InDesign Not Compatible

[Aaron5C23]

Hello!

I'm required to download InDesign (and other Adobe Creative Cloud programs) for a class I'm taking at my university. However, every time I try to download InDesign, it says that my computer is "Not Compatible." Whenever I click on the "Not Compatible" button, I get this message: "If you would like to install InDesign, you must update your system" (I attached an image of the pop-up if that helps)! However, when I go to update my computer, it shows that I'm all up-to-date (I also attached an image of the message). I'm not very tech-savvy, but I'm pretty sure my computer should be compatible with InDesign and other Adobe Creative Cloud Programs. I use a MacBook Air that I got in January of 2016. Let me know if there are any solutions that you know of!

Thanks!

[Dov Isaacs]

What version of MacOS are you running? You may need to update your MacOS version if you are still running the MacOS version that was current when you bought your computer over four years ago.

[CosmicCat7]

Hi - The Adobe website states that InDesign is compatible with my software. This is why I purchased again. Once I got the software - and installed - it stated I had to upgrade?????

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Where did you get those specs? They might have been valid for older versions of InDesign, but not the current version. (Also, note that this thread is from 2020, so any information in it is potentionally outdated.) 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

If you have the newest version if InDesign installed (20.x), uninstall it as it will not work with OS 11. Using the Creative Cloud app, you can install InDesign 19.x, which will work. 

Adobe only allows one version back to be installed, so you might want to either:

• See if Adobe can supply the InDesign 19 installer in case you need to install again. (At some point, even that version will no longer activate.)
• Update your system OS. However, since you specifically mentioned OS 11, if your Mac is too old to update, this won't work.
• Invest in a new computer. 

[Barb Binder · Accepted solution]

Hi Aaron:

Here are the system requirements for InDesign. Start by working your way down the list. If your system falls short of these specs, InDesign will not install.

~Barb 

[Randy Hagan · Accepted solution]

Hi Aaron.

On your Mac, there are actually two places where you can find updates. If you go to your Apple menu>App Store... menu command and check the Updates panel, this will often list only the individual applications within your OS that need updates, not always the MacOS itself. If you return to the Home panel, at the top you will see the opportunity to update to the latest version of the MacOS for your system, with a Download button.

If you open your Apple Menu>Settings menu command and open the Notifications icon, (your first hint might be that there is a red circle at the upper-right of the icon), you may also see a notification to update your operating system.

Before you do that, be advised that any 32-bit applications, or 32-bit applications adapted to run in a 64-bit environment, you have installed on your Mac will be obsoleted by the upgrade to the latest version MacOS Catalina 10.15.6. As long as that isn't an issue, getting your 2016 MacBook Air up to speed with Catalina should let you be able to run Creative Cloud 2020 apps. Not quickly — the minimum requirement for 4GB of RAM is more realistically 8GB with a lot of patience, and preferably a minimum of 16GB to run multiple apps smoothly.

Good luck,

Randy

[Susie229495298xer]

I am having the same issues with my IOs not being compatable.  I am running Sierra and my computer was purchased in 2010.  When I try to update my IOs it says that there are no updates available?

What can be done to update my Adobe Suite to work at home?

[BobLevine]

I'll be blunt here. It's time for a new computer.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Older Macs will stop upgrading if they can't handle the newer OS--this is an Apple issue.

If no OS upgrades are available, either stay with an older version of the Adobe software or get a new system. Assuming you are a student, the latter might be difficult. If you need to use an older version of the software, you might want to get the installer for future installs in case they are not available through the Creative Cloud app. 

<Link Removed By Moderator>

[Barb Binder]

Hi @Susie229495298xer:

From a Mac perspective, you can visit the Apple forum to ask about upgrading the OS: 

https://www.apple.com/ug/macos/how-to-upgrade/

From an InDesign perspective, you can install either of the last two releases: 2021 and 2022. Since this post is two years old, here are the system requirements for 2022:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/system-requirements.html

And the requirements for 2021:

https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/system-requirements/2021.html

If your computer doesn't meet the listed system requirements, you will need to upgrade the computer to run InDesign. 

~Barb

[krystian_9601]

How it is that on the same computer same windows Indesign is working on one installation and it is not working on the other ? Is there a bug ? 

[Eugene Tyson]

Hi Krystian

That’s interesting when you say it’s working on one installation but not the other, do you mean two separate Windows installs on the same machine? Or like, two user accounts? Just trying to get a clearer picture of what’s going on. What exactly happens when it doesn’t work?

What version of Windows exactly? What version of InDesign? 

Any other clues?

[krystian_9601]

Hi,

More details :

Same PC same version of windows. Restored from two different images more software installed etc but the windows update version is the same. 

Version of Indesign is 2025 

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 2009
Installed on ‎21/‎09/‎2021
OS Build 19045.5608

After power cycle it is fine and I am able to install it. 

I really appreciate the quick reposnse 

regards, 

Krystian 

[Eugene Tyson]

Ah the old reboot - standard IT Meme - 'did you try turn it on and off'

If you face more issues do let us know. Feel free to start your own discussions too.