InDesign canvas goes white...

[Diana Ch]

Hi everyone! I'm having issues with my indesign. Everytime I want to draw an object, move an object create a new one... the canvas goes all white and I can't really see anything. 

I'm working on MacBook Air, Sonoma 14.7,   InDesign 2025 (20.0.1). I did read that there were similar issues but I thought they have been fixed?

TIA!

[Dana_Davis1941]

InDesign worked fine up until today, now I’m getting white screens when selecting or moving an object. I can’t even place a guide line! I need my rulers as I am using it to create a newspaper. I am not able to select GPU performance, it is greyed out.

Is there another fix? OR How do I fix the GPU issue?

I’m using the following:

Sequoia 15.1.1

Mac mini 2024

Apple M4 chip

InDesign 20.0.1

[Eugene Tyson]

Do you have a program called Magnet installed? Seems to be causing issues for people.

If you do try uninstall it.

-------------------

Is it just this document?

If a document is not behaving well then try 

File>Export 

Choose IDML

Open the IDML in InDesign
Save the file as a new InDesign file with a new name
See if the issue persists.

---

Or all documents?

Try resetting your preferences:

Windows: Start InDesign, and then press Shift+Ctrl+Alt. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
macOS: While pressing Shift+Option+Command+Control, start InDesign. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.
A dialog will appear asking to delete the InDesign Preferences, select 'Yes' on this dialog.
Further info and instructions here if needed:
https://helpx.adobe.com/in/indesign/kb/indesign-preferences-support-file-locations.html

---

Still not working?

Try start your Mac in Safe Mode - does the problem persist?

If it doesn't then another app is responsible and you'll have to find it.

If it does still happen - then reboot in normal mode

---then---

Reinstalling rarely fixes everything - you can do a complete reinstall using the
Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

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Do you have any VPN, firewall, Anti-virus (webroot causes me issues when working in InDesign) - any other info?

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Some users have also reported installing an earlier version of InDesign - so you should be able to select it in CC and install that see if that works ok.

[Oana33942948i6fj]

I woke up this morning to InDesign bugging out. The cursor disappears. When I click anywhere on screen, the screen blinks. When I try to resize a text box, the entire screen goes blank. The program is unusable at the moment. Things I have tried to do in order to fix the problem:

1) I have trashed my preferrences multiple times

2) I have erased and reinstalled

3) I have updated the OS

None have made a difference.

[leo.r]

It looks like quite a few users experience this issue...

Did you try to toggle GPU Performance in Preferences?

Also, what areyour exact versions of InDesign and macOS?

[Oana33942948i6fj]

InDesign 20.01

MacOS Sequoia 15.1.1

I use a monitor that evidently is not GPU compatible.

[leo.r]

Ok I could now reproduce it too after updating to 20.0.1.

Definitely a new bug in this update.

You can roll back to 20.0 in the Creative Cloud app:

[leo.r]

P.S. Turning GPU on MacBook Pro M1 actually did solve the issue for me, which doesn't help you as you don't even have this option available.

[Oana33942948i6fj]

I downloaded 20.0 and I am still having the same issues...

[Oana33942948i6fj]

I downloaded 19.5 and the issue was solved...but I do not look forward to having to "convert" files to the older version.

[leo.r]

I downloaded 20.0 and I am still having the same issues...

By @Oana33942948i6fj

Yes, I can confirm this now, too. While the problem only started after updating to 20.0.1, it didn't go away after rolling back to 20.0. Maybe the 20.0.1 update changes something that affects all 2025 versions? I have no idea. 

Like I mentioned, in my case the problem is solved by enabling GPU performance, but this isn't available to all users.

[Nele38427038cm4f]

Hallo, 

ich verzweifele langsam. Immer wenn ich bei Indesign Objekte bewege flackert mein Bildschirm schwarz, was es fast unmöglich macht Objekte richtig zu platzieren. Ich benutze Windows 11 und die Indesign Version 20.0. Ich hab so viel ausprobiert, meinen Grafikkartentreiber neu installiert und aktuslisiert, indesign geupdated und studenlang nach Lösungen auf Google gesucht. Hat jemand von euch auch das Problem und konnte es irgendwie lösen? Manchmal ist das Problem weg, wenn ich den Laptop neu starte aber im Moment nützt das auch nichts mehr

[Derek Cross]

Untick GPU Performance in InDesign Preferences under the GPU Performance tab, then close and reopen the application.

[Nele38427038cm4f]

Bei Windows gibt es diese Option leider nicht

[royal35274906o0z4]

I Got the same Problem,

but as soon as I unchecked this box and restart the application,
the screen isn't flickering Black anymore, instead it's flickering white now...

[royal35274906o0z4]

Forgot to mention:
Working on a Mac 14.1.2; latest Indesign Version

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi royal35274906o0z4,  

Thanks for reaching out! Could you please share the exact version of InDesign you’re using and the macOS version? Also, does the flickering issue happen with all files or just one specific file?  

If possible, could you share a screen recording demonstrating the flickering when the GPU option is enabled and disabled? This will help us investigate the issue further.  

Looking forward to your response! 

Thanks, 

Abhishek Rao

[leo.r]

Mac 14.1.2

By @royal35274906o0z4

update Sonoma to its latest version, this should fix the issue.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Nele38427038cm4f 

What graphic card? Sometimes the solution is to install older driver - instead of the latest one.

[Sestdiena_5FC1]

I have the same problem - mac OS Sequoia 15.1.1. and Indesign 2025 20.0.1. (Mac. mini M1, 16 GB) Indesign preferences reset. It is impossible to work. I even haven't tables in the document - simple magazine page with text and image.

[Stuckapart]

Did you find a work around for this problem? It seems to be affecting us and many others. 

I couldn't find any solution online to fix this problem yet.

[Sestdiena_5FC1]

I still can't find solution - it's impossible to move objects using mouse, I have to use keyboard arrows or remember coordinates on page and column width in numbers. 
And one more thing - since yesterday, when using text tool, I can't see cursor in the text. 
I know one of my collegues experiencing the same problems sometimes, but not always.

[timplanetzoid]

I have been using InDesign 2025 (20) since the update came out. It has been working fine until today. The program is almost unusable. Every time I drag an object the screen blanks and goes white. The only thing I can see on the screen when I drag an object is an arrow with the X and Y co-ordinates in a grey box. I did not update my Mac or the application prior to this issue occuring. I have reverted to the 2024 Indesign (19). This version works fine.

Does anyone else have this issue? I have tried updating both the OSX and InDesign application but the problem persists. Any fixes please?

[leo.r]

It appears to be a bug introduced in InDesign 20.0.1 (which, I guess, was updated automatically for you). Although reverting to 20.0 doesn't solve the problem.

If GPU Performance is available for you in Preferences, turn it on - this should solve the issue.

Otherwise, reverting to 2024 is the only solution for now.

[timplanetzoid]

Many thanks for this. Unfortunately, there isn't the option for me to alter the GPU performance, so I'll carry on using 2024.

After doing updates, unplugging everything, checking memory usage etc I did think it was probably an update issue. Again thank you for your reply. 🙂

[timplanetzoid]

Seems the issue has resolved. 🙂