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!

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[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.

[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

[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

[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

[Dani_L_a]

Hi there, is there an update on this, or do we know when the next release is coming out? I am having the same issue with InDesign 2023.

[BobLevine]

Just change the file association in the operating system.

[Dani_L_a]

Hi Bob, as you would see from others above, we have tried this and it does not work for some. Adobe has admitted there is a bug and I am just wondering when to expect this to be resolved. 

[BobLevine]

AFAIK, the only thing that was being worked on is the blank icons which is what the original discussion was about. Your question has nothing to do with that so in the future please start a new discussion when you have a new issue. 

Make sure your operating system is set to show all file extensions (don't depend on it to tell you the file type) and change the file association to InDesign. This is something that's happened in the past and I've yet to hear of any instance where changing it didn't work.

[Dani_L_a]

My issue is the blank icons, which is 100% related to this thread.

How do I do this:

Make sure your operating system is set to show all file extensions (don't depend on it to tell you the file type).

[Dani_L_a]

Actually don't worry, my OS was already set to show file extensions and the file association is correct. Plus everything is fine for other Adobe applications but not InDesign. So I belive this is still a bug. 

[Da7]

Same issue updating to 18.2.1 on Win 10.

I tried to right click and open with the new version as default but doesn't work.

If I assign to open as default with the previous release there is no problem.