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davidfox@charter.net
Inspiring
December 20, 2019
Answered

InDesign icon on files are generic white box after uninstalling previous version(2019) on Windows 7

  • December 20, 2019
  • 4 replies
  • 7043 views

I installed InDesign 2020 back in Sep or Oct, when it was released. At that time I did not uninstall InDesign 2019. The other day, I installed in the recent InDesign 2020 update and at that time remembered I had never previously uninstalled the old version. So I did the uninstall. Once uninstalled, all the .indd files now no longer have the Indesign icon. The will still open when double-clicked, so I know that the .indd file extension is associated with InDesign 2020, but no icon.

 

Interestingly, I did the exact same thing with Photoshop and Illustrator, but no icon problems there -only with InDesign. Any suggestions on how to fix?

 

{Renamed by MOD}

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Roman36364971usb1

On Windows 10 (InDesign 2024) I fixed the blank white icons by doing the following

 

1. Opened Default appliations in settings

2. Reset all file associations to Microsoft defaults

3. Checked file associations by file type - .INDD showed it did not have an application installed for it (weird) 

4. Right clicked an InDesign file > properties > change > selected Adobe Indesign 2024 and applied (icons still blank)

5. Checked file associations in settings again and it now showed .INDD was associated with InDesign (but icons still blank)

6. Restarted 'Windows explorer' in Task manager

7. Opened Windows explorer again and icons now showed InDesign icon normally

4 replies

R
Roman36364971usb1Correct answer
Participant
March 27, 2024

On Windows 10 (InDesign 2024) I fixed the blank white icons by doing the following

 

1. Opened Default appliations in settings

2. Reset all file associations to Microsoft defaults

3. Checked file associations by file type - .INDD showed it did not have an application installed for it (weird) 

4. Right clicked an InDesign file > properties > change > selected Adobe Indesign 2024 and applied (icons still blank)

5. Checked file associations in settings again and it now showed .INDD was associated with InDesign (but icons still blank)

6. Restarted 'Windows explorer' in Task manager

7. Opened Windows explorer again and icons now showed InDesign icon normally

Rishabh_Tiwari
Rishabh_Tiwari
Legend
March 28, 2024

Hi,

 

Thank you for reaching out and sharing the solution that worked for you. This issue has been reported to our Engineering team, and they are working on a permanent fix. You'll surely see an improvement in future releases. 

Thanks

Rishabh

Srishti Bali
Community Manager
Srishti BaliCommunity Manager
Community Manager
December 27, 2019

David, I would like to know if the steps suggested above worked for you, or the issue still persists.
Kindly update the discussion if you need further assistance with it.

Thanks,
Srishti

D
davidfox@charter.netAuthor
Inspiring
January 2, 2020

I have been on vacation, but no the problem is still not resolved. I have not yet tried uninstalling and reinstalling InDesign because of the time need to do that. I will give it a try when I get the chance. However, I see other people who have posted that uninstalling and reinstalling did not fix this issue..

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Dave Creamer of IDEASCommunity Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2020

You could jump right to the registry cleaner option. However, depending on your internet connection and your admin access, un- and re-installing should be about a 10 minute job.

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
maxwithdax
Community Expert
maxwithdaxCommunity Expert
Community Expert
December 26, 2019

This thread has some things to consider. 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/indesign-file-icons-are-generic-white-box/td-p/10065574

    Srishti Bali
    Community Manager
    Srishti BaliCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    December 20, 2019

    Hi David,

     

    Thanks for reaching out. That sounds like a file assotication error. Please make sure that InDesign 2020 is set as default application for .indd, .indt and .idml files.

    Please follow the steps shared on this help article (https://helpx.adobe.com/in/x-productkb/global/file-associations-broken-uninstall-applications.html) and let us know if this helps.

     

    Regards,

    Srishti

      D
      davidfox@charter.netAuthor
      Inspiring
      December 20, 2019

      That is not the problem - as mentioned, double clicking on an .indd file opens InDesign. Furthermore,looking at the "Associate a file type with an Application" window, it shows  .indd files associated with InDesign 2020. You can see the generic white icon right there.

       

      Interestingly, .idml and .idap files DO have the InDesign icon - but both.indd and .indt files do not. even though both say they are associated with InDesign 2020.

       

       

        D
        davidfox@charter.netAuthor
        Inspiring
        December 20, 2019

        Also, just realized that I never mentioned I am running Windows 7.

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