InDesign blank window when switching displays

[karenh74245468]

When having a file open in InDesign 2024 on my Macbook Pro (Sonoma 14.2.1 OS), close the lid, plug into my LG UltraFine external monitor and wake the computer up, the InDesign window is still open and all the tool bars are visible and working, but the area where the artwork is becomes black/blank and I can't see the work. I can see the bounding boxes if I select all, but no image or text. The window is entirely blank. The same thing happens if I'm working on my LG monitor, unplug the display and then open the Macbook to work. I always have my Macbook closed when plugged into the LG display and use both an external keyboard and trackpad. The solution is to always save, quit InDesign and reopen. If I go through that it works again. Is it a bug with Apple? Is it a bug with Adobe?

My LG firmware, OS and Adobe InDesign are all updated to the latest versions.

[mourogerss]

Seeing this as well in March of 2025. Latest versions of macOS and ID. Let's get this fixed, Adobe.

[creativenw]

It feels absurd how long it's been going on; at this point, I don't think Adobe is even checking these discussions. Is there a place to report bugs so their team sees it directly?

[Cecilia5E25]

I believe you can go here to suggest fixes or ideas for improvements:
https://indesign.uservoice.com/

[Andrej22170220438j]

May 2025, MB Pro M2 32GB, issue still persists!
My workaround is to work with an InDesign version from early 2023. 

[k34097905j6ua]

This company is a joke.

[Cecilia5E25]

It does seem to be a problem with the GPU/CPU preview. If you go to View and "GPU Preview" is showing at the top, toggle it to "Preview on CPU." If it's already on "Preview on CPU," try toggling it to "GPU Preview." I can't remembver which one was the one I had to change it to, but it's working for me.

[Cecilia5E25]

Now I went back through and see that others suggested this and it didn't work for them. It's working for me currently, but I don't use animated zoom. I already have enough trouble trying to rein in my magic mouse which takes me places I don't want to be :-D. My magic mouse is one of the banes of my existence. I don't know if my fingers hang over it differently than others but I haven't mastered it in 16 years of using it. I don't hate it because there are positives, but other times, it drives me crazy. Every single one I've had and I've had quite a few. Even when I'm not touching it, pages are flying around, zooming in and out, and lately there are times I can hardly get it to move 😞 and I have three of them.... If anyone remembers seeing a question like this somewhere in this community, feel free to tell me where! Oh I just realized that would be the APPLE community! Sorry 😮

[leo.r]

My magic mouse is one of the banes of my existence...

If anyone remembers seeing a question like this somewhere in this community, feel free to tell me where!

By @Cecilia5E25

I understand your pain. I don't have any suggestions on how to "improve" the Magic Mouse, because I never use them. If you ask me, even most of the cheapest mouses in a dollar store are better than the Magic Mouse because they're at least more ergonomic. Not to mention the plethora of better mice from reputable brands. Other than that, you can try hardware forums at macrumors.com

[gary_3708]

This is typical of Adobe, years go by with no fix, this is a complete joke. Attending Config today and so happy Figma has allowed me to break free of having to rely on Adobe products to do my job. 

[k34097905j6ua]

Each update is another error of something that already worked. Not to mention that this program is getting slower and slower. Processors are getting faster, memory is already reaching 120 GB, and in Adobe there are no changes. After a quarter of a century of working with this software, I am looking for some alternatives because it simply annoys me that I cannot work comfortably.

[barrya]

It's a good thing Adobe wasn't able to buy Figma and turn it into a complete mess.

[Grundoon Groundhog]

Sadly glad to know it's not just me. I have one screen, latest MAC software. I've deleted preferences, deleted and reinstalled the program, and it still happens.

[barrya]

It is ridiculous.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thanks a lot for sharing your experiences and all the details here. I wanted to let you know that the product team is aware of this blank or black window issue when switching displays on macOS Sonoma and has logged it as a bug. The team is actively working on a fix to ensure smoother GPU behavior when connecting or disconnecting external monitors.

In the meantime, toggling the GPU Preview setting or reopening the file, as some of you mentioned, can serve as temporary workarounds. We really appreciate your patience and all the feedback, it's been very helpful for the team to narrow down the cause.

I'll keep you posted once we have an update.

Abhishek

[MonsieurT]

Hi,

This issue seems to have more than a year now... Really upset to have to close/re-open a file every time I switch from mackbook pro only to screen or reverse.

Please put this on top of your to-do list...

Cheers

[Adwiz]

InDesign 2024 on my Mac Studio loses the layout window after a few hours of inaction. If I leave a document open while I go to a meeting or something, when I return the main layout window is just a blank gray screen and no amount of effort brings it back, unless I close the document and re-open it. What gives with this and how can I resolve it? Doesn't happen with any other Adobe apps, just InDesign.

[leo.r]

What are your exact versions of InDesign and macOS?

Also, are you using dual monitors by any chance?

[Adwiz]

Mac Studio is running Sonoma 14.3.1 (23D60). Indesign is 19.4

[leo.r]

First, update to the latest Sonoma - macOS 14.5.x - will it make a difference?

Also, try to toggle the GPU Performance option in InDesign preferences.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @Adwiz,

I'm sorry to hear about the trouble you're experiencing with InDesign. I faced a similar situation yesterday, and as Leo suggested toggling the GPU Preview to CPU Preview brought the layout window back.

Could you please provide some additional details to help us understand the issue better?

• What are your Mac Studio details (model, RAM, CPU)?
• What is the make and model of your external monitor, and what resolution is set in the display settings of your Mac?
• Is the monitor connected via HDMI, DisplayPort, or Type-C?
• Does your Mac Studio go to sleep, and do you see the blank InDesign layout window when you wake it up?
• Have you tried using a different workspace, and does this issue happen with all files?

Thank you for your patience.

Best regards,
Anshul Saini

[Adwiz]

2022 M1 Max Studio with 64Gb RAM

Monitor is an Apple Thunderbolt Display 2560x1440 connected, of course, via Thunderbolt Type-C

The issue happens with all files

Doesn't happen just by going to sleep, but only after leaving the file open and inactive for an extended time, such as a couple of hours or more. 

I've toggled GPU Preview but it didn't help. I've now turned off GPU Preview entirely to see if it makes a difference. I've also updated Sonoma to 14.5, which maybe wasn't smart because now I might not know which of those two changes solves the issue if it does get resolved.

[Adwiz]

Update: After 2 days, the problem has not reappeared. I don't know if it is because I turned off GPU Preview or if it was the update to Sonoma 14.5 from 14.3. I will turn GPU Preview back on to see if that makes a difference.

[00rhodiad]

Not running hardware acceleration on hardware that is explicitly supported is definitely not a solution. Just saying. That's a bug workaround. Hopefully a temporary one. 

[Coby_Bush5451]

Ya, Indesign's been doing this for years with me. It's just a crappy program and they just can't get it right. Everyone I know deals with this. Love how the response is always, "tell me about your hardware and settings..." It's not the hardware, it's the unstable and crappy application.

Call it a feature and up the monthly a few bucks Adobe.

[MLemberger]

This is an excellent summary. The bug in question appears to our team to be completely agnostic with regard to hardware configuration or specific file characteristics. 
Sure would be great if Adobe would devote some effort to quashing it, since it seems to be happening a lot more frequently with the most recent version of InDesign.