InDesign 2026 doesn't open on Mac

[mhd6]

I get this error when trying to open the new InDesign 2026 version:

"Adobe InDesign 2026.app" is damaged and can't be opened. You should move it to the Trash.

I've tried installing it twice with the same result. I put the InDesign 2025 back and it opens fine.

 

[Barb Binder]

You might try fully uninstalling it using the Adobe CC Cleaner tool (https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/apps/troubleshoot/diagnostics-repair-tools/run-creative-cloud...). Uninstalling from the desktop app is not a full uninstall.

It's also worth noting that's not a great idea to move important work to a brand new version. It's fun to download the new version to play with it, but you really want to continue working on a stable version until at least the .1 release is available. 

~Barb 

[CTK Yonkers]

Barb, as an alternative, Adobe can wait to release a new version until it works properly. Considering the cost of Creative Cloud it's not unreasinable to expect it to function. 

[leo.r · Accepted solution]

That's Apple's pseudo-security inventions acting up again.

Go to System Settings > Security & Privacy, scroll to the bottom: do you see a switch to allow InDesign 2026 to run?

If not, then what's your macOS version?

P.S. Plus everything @Barb Binder said (we were typing at the same time).

[mhd6 · Accepted solution]

This appears to be the issue. Thanks. 

My Mac is running Sequoia 15.7.1

 

[leo.r]

This appears to be the issue. Thanks. 

My Mac is running Sequoia 15.7.1

By @mhd6

Ok good to know it helped.

Obviously, normally this shouldn't happen, and InDesign should open without this error. This error is displayed if the software isn't "notarized" by Apple. In which case the user can allow the app to run by enabling the switch in System Settings you used. InDesign, however, definitely IS notarized. So I don't know why you got this error. Most likely the problem lies with macOS, not InDesign.

[CTK Yonkers]

And IS it full of malware?

[Barb Binder]

Not if you download it directly from Adobe. There are pirated versions out there that are. We can only download genuine Adobe applications directly from Adobe. 

~Barb

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

And IS it full of malware?

By @CTK Yonkers

Only if you are using pirated software. A majority of the problems I've seen are related to either the Apple Mx chips or the GPU. Granted, there shouldn't be problems with either, but then again, I'm not a programmer. I know programming for Macs is like hitting a constantly moving target--has been that way since the early years.

Luckily, I've not see any major issues on either my Mac or my Windows computers. 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @mhd6,

Thanks for sharing the details and the screenshot. Please try the suggestions shared by the experts. Once you've tried the steps, please let me know if the issue gets resolved or if it persists, so I can take it forward.

Looking forward to your update.
Abhishek