it didn't come up like that when I originally started using it, and I couldn't figure it out. All sorted now thanks.

[Barb Binder]

You are welcome, @amandalorian77. We are always happy to help.

~Barb

[Laubender]

Hi @amandalorian77 ,

when on macOS you may have backups of your application folder from the time when InDesign 2023 was installed.

Simply restore the InDesign 2023 folder of your application folder from your TimeMachine backups.

Then sign out from the Creative Cloud Desktop App. Restart your machine, Sign in again to the CC Desktop App. It should scan your application folder and InDesign 2023 should be available again to you.

When on Windows and you also have copied the application folder as backup to an external drive, try to restore InDesign 2023 by doing basically the same…

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

[...] 

When on Windows and you also have copied the application folder as backup to an external drive, try to restore InDesign 2023 by doing basically the same…

By @Laubender

On Windows -  this will never work. 

[Laubender]

Hi @Robert at ID-Tasker ,

it already worked with my Windows 10 laptop.

Of course I'm not sure with Windows 11.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Hi @Robert at ID-Tasker ,

it already worked with my Windows 10 laptop.

Of course I'm not sure with Windows 11.

By @Laubender

But on Windows - some required files are in Windows subfolders, some in Program Files, Program Files (x86) - PLUS entries in the Registry...

So just can't just restore "Adobe's application subfolder"?

[Laubender]

Hi @Robert at ID-Tasker ,

if the Creative Cloud Desktop App will recognize, after a restart and login, that InDesign 2023 is available in the Application folder, I think, I'm not sure, it will prepare or add all missing subfolders and also updates the Registry when InDesign is started up. I only tried that once successfully. And that is a couple of years ago.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

if the Creative Cloud Desktop App will recognize, after a restart and login, that InDesign 2023 is available in the Application folder, I think, I'm not sure, it will prepare or add all missing subfolders and also updates the Registry when InDesign is started up. I only tried that once successfully. And that is a couple of years ago.

By @Laubender

You mean that it would somehow install missing things in correct locations?

I know that InDesign re-creates TLB file after each run - if it's missing - but reinstalling itself?

[Eugene Tyson]

What don't you like about it? 

They're all roughly the same. When they have new features they like to make them the default workspace. 

But you can change the workspace to suit yourself and your layout options for the way you want to work.

https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/indesign/using/workspace-basics.html

Pretty much the application hasn't changed much in how it works - but it can look different when updating to new versions.