InDesign File icons gone after updating to InDesign 2024

[davidfox@charter.net]

I just updated to InDesign 2024 today. I chose the option remove the2023 version but keep my Preferences etc. After installing, all .indd files were not associated with the new InDesign. So I went to "Open With" and selected the new InDesign.exe file. (It did not show up in the initial list and I had to search for it). Now the files will open automatically, but the file icon for all indd files is still the blank white box instead of showing the ID logo.

I have not had the same icon issue after updating both Illustrator and Photoshop to the new versions.

This is on a PC running Windows 10.

[Randy Hagan]

Do the icons show after opening and saving the file within InDesign 2024?

You may have to manually change the file association for your files with Windows 10, not so much to get the files to open but to fully associate the files with InDesign 2024. This link will walk you through doing that with Windows 10 and 11.

Realize that you're working with Brand New Stuff and there may be surprises. Even rude ones. If you have problems, come back here and sound the alarm.

Good luck,

Randy

[davidfox@charter.net]

Yes, once the file has been saved in InDesign 2024, the icon does show up. But not for any of the other files that weren't resaved. BUt there must be a way to force all of the files to have the correct icon.

Interestingly, in the Save or Save AS dialog, the icons DO show up for all Indesign files. But not in Windows Explorer.

[Randy Hagan]

That's where manually overriding the file association process through that link I provided may help.

For what it's worth this is a common occurrence, if not an annual one, when CC apps get updated. The old files were associated with InDesign CC 2023. You don't have IDCC 2023 anymore. So there will be no file association until you provide one.

But I think you can claim first place for finding the first InDesign CC 2024 issue. There's no prize, but you can rightly claim you were the first.

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi davidfox@charter.net ,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. We tested this on the latest build of InDesign 19.0 & Windows 10 22H2 and we were unable to reproduce the issue. Can you try the suggestions shared in this similar discussion and let us know if this helps or if you need further assistance. 

Thanks

Rishabh

[Randy Hagan]

Rishabh, I think you'd have to install IDCC 2024, then uninstall IDCC 2023 from your system to reproduce this. I don't think this is necessarily an InDesign issue. Jus' sayin'

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Thanks for the suggestion, @Randy Hagan Will get this tested and update the discussion.

[davidfox@charter.net]

No, the suggestions in your linked discussion do NOT work, which I had documented in my original post. The indd files ARE now associated with INDesign 2024, but that doesn't fix the icon issue.

[Randy Hagan]

I would say "yeah, sorta."

Yes, Windows knows to open any file with a .indd file (and maybe .indt, .indb and .indl files too) with InDesign CC 2024. But it isn't an InDesign CC 2024 .indd file, as indicated by your icon not showing before you open and save the file, until after you open and save your file, where you can see the InDesign icons once again.

Until you do that, your existing .indd files (and maybe .indt, .indb and .indl files too) are associated with the program that created them — InDesign CC 2023. They would still show InDesign icons, except that you uninstalled the program that created them. That is why the icon is blank. They were created in InDesign CC 2023, and the program those files are associated with isn't installed on your system any longer.

In short, you've told Windows to open any file with an .indd suffix with InDesign 2024. But it isn't an InDesign CC 2024 .indd file until you open and save it in InDesign CC 2024. Since you deleted the software you made the old files with, those files aren't associated with anything — even though you told Windows to open them with InDesign CC 2024 — until the files are opened and saved.

Does that make sense? Not really.

But computers are stupid but eminently logical machines, and none of your files that were created by the program you deleted will be associated with anything until you open the files and save them or you expressly tell Windows 10 to associate those files with InDesign CC 2024.

That's all it really comes down to. Really.

Randy

[davidfox@charter.net]

Yes, it makes sense, except for the fact that other applications that were updated to a new version don't encounter that same issue. Plus, I have updated InDesign to new versions numerous times before without this happening. It is possible that in the past I installed the new version and then uninstalled the old version after the installation, but I don't keep multiple versions installed on my PC.

Bottom line for me is how do I fix this? There must be a way.

[Randy Hagan]

Did you read the link in my first post and follow the directions?

[davidfox@charter.net]

Yes I did. 

[larryr57299291]

I have InDesign 2024 associated with the file extensions, File Manager is showing the file extensions, and i have opened/save the file using ID2024, but none of this fixed the problem of the file icon being blank instead of showing as ID2024. I can associated another Adobe program with the file extension and the icon updates correctly, but setting it back to ID 2024, it returns to being blank.

[Alexandra309279792eh0]

This is the same for me too. I uninstalled 2024 (2023 was already uninstalled), reinstalled and all the associations are set correctly, still no icons. I'm truly at a loss here. 

[Ron Wenaas]

I tried this, but there is no option to set a default for Indesign files. Or any other Adobe programs.

[leo.r]

I tried this, but there is no option to set a default for Indesign files. Or any other Adobe programs.

By @Ron Wenaas

As far as I understand, the just released InDesign 19.0.1 should fix this issue.

[Ron Wenaas]

It must be a gradual rollout... 19.0.1 isn't available on my CC yet.

*Ron Wenaas*
*ron@wenaascommunications.com *
*612-418-7077*

[Peter Spier]

Nothing at all to do with missing icons and file associations, but I find it a bit risk to choose the optiuons to uninstall previous versions (you can't reinstall more than one version back from the current release) and to use the old prefs. Lots of issues here with folks who've recycled prefs from a previous version. Might be a bit of a pain, but worth the rouble to start clean.

[davidfox@charter.net]

Perhaps it was not the best way to do it, but it is an option taht Adobe gives you and it should work properly.

Andoce again, I must point out that updating Photosgopa nd Illustrator did not have the icon problems. I did have to reassociate the files with the new version of the app, but once I did , all the icons show up appropriately for the files. Itr is only InDesign having this problem.

[Peter Spier]

I totally agree it SHOULD work, but things have a habit of going astray, and InDesing is a far more complex program than either Photoshop or Illustrator. Users are particularly likely to get unpleasant surprises when changing versions in the middle of a project in InDesign.

I don't mean to scold you, just to point out that you are taking on more risk than necessary, and cutting off some options for recovery, by choosing convenience.

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your patience. We're able to reproduce the issue on v19 so we have added the details on the Bug and will update the discussion as soon as we hear from the team.

Thanks

Rishabh

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Hi All,

One of the customers is able to fix the issue by changing the file association to 2024. Sharing the verbatim for better understanding-

Finally, I fixed it by installing CC 2023 again. I've changed the file association to CC 2023; the icon was still white-blank. I uninstalled 2023, and again I changed the association to 2024, and the icon appeared!!!

We would request you to please try the solution and let us know if that works for you all.

Thanks,

Harshika

[M_Martin]

Worked for me! Thanks! 

[HARSHIKA_VERMA]

Awesome. Thank you for confirming, @M_Martin. It might help other customers as well. We really appreciate your active response. 

Thanks,

Harshika 

[davidfox@charter.net]

Hi I was the original poster of this issue. Just tried your fix and it also worked for me. Thanks.