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Participating Frequently
February 1, 2024
Question

InDesign blank window when switching displays

  • February 1, 2024
  • 43 replies
  • 14831 views

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.

43 replies

Inspiring
July 11, 2024

Latest version, 19.5, doesn't fix the issue.

New Participant
July 11, 2024

Same issue for me as well.  Not sure for how long but it's been a while.  I thought this was just a bug on my computer.  Good to know I'm not the only one with this issue. Fingers crossed for a fix soon. 

Brave_guide01AC
Known Participant
July 11, 2024

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.

Participating Frequently
June 2, 2025

Yes, I get exactly this problem, too. It's been going on since at least 2019 for me. When I replaced my Intel iMac with a new M4 Mac Mini last year I thought it might go away. I also get strange graphical glitches, odd shapes vaguely representative of the content in my layouts. But now, I aslo get a grey screen if I leave a file open and unattended for just a couple of minutes.

 

It's really not good enough when the cost of a subscription is so high. Considering that this is still happening a year after the original post … well, you can draw your own conclusions from that.

 

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
June 2, 2025

Hi @JPL08,

 

Sorry to hear you're still running into this frustrating issue. I appreciate you sharing your experience. Could you let us know your exact macOS version, InDesign version, and whether you're using an external monitor and a secondary monitor in addition to that(including its model and connection type like type-C or HDMI)?

Also, have you tried the workaround of turning off GPU Performance under Preferences > GPU Performance to see if that helps resolve the issue? Please confirm the requested details so that we assist you further. 

 

Best,
Abhishek

New Participant
July 3, 2024

Same issue here in July 2024 😞

New Participant
June 28, 2024

I have this same issue as well, extremely frustrating

New Participant
June 11, 2024

I have the same issue, Adobe. Would love a fix.

Participating Frequently
May 23, 2024

I'm just not using GPU anymore. I toggled that off. Probably the way I work, I don't notice much difference. I don't use animated zoom anyway, (I just select the area that I want to zoom to), so I haven't had the problem since then (a few weeks ago?). I know this is not helpful to those who rely on GPU features.

I have plenty of other problems though, plugging and unplugging monitors and laptop. Disappearing windows, apps in stage manager not showing up anywhere no matter how many times I drag my mouse over to that edge,  (both on my laptop OR on either monitor), hidden apps that do not open even when I tab through them, etc, etc, etc. After almost 40 years of working on computers, I'm realizing I'm never going to be totally happy with them! 😞 laughing and crying at the same time! 😄

Inspiring
May 23, 2024

The VERY fact that you can flip to CPU and see the art, and then flip back to GPU and it goes blank again just shows that Adobe is STILL failing four years on at working with Apple Silicon. 

New Participant
May 21, 2024

Same issue in our 34 strong design team who are constantly leaving and reconnecting to wacom screens. Very frustrating and we haven't found a work-aroud yet.

Inspiring
May 21, 2024

Adobe seems to have issues with Apple Silicon from the getgo. I wish they'd spend some time and money and figure this out. It's becoming reliably annoying. As always, Photoshop seems to be the only app unaffected by anything Apple throws at Adobe.

Like James Brown says: "I'M MAD!"

New Participant
May 16, 2024

Downloaded the most recent version of InDesign 19.4 yesterday 05.15.24... Running it on my work computer MacBook M1 Pro 16" 2021, Sonoma 14.4.1 OS and having the same issue when closing the laptop to go to a meeting. Once re-opened, all InDesign pasteboards for every opened document is blank. When pressing command A, I see object bounding/text boxes but on a black screen. PLEASE HELP!!!!

leo.r
Adobe Expert
May 16, 2024
quote

Downloaded the most recent version of InDesign 19.4 yesterday 05.15.24... Running it on my work computer MacBook M1 Pro 16" 2021, Sonoma 14.4.1 OS and having the same issue when closing the laptop to go to a meeting. Once re-opened, all InDesign pasteboards for every opened document is blank. 


By @Gary36555096x7dv

 

Do you have the same problem with 19.3? You can revert from the Creative Cloud app:

 

 

Participating Frequently
May 17, 2024

I've had the same issue with previous versions and it's still happening with all of the latest updates. I'm about to throuw Adobe in the trash. Adobe, when are you going to fix this?

New Participant
May 1, 2024

Same issue here unfortunately... Updated MacOS system, no gpu preview and deleted Adobe prefrences. Still the screen turns gray when plugging in and out the hdmi cable which is connected to a LG screen. What can I do to fix this?

leo.r
Adobe Expert
May 1, 2024
quote

Same issue here unfortunately... Updated MacOS system, no gpu preview and deleted Adobe prefrences. Still the screen turns gray when plugging in and out the hdmi cable which is connected to a LG screen. What can I do to fix this?


By @Michiel5FE3

 

Are there any other ways to connect to this display with a different cable (USB-C etc?)

Participating Frequently
May 1, 2024

I have the same problem when connecting via USB-C, so it appears to not be an issue with the type of port. It's a GPU display issue.