InDesign workspace window is off screen

[Merrijane]

I was using InDesign at work with my laptop connected to my fancy new superwide monitor. Then I came home and tried to open the same files on my laptop without the superwide monitor. The workspace windows are apparently opening up offscreen where I can't see or grab them. I've tried changing the resolution, but can't go small enough to pull the windows into view. I've done a lot of searches on the topic but nothing seems to help or reset the windows and all the solutions provided are from at least a year ago. Any other suggestions?

[Moving from generic Start/Help forum to the specific Program forum... Mod]
[To find a forum for your program please start at https://community.adobe.com/]

[Barb Binder]

Try maximizing the window:

• Mac: click the green circle in the top left
• Windows: double click the title bar

~Barb

[kelwells]

I am having the same issues. There is no top bar with the colored circle to close or minimize. 

[Quercus gambelii]

This problem has been driving me nuts for weeks. Clicking the green circle worked perfectly. Thank you!

[David Popham]

Very frustrating when that happens. Try the following:

1. If you're on a Mac, make sure that InDesign's application window is fitted to your screen by clicking on the green "+" button in the upper left.

2. Reset your preferred workspace by clicking on the workspace button and selecting "Reset WorkspaceName". For example, if you're using the Essentials Workspace, select Reset Essentials.

3. If that still doesn't work, try resetting your monitor resolution to any setting, then changing it back to the current setting.

[kelwells]

Neither of these optins worked for me. Resetting the workspace made the tool bars and such disappear, assumingly to the wherever the rest of inDesign is at

[David Popham]

Can you provide a screenshot of your desktop with InDesign as the active application so that we can get a better idea of what might be happening?

[Essentialbrand]

Thank you. chaning resolution, then changing back works perfectly on Mac Mini M1 running Illustrator 2021 Silicon Beta.

[Barb Binder]

Kelwells: please provide a screenshot, along with your operating system and the version of InDesign that you are using.

~Barb

[amymck27 · Accepted solution]

My workspace was completely off the screen while using InDesign on my macbook pro. (It happened after disconnecting from a larger display monitor.)

I've been searching for an answer and this just worked for me  - In InDesign go to Window and make sure Application Frame is unchecked.  Once I did this the application window popped back in where I was able to resize it.

Hope this helps!

-amy

[KatStellRiver]

Will remember this next time. I restarted the InDesign and that worked too. Thanks!

[Creative120]

thank you Amy! 🙂 x

[ellenk84983410]

Bless you! That solved it immediately. You're my new favorite person. 

[katem58197613]

THANK YOU!  I have resolved this issue (unplugging from my large work monitor & coming home to have "lost" indesign) by using the other methods here but I'd just worked myself into a true panic when I came upon your tip. It worked! You've saved me from going all the way back to the office to finish a deadline project this morning. 

[Lenore!]

This is the only thing that has ever worked for me (after many painful episodes). And it's so easy!!! Thank you! 

[lalalauven]

THANK YOU!!!! i literally was trying to figure this out for so long and last minute i said let me google this, your answer is the ONLY one that worked!!! thank you for preventing me to restart my laptop!!!

[redmyst]

That works to get it back on screen, but then when you adjust it and put it back in the application frame, it goes right back off screen again.  Does anyone know a permanent fix for this, and not just a work around?

[Jeff Topping]

The appication frame locks it into my monitor window (edge to edge, full frame) but when i click back out of it, my ind window is still missing the top part of the frame. (no green, red, yellow buttons to touch). I figured there was a simple key command or setting to re-center the window. Really cant believe that once a window sticks partially outside my laptop window i cant get it back. I have to go into prefs/display/arrangement and move to side-to-side to fix it. I currrently have it top-and-bottom because my external monitor sits above my laptop screen on my desk.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

[jackid41685551]

Ok, this may take some finagling, but none of these options were working for me. I brough up the displays, with both of them hooked up, and started moving the orientation around unitl the top of the window popped back up. Basically rearranging the display locations in regards to each other in the settings on this screen. Worked right away. I lost the top on the middle screen, so I dragged the middle screen up and was able to access that area.

[rosieflores]

Unchecking Application Frame worked for me too! Thanks so much, I'd spent HOURS getting frustrated over this!

[justinky_]

I'm looking under Window and there is no option for application frame. Is this located somewhere else?

[martaCT]

That worked for me. Amazing!
Thank you!!

[elgy03]

I chose Application frame (i.e., it's now checked), and my panels are once again worked as expected. Go figure.

[Randy Hagan]

If you're on a Windows laptop try this:

Press the Windows+Up Arrow keys to Maximize the window. This should pop the entire InDesign document window to fullscreen on your laptop screen. Don't reduce it though, without hooking up to your external monitor unless you don't want to see it and go through this all over again. Alas, there's no exact equivalent in MacOS, but you can try Option+Spacebar keys and see if it works for your Mac laptop. It may, but it's more of a crapshoot.

Good luck,

Randy

[lisa664]

I found my color window to be off the screen and I couldn't get it back.  I had tried resetting the workspace and adjusting my resolutions as advised but no luck. 

What worked for me, on Windows 10 Pro

• Open InDesign - fullscreen
• Open the color window
• Right-clicking on the WINDOWS taskbar
• Select "Show windows side by side"

Good Luck!