keyboard shortcuts not working CC 2020

Report · Nov 10, 2019

Hi all,

For some time, however, before updating to the 2020 version, the keyboard shortcuts like "shift + D" to duplicate or "shift + drag" to scale an element proportionally or "option + space" to zoom in no longer work. I tried all the solutions found on the forum but they didn't give results: I restarted the application doing the preferences reset, I deleted the files of preferences and cache, I restarted the mac, I reset the pram, ... I work on macbook pro Mojave. Any suggestions?

Report · Dec 18, 2020

As said - the correct place is the feature page. And that is the only place it's actively monitored. Just because you don't get a response doesn't mean it hasn't been noticed.

What exactly is the issue here? What keyboard shortcut? All of them?

System Shortcuts can override App Shortcuts, for example, some Illustrator shortcuts don't work for me on the Mac, something like CMD H hides Illustrator.

I have to change the System Shortcut in the OS to remove Hide Apps shortcuts.

Another thing is some 3rd party apps can override App shortcuts.

There was a user on here before that had a 3rd party Screen Recording App - anytime they hit a certain shortcut in InDesign the App did something like a Confetti over the screen - some easter egg in the other App.

And lastly - there might be something wrong with InDesign - as the preferences files can become corrupt (it's just a file with code in it that is constantly being written to so somethings can go wrong).

RESET PREFERENCES

Using a keyboard shortcut:

(Windows) Start InDesign, and then immediately press Shift+Ctrl+Alt. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files. ...
(Mac OS) Start InDesign, and then immediately press Shift+Option+Command+Control. Click Yes when asked if you want to delete preference files.

REBUILD CACHE

Close Adobe InDesign.

Mac OS
Users/[user]/Library/Caches/Adobe InDesign/Version [version]/InDesign SavedData
Users/[user]/Library/Preferences/Adobe InDesign/Version [version]/InDesign Defaults
Windows 10
Users\[username]\AppData\Local\Adobe\InDesign\Version [version]\[language]\Caches\InDesign SavedData
Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\Version [version]\[language]\InDesign Defaults

Restart InDesign.

ALL THIS FAILS

Adobe CC Cleaner Tool

https://helpx.adobe.com/ie/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

================================

For the vast majority of users - InDesign (Adobe Apps) work no problem at all.

There are repair solutions that Adobe offer - like the ones I posted above.

Report · Jan 14, 2021

In case we're not on the same page (quite literally), please review EVERYONE's comments here https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/keyboard-shortcuts-not-working-cc-2020/m-p/11752178?page=7#M...

I don't care if this is the right page to post it. We pay a lot of money for Adobe, the monopoly that it is, and we expect patches to be fixed. Particularly when we have to stop our progress, update yet another version, again, only to see more issues, or some not fixed. It's not MS, not tablets for some people, it's Adobe. Please read above. I'm not going to use cleaning tools, I'm not going to rebuild all my preferences because as you can see above or in these 7 pages and counting, the problem is with Adobe software, not on our local computers. I'm not sure what kind of begging we should be doing when these programs aren't free. It's just utterly absurd. I've been using these programs nearly since your infancy. I am persistent in this because we pay so dearly for it.

Report · Jan 14, 2021

Just so you are aware - this is a user to user forum moderated by volunteers not Adobe.

If you read the posts in the thread you listed - many users found the issue to be with Word and Excel (known), so saying "It's not MS" is not entirely accurate.

I have personally seen entire departments (100+ users) experience this issue and we found it WAS Microsoft. It hijacked not only Adobe keyboard shortcuts, but email and MacOS shortcuts as well.

Also cleaning tools, clearing caches, preferences are common solutions for many issues depending on how users have managed their systems. Not many people would upgrade their OS then do a clean install of their apps, so issues can occur.

You can log the bug here if you want:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/

Report · Jan 18, 2021

It seems so many share the same frustration with short cuts suddenly not working after Mac goes to sleep mode, or if Micrsoft programs are used at the same time. I have had this problem FOR YEARS, and at least on 3-4 different MacBooks and Adobe Accounts (Business and personal). Concidering being a loyal customer to both companies for decades a problem like this should not be ignored. The only way I have found to be working is to restart the laptop. Super annoying when being in middle of creative flow and critical deadline. Adobe and Apple, FIX THIS PROBLEM please!!!

Report · Mar 05, 2021

It seems to be the case when anything Office is open the key commands don't work in Adobe. Oh, just great.

Report · Mar 05, 2021

Yep, and what isnt great is that this issue was posted in November 2019 and still no fix. Adobe keeps blaming Microsoft and Microsoft keeps blaming Adobe.

We, the customer, are suffering because of this.

Look, I depend on Adobe Shortcuts to work when I'm on client Zoom calls and I'm drawing quickly. Its hurting my productivity when Adobe shortcuts stop working. My other non-Adobe software like Autodesk Sketch work properly. If these other software work, why cant Adobe program their software to work correctly?

Report · Mar 06, 2021

What OS are you running? What other software are you running at the same time?

I run both Windows and Mac and full Office Suite on both, and full Adobe suite on both - and I have no issues.

It might be unrelated to Adobe altogether. But we need more info.

Report · Mar 30, 2021

HOLY MOLY -- a simple restart fixed all the things.

Wishing you all luck!

Report · Mar 30, 2021

Risa, it might be that when you restarted the Microsoft Office programs closed. Mine, at least is directly related to Office being open.

Report · May 11, 2021

same! also adjusting the frame without content and not scaling proportionally..... grrr!

Report · May 27, 2021

To make them work again, select the type tool. Highlight a text box. Then select the black content arrow tool again. Voila. Keyboard commands should work again.

Been dealing with this for over 5 years. Windows 10.

Report · Jun 30, 2021

You can also just click, for example, the brush size tool and the keyboard shortcuts start working again. This is my "work around" to try to kickstart the keyboard shortcuts again. I has been a while since this bug started, I'm not sure what the fix is. It happens very frequently for us. And yes, we exit as many Microsoft programs as possible, but thats not a fix, thats an Adobe - MS issue to work out.

Report · Jun 30, 2021

Go to Preferences > Labels and Ratings and then click off the check box to use the key to apply ratings

Report · Jun 30, 2021

Which program are you referring to? My InDesign does not have a "Labels and Ratings" section under Preferences. (I'm on Mac, OS 0.14.X

Report · Jun 30, 2021

That was not my original message so I have no idea. But I will say that my
program sure seems to be crashing a lot

Report · Jul 06, 2021

The solution for me was to go to Edit -> Keyboard shortcuts...

Once there, I noticed that the dropdown-value to the right of "Set" (top of the window) was blank. I then selected "Standard" and hit "OK" - and presto; all keyboard shortcuts worked again. I didn't have to quit InDesign, delete prefs, restart the computer, quit other apps, or anything.

Give it a shot. I hope it works out for you.

Best wishes.

Report · Oct 25, 2022

Thank you Soren, your method works for me when I select my InDesign to use my Illustrator's shortkey.

Report · Aug 25, 2021

Ahhhhhhh, help. I restarted this morning my laptop (MAC) and have the same problem with not working shurtcuts and the INDESIGN is slow as never before. What is going on here?

Even if I close everything on microsoft side, it wont work. WTF!! I have deadlines with work and this is just the worst what can happen. AAAAAADOBE please do something to fix this problem!! We are paying money every month that these programs should run properly!!

Report · Aug 25, 2021

So I could eventualy solve the problem. After 2 restarts of the computer, re-installing the new version twice, then it worked. Its a bit time consuming such bugs, I lost about an 1.5h to fix all this. I dont understand that things where working smoothly and all of a sudden, with no updates on my side it went to the roof with problems!

Report · Aug 25, 2021

I have been having the same issue. I found that if I hit this “fn” key and the command key at the same time and hit the shortcut key i need it works!!!!!! Hope this helps !

Sent from my iPhone

Report · Aug 25, 2021

This is a user-user forum - Adobe Staff do post here sometimes but it's not the best place to post bugs or perceived bugs.

The best place to post these are here https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs

As your problem is not widely reported on the forums - I can only suggest it's a local problem - and sometimes files and systems do go wrong. How often I have been working on my computer and it shuts the program, or the whole computer down. Or I plug in a new peripheral and the system goes haywire.

We're working on imperfect systems - with imperfect hardware - and imperfect software.

Things go wrong. And like anything mechanical - we need to maintain them - we need to clean, scrub, oil, polish etc.

It's part and parcel of owning any hardware - or software.

Eugene

Adobe user like yourself (not staff)

Report · Sep 07, 2021

QUIT all running applications and only have Indesign working. The shortcuts will comeback working - it is normally Microsoft Excel that causes this problem

Report · Sep 15, 2021

I've originally posted on this several years ago and came across something today that I can replicate to cause the issue.

I am running Adobe Photoshop 22.4.2 with Adobe Creative Cloud on Windows 10 with Wacom Cintiq. I have MS apps closed. It appears the keyboard shortcuts get disabled when using Adobe Creative Cloud Library Brushes for some reason. I can replicate this by doing the following:

I click on a brush and draw a line. I then click on one of the Adobe Creative Cloud synced Library Brushes (switch my brush) then draw another line. This disables the keyboard shortcuts from this point on. You have to click a menu item to get the shortcuts back as others have pointed out. If I switch the brush to a locally stored brush, not in my Adobe Creative Cloud Library, there is no problem, the keyboard shortcuts function properly when switching brushes. It is only when I use the online Adobe CC Library Brushes that the bug persists.

Maybe this can help us solve this issue, not sure why its related, but it is for me and I can replicate it.

Report · May 06, 2022

Oh yes, STILL A PROBLEM. All these fancy updates, mysterious stability enhancements, but simple essential function, no sir no, please keep paying and enjoying premium software as a service. YUK.

Report · Oct 14, 2022

Had that same issue for months.

Try quiting/restarting Safari.

Seems Safari is conflicting somehow. Hopefully there is an update soon.