InDesign file icon shows blank/white/no thumbnail in ID 18

[Helia24457872v5wh]

After updating Indesign and deleting the previous version, all my files are saved as different versions (not Indesign) I have attached a screenshot of what they are saved as, all the files that are just a white page with a folded corner are supposed to be my indesign folders. I can open them from the indesign app, but I cannot open them straight from the documents folder of my computer or send them as an Indesign file to someone for them to edit on their own computer.

I tried creating a new document on this new version of the app and saving it, and same thing happened. 

How can I get it to save as Indesign file as usual, like with Illustrator and others?

Thanks in advance!

<Title renamed by moderator>

[Kevin Stohlmeyer · Accepted solution]

1. You should enable file extensions:

• In the search box on the taskbar, type file explorer, and in the search results, select File Explorer.

• In File Explorer under View, in the Show/hide group, select the File name extensions check box.

2. Change the default application for the .indd file type.

• Right-click the file and choose Open With > Choose Another App>Select InDesign.

[chad36630000p6d8]

Just wanted to mention for anyone who lands on this page that this does work, even though I had already tried setting Indesign as the default app once I went into file explorer and selected show file name exentions the next Indesign file I once again had to click open with and then choose to always open with Indesign and that fixed it. 

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Did this work for you or are you still having issues?

[aephigirl]

None of these "fixes" work for me - all my Indesign files are blank icons. Help.

[Dani_L_a]

Same

[judithw59989534]

Same here. I'm not sure that any of the answer(er)s actually understand what the problem is. Because double-clicking the blank icon still opens the document in InDesign... it just doesn't show the InDesign icon in the folder, which is only annoying when trawling through trying to find it. I just want the icon to display like it did before. The software works and you can open a document when InDesign is not open by double-clicking it. It'll find the software. It just doesn't display the icon. It's irritating, more than anything. 🙂

[BobLevine]

I understand completely because I had the same issue...white icons. I finally fixed it by editing the registry.

[Spenser328]

Hey it sounds like you actually know what our issues are at work, too! No one else seems to get it. Just seems like a strange visual glitch. What do you mean you fixed it by editing the registry? Could you give some more info what that would mean or how to do it? We would love to get a fix in our office and so far you seem to be the only person with some sort of solution mentioned!

[BobLevine]

Solved: Missing File Icon for InDesign 2021 after installi... - Adobe Community - 11840815

[HARSHIKA_VERMA · Accepted solution]

Hi @Helia24457872v5wh,

Thank you for reaching out. It looks like you're experiencing a similar issue reported here: https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/symbole-aller-indesign-dateien-verschwunden-pc-m....

If so, then it's a known issue, and the team has logged a ticket with the Microsoft team. You'll definitely see the improvements in future releases.

Thanks,

Harshika

[grahamf85247206]

No. Its 2024 and the bug still hasn't been fixed!

[BobLevine]

You just responded to a post from over a year ago. Please start a new discussion with full details on whatever issue you're having and you'll get far more help.

I'm locking this discussion to avoid any further confusion.

[jans45937306]

Hallo zusammen,

ich habe seit geraumer Zeit das Problem, dass alle Indesign-Dateien nur noch ein "Leeres Papier-Symbol" zeigen. Auf Doppelklick öffnen sie sich zwar korrekt in Indesign, aber optisch stört es mich einfach. Alle anderen Programme wie z.B. Photoshop, Illustrator und Co. aus der CS zeigen ihre korrekten Icons.

Die google-Suche führte zu ein paar Lösungsansätzen, die aber alle bei mir nicht funktionierten.

Eine Neuinstallation von Indesign blieb ebenfalls erfolglos.

Kann hier vielleicht jemanden helfen?

Vielen Dank im Voraus,

Jan

[Eugene Tyson]

I can confirm I have this empty paper icon for 2023 too... odd. 

I've tried to change it- it will change to Illustrator/Photoshop - but not to InDesign icon... odd.

[Susan26765999l9fm]

Having this issue after installing 2023 InDesign.  Tried above but did not resolve.  Any other advice?  

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi @jans45937306,

Thank you for reaching out and reporting the issue. I am checking with the team regarding this issue. Could you please confirm if you're experiencing this issue on the previous version of InDesign? 

Does that happen with all files or with a specific file?

@Eugene Tyson, thank you for testing and confirming you're experiencing the issue. Are you also on a windows machine?

I will try my best to help.

Thanks,

Harshika

[Eugene Tyson]

Yes - tested on Windows 10 (up to date 4 November 2022. 

Thanks

[jans45937306]

Hallo Harshika,

vielen Dank für die Unterstützung. Ich habe das Problem schon seit geraumer Zeit (vor ungefähr 6-10 Monaten).

Also auch mindestens schon mit der Vorgänger-Version.

Ja, dass betrifft tatsächlich sämtliche Indesign-Dateien. Wie gesagt, öffnen sie sich korrekt in Indesign und auch sonst sind mir keine Fehler aufgefallen. Lediglich das Icon wird nicht angezeigt. Als ich einmal zu Testzwecken eingestellt habe, dass die Indesigndateien mit Illustrator geöffnet werden sollen, zeigten die Dateien auch das Illustrator-Icon an. Nachdem ich wieder korrekt auf Indesign umgestellt habe, war wieder nur das "LeereSeite.Icon" zu sehen.

Viele Grüße

Jan

[Eugene Tyson]

Same for me 🙂 

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Thank you for sharing the requested info. I checked with the team, and they confirmed this is a known bug and are working on it. 

We'll keep you posted with the update on the bug.

Thanks,

Harshika

[Alana-HL-2022]

Updated my Indesign CC to latest version (18.0) and now my working files are showing up as PDFs. I can still work on them as they are indesign files, but I need to open from Indesign instead of my computer. Does anyone know what is causing this issue or how to fix it?

[Eugene Tyson]

That would be a file association issue.

https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/how-to-change-file-associations/#:~:text=Step%201%3A%20Right....

I believe there is a known issue with InDesign 18.0 on windows shows a blank document icon for InDesign.

So if no icon shows correctly for InDesign, I believe it's being worked on.

[BobLevine]

First of all, you should allow Windows to display all file extensions. That out of the way, Eugene is right, it's a file association issue. You need to change that in Windows.

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi @Alana-HL-2022,

Thank you for reaching out. Yes, as rightly said by our expert, this is a file association issue. Please try the suggestion shared by our experts. 

The team is working on the blank/white thumbnails in the InDesign document, and we'll share the update as soon as we hear back from the team. 

Thanks,

Harshika