Indesign cannot handle the request because a modal dialog or alert is active

[omar5FCE]

I know there are already a few threads in regards to this, however most of them are asking how can they shut Indesign when they get this message.

My problem is that I'm not able to use Indesign BECAUSE of this message and have no idea how to resolve this.

If anybody had my same problem and know how to fix it please help!

Thank you

[Loic.Aigon · Accepted solution]

Have you checked that there isn't any modal dialog open that could be either on a secondary screen or behind the app ? 

Try hiding/closing other apps, reducing indesign main app size and move around. Sometimes, those little dialogs are just a bit sneaky 😉

[omar5FCE]

Thank you! Unfortunately I think is a Adobe issue. It does the same to Photoshop too, I open the program and I have a blank screen (when usually I have all options of a new document size/ or most recent files on PS).

I wonder if it's a cache issue, although on Indesign it does say 'because a modal dialog or alert is active'. I even tried uninstall and reinstall the apps....

[nataliaa1996483]

Any update on this? I am having the same issue.

[Kathy Crowe]

Me too! Every cloud software has the same message. Can't use any of them. Screen shot attached. Get the same thing with any Adobe 2022 program.

[Frans v.d. Geest]

I can literally see the dialog you have to dismiss (or fill in) there in the background!

[Kathy Crowe]

Thanks for response. This is the message in the background (attached). I either quit, or buy (which I have done) or start a free trial. When I close it InDesign quits. I can't open a any file.

[Frans v.d. Geest]

That's right. If your free trial is over after 7 days you will have to buy, or InDesign will quit. If you have already bought InDesign, then sign in first in the Creative Cloud App (Mac: menu, Windows: tray) then start InDesign 😉

[Kathy Crowe]

Thanks for the follow-up. I am with a nonprofit and actually have a one-year subscription that started in November. See attached. Going to wait til Monday when I can talk to a real person. Very sweet of you to follow up. 

[jane-e]

---

@Kathy Crowe wrote:

I ... have a one-year subscription that started in November. 

---

The first thing to try is to sign out, then sign back in to Creative Cloud with the same Adobe ID and PW you purchased with. There are other steps to try in this help page.

https://helpx.adobe.com/manage-account/kb/stop-creative-cloud-trial-mode-after-purchase.html

Jane

[Kathleen2247656133ww]

Thanks. I followed the instructions and it signed me up for a trial membership, which at least will get me through the weekend. Thanks so much!

Kathy

[Kathleen2247656133ww]

Thanks so much. I followed the instructions and it signed me up for a free trial. Will get me through the weekend til I can talk to an actual person. Really appreciate it.'

Kathy

[Kathleen2247656133ww]

Adobe Help just fixed it for me and I have the whole suite back. Great support. Very easy, helpful, patient, and knowledgeable!

[ShainaVand222]

We're you ever able to resolve this? I'm having the EXACT same problem. And it's only inDesign that's doing this to me. Ai and Ps are working fine. I've tried everything from Uninstalling and reinstalling the app, to deleting legacy preferences, to restarting my computer. Nothing works. It's now been a week that I haven't been able to use inDesign on my laptop. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Have you contacted Adobe Customer Service directly? 

[Blair30935544mddi]

I had the same thing. I used activity monitor to force quit InDesign and restarted. Working fine now.

[tony_0089]

Same problem with me. Just started with my paid up ID2024. This new errordoesn't allow me to open any ID file.

[tony_0089]

I have no idea what a modal dialog is.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I have no idea what a modal dialog is.

By @tony_0089

This is an exaple of a Modal Dialog:

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi @tony_0089,

I’m sorry to hear that you’re running into this issue with InDesign 2024. It sounds frustrating, especially when you’re trying to get work done. A “modal dialog” is essentially a pop-up window that requires you to interact with it before you can return to the main program. Sometimes, these dialogs can get stuck or hidden, causing the error you’re seeing.

To help resolve this, I suggest trying the solutions mentioned in these community posts:

https://adobe.ly/4cQoQLm

https://adobe.ly/3MnPVKX

These discussions offer some workarounds that might get you back on track. Let me know if they help or if you need further assistance!

Best,

Anshul Saini

[tony_0089]

Oops, I dropped the conversation

[Shaina_Vanderveer1787]

I had this resolved a few years ago. I tried literally everything I could think of and tried all of the suggestions offered in this thread and nothing worked. In the end, I had to contact Adobe Customer Service, and when their standard suggestions didn't work, I had to set up a meeting with an Adobe Help Expert. I gave them access to my computer so they could go into the back end of my computer and resolve the issue. I got totally lost on how they actually fixed it when they started sifting through buried cache files and other tech support stuff. So, if you're in a similar situation, you may need to do the same thing.