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Participant
April 14, 2014
Answered

InDesign CC Shift Key not working

  • April 14, 2014
  • 53 replies
  • 144672 views

Normally I'd just hold the shift key down to resize an image or object in InDesign CC to constrain its proportions. Lately when I try to resize an image, the shift key doesn't do anything anymore. It no longer holds the proportions of the image box. Is there a way to fix this problem or is there a new tool that replaces the hot key shortcut? Transform > Scale is taking way too much time to resize an image to the proper size I need it to be.

Any and all help is very appreciated.

-Jon

Correct answer juarthy

Hello Carol, I posted a fix that worked for me perfectly, it was webroot virus scanning software. I turned it off, and the problem disappeared. I only run it at night, when I’m not working. An apple tech told me virus scan software can interfere with key commands.

Not sure if this is your issue, but hope it helps. My macbook pro was fine, the software wasn’t installed on it, it was the mac pro with the virus scanning software that had the issue.

Good luck

53 replies

Participant
June 24, 2016

I too had this problem. Very frustrating. Shift would not work to lock in proportion control nor would it work for containing locked in vertical or horizontal movement. The Web Root shut off was the one that worked for me too. Thanks a million for the advice.

You don't realize how much you miss the water till the well runs dry.

Participant
March 2, 2016

YES! We just had Webroot Scanning software put on our Macs here just this week and we are having the same issues with constraining proportions among other hot keys issues as well. The security company is working on the issue for us, but until then, just pausing "Secure Keyboard Entry" will fix it.

Participant
March 2, 2016

Hi,

I put my security on Pause as well and it works as it should. Do you know when Webroot is going to have this problem fixed?

thanks!!

Known Participant
March 2, 2016

I think the better question to ask is when Adobe is goign to have the problem fixed.

Participant
February 26, 2016

I have a Mac and was having the same problem with my shift key but once I turned off or Paused Web Root it worked just fine. It's a bit of a pain but nice to have that key working again for much better productivity.

Participant
February 26, 2016

I'm still having this issue with CC 2016 and the only way to fix it is to quit Chrome.  I can't believe Adobe doesn't care to fix an incompatibility with the #1 web browser!  Makes me want to go back to CS5!

Steve Werner
Community Expert
Community Expert
February 26, 2016

It's the Chrome plug-in causing the problem, not InDesign. The plug-in is interfering with the InDesign keystrokes. It's nothing Adobe can fix.

Participant
February 26, 2016

I assumed that since people were having issues with Chrome AND others were having issues with other apps that it was Adobe (only constant thing), BUT low and behold it was the LastPass extention in Chrome.  I'm planning on contacting the developer.  Thanks!

Participant
January 25, 2016

The problem for me was our anti-virus software Webroot, and I need to select Pause Secure Keyboard entry (see screenshot below). I have to do this everyday. I still sometimes encounter the problem and need to shut Chrome down.

Participant
February 3, 2016

Thank you heatherp96076412 – this solution worked instantly for me, my life is now back to normal, this sh1tty thing had been ruining my working pattern for months!

Rubene42
Participant
January 19, 2016

I was having the same problem. In my case, I just turned off Chrome and everything instantly came back. Try something simple like that.

neverdar
Participant
January 25, 2016

rubene42 wrote:

I was having the same problem. In my case, I just turned off Chrome and everything instantly came back. Try something simple like that.

Confirmed - Was having the same issue with InDesign CC, and quitting Chrome fixed it. Even after restarting Chrome, everything is still working.

Not sure what sort of conflict Chrome could possibly be having with Adobe apps, but there you have it.

Participant
December 12, 2015

Select the tool that is not constrained by holding down Shift, then under the Windows menu choose Tool Presets. In the dialogue box for Tool Presets click on the lines in the upper right corner, then select Reset Tool, or Reset All Tools. Your tool(s) will return to their default behavior of being constrained by holding down Shift.

Peter Spier
Community Expert
Community Expert
December 12, 2015

You must be thinking of Photoshop or perhaps Illustrator. There is no Tool Presets option in InDesign.

Participant
December 12, 2015

Yes, I was in Photoshop, having the same issue

On Sat, Dec 12, 2015 at 1:47 PM, Peter Spier <forums_noreply@adobe.com>

Participant
November 13, 2015

11/15/2015 10:56 AM CST

Tried restarting program, restarting computer, trashing preferences, etc.

Shift / constrain function still disabled.

Illustrator CC, Windows 7 professional.

Participant
November 3, 2015

In my case it was Chrome what caused problems. One particular website took control over my InDesign. After closing it everything is back to normal: shift, alt and spacebar. I'm on Adobe CC. Mac OS Maverick. What curious: while shift / alt / spacebar hasn't been responding in InDesign - everything was perfect in Photoshop.

Participant
March 18, 2016

Closing Chrome fixed the issue for me as well. Thx

Participant
August 26, 2015

I have had this problem come up from time to time. Just came up today. All i needed to do was go to Apple menu/Force Quit/Relaunch Finder and shift key is working again.

Hope this helps.

carolb77886673
Participant
August 26, 2015

Thank you for your help with this. In my case, it turns out that it was my

Webroot software that was creating the keyboard problems. I will keep your

email though in case I have additional problems.

thanks