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24

InDesign 2023 makes a read only file

New Here ,
Oct 27, 2022 Oct 27, 2022

I have just updated to the 2023 InDesign, and now suddently my documents are read-only and I cannot save the file, but have to make a save as version and give the document a new name everytime I have to save my work.

Do you know why this is happening? And how to avoid this?

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correct answers 2 Pinned Replies

Adobe Employee , Jan 27, 2025 Jan 27, 2025

Hello @pifath67,

 

Thank you for your patience. I discussed this with the product team, and they have informed me that a bug has been logged for this issue. The team is currently investigating it, and I will keep you updated with any progress or if further information is needed.

 

^
Abhishek

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Adobe Employee , Jul 14, 2025 Jul 14, 2025

Hello everyone,

Could you try the following steps and checking if it helps resolve the problem:

For Windows:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator

Search for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-click on "Command Prompt," and select "Run as administrator."

2. Type: the following command and hit Enter

regsvr32 /u "C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign 2025\QuickLookPreview.dll"

3. You’ll see a message box from Windows indicating whether the operation was successful or not.



For macOS:

1. Open System Sett

...
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Community Beginner ,
Apr 12, 2023 Apr 12, 2023

The work around that works for me is to check for Read-Only immediately after opening the InDesign file. IF it is Read-Only, I close the file, then Open it As A Copy. When the file opens, as "Untitled," I Save. The Save As window opens, and 

the original name of the file usually populates the File Name field. I double check to ensure I am saving with the correct file name. Then I work as usual, making changes, and doing a Save often. So far, this has allowed me to keep the same file with the same name and not do a Save As with a modified file name.  

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Explorer ,
Apr 12, 2023 Apr 12, 2023

Yes, but we shouldn't have to worry about a "work-around".... I can't tell you how many times, under pressure situations, where one of us opens a file, and begins working, and two hours later, we notice the "read-only" tag...and are forced to do a "Save-as"..... creating multiple files and the dangerous situations that go along with having mulitple files.....we should not have to do this.

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Explorer ,
Apr 12, 2023 Apr 12, 2023

Gosh that's such an arduous workaround, but it will have to do for now - thank you for sharing this!!!

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Explorer ,
Apr 12, 2023 Apr 12, 2023

I find if I close a file that opened as Read Only and then open the same file again it will open okay, without having to save another version or a copy - that's if I notice the 'Read Only' in time. 

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Explorer ,
Apr 12, 2023 Apr 12, 2023

Yes, we have been doing that for 6 months now.

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New Here ,
Apr 12, 2023 Apr 12, 2023

Same Read Only issue here.  

Situation: dbl click to open InDesign file from network folder location, InDesign opens then file opens as Read Only

Work-around*: close file and InDesign; Open InDesign then select file to open - performs normally/as expected

*Just tried an experiment - replicated the process above from "Situation" (note: computer is re-started every day but did not restart for this experiment); double-clicked file from folder location, InDesign opens, file opens - NO READ ONLY state. (hmmm?) 

File: working from a template file created Jan 2020, current file started in mid-2022

App: InDesign 2023 (Creative Coud), v. 18.2 Windows

OS: Windows 10 Enterprise, x64 based processor

 

Hope this helps...CO

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Explorer ,
Apr 12, 2023 Apr 12, 2023

How long do we have to settle for "work-arounds" ? another year? This is ridiculous.

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New Here ,
Apr 17, 2023 Apr 17, 2023

I'm also struggling. All my files are located on a server, so for the same document (our main catalogue which I need to update each time there is a change in our assortment). I have 2 "Save As", files going on..... It's so frustating, because I have to remember to save both files, each time I make a change. Just in case I take the wrong file next time...

When will this be fixed on PC @HARSHIKA_VERMA ???

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New Here ,
Apr 18, 2023 Apr 18, 2023

In Preferences > File Handling,  turn off "Always Save Preview Image with Documents". We were running into this issue like everyone else in the replies. Turning this off stopped the "Read Only" problem.

 

lisak57058080_0-1681861993003.png

 

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Explorer ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

no, the problem is still there. 😞

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

Hi,
I'm having the same issue since at least november last year. I tried turning the option off but still no changes...
Adobe should definitely do something as it blocks my colleagues and my work extremely.

We already tried turning off the windows  preview panel in explorer, but this didn't do anything as well.

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

@HARSHIKA_VERMAi am asking you to please notice us about any new information or changes.
Is the development team even still on it, or not?!

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Adobe Employee ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

Hi @Niklas29482630pdzr,

 

We understand it's been a long pending issue and has already escalated the concern to the team. They are definitely aware of the situation our customers are experiencing. This is a high-priority bug for them, and the team is actively working on multiple scenarios related to this issue. The investigation is in progress, and we will update you as soon as we hear any news from the team.

 

Please upvote this uservoice link: https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs/suggestions/45943705-indesign-opens... for better tracking purposes if you haven't done already.

 

Thanks,

Harshika

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

I believe I speak for many when I say that I appreciate you letting us know that the Adobe Team does consider this a high-priority and we haven't been forgotten.

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New Here ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

The issue of read-only documents in InDesign 2023 might be due to file permission settings. To avoid this, you can try changing the file permission settings or check if the document is saved in a read-only location. Additionally, you can try resetting the InDesign preferences or updating the software to the latest version.

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

Hi, already checked this, actually the whole IT Department doesn't know how to solve this... we already tried everything you could imagine 😞

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Community Beginner ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

***THIS IS A BUG IN THE LATEST VERSION OF INDESIGN***

Nothing to do with file permission settings or read-only locations.

It's been there for 6 months now. Just read the comments here.

Is anyone in Adobe actually doing anything about this or not???

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New Here ,
Apr 19, 2023 Apr 19, 2023

Yeah, of course. They fixed it for Apple users (y) 😉 

We PC users are waiting patiently.. 

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Adobe Employee ,
May 08, 2023 May 08, 2023

Hi Everyone,

 

Hope you're doing well!

 

Thank you for being patient, and we are sorry for the inconvenience. Our team would like to connect with one of the impacted customers. It would be really helpful if you could share the Adobe ID, Phone number, location, and preferred time to call you with me over a private message so that we can connect with you in person and try our best to help.

 

This will help our team investigate the issue further.

 

Thanks,

Harshika

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Explorer ,
May 08, 2023 May 08, 2023

I've PMed you 🙂 

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Community Beginner ,
May 08, 2023 May 08, 2023

I'm available to help, can you share your direct contact info to send my details?

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Community Beginner ,
May 08, 2023 May 08, 2023

Months and months of no good news, this is ridiculous.

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New Here ,
May 08, 2023 May 08, 2023

thank you Haeshika, i have sent you a PM 🙂

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New Here ,
May 10, 2023 May 10, 2023

I have the same issue. One thing I found odd is the file that was opened as "READ ONLY" did not create a lock file .idlk Even though it was opened.

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Community Beginner ,
May 12, 2023 May 12, 2023

Go to: System Preferences > Security & Privacy > [unlock the lock icon in the bottom left corner] > Full Disk Access> Add InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator etc., any affected programs. Close program and restart. This worked for me

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