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Participant
March 7, 2025
Question

Objects are disappearing and reappearing or locking in my indesign file.

  • March 7, 2025
  • 5 replies
  • 498 views

I have a large file, a 132 page visitors guide that suddenly would not export a certain spread no matter what I did. I spent a lot of time going through the document and got rid of a certain font that was older and thought that maybe the font was corrupted and causing the issue. I thought it was fixed bc it let me export that page but then when I started working on it again the next spread started having objects (images, text, and shapes) just disappear or lock up. I could see them but not edit or click on them. I could go to a different spread and come back and it would look different each time. I could save and close out and open it up and it would be there again and then just disappear again. I tried exporting it as an idml file and reopening it and that did not work. 

5 replies

Dave Creamer of IDEAS
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 13, 2025

You didn't answer the question about your operating system. Also list the EXACT update version. 

 

If you are on a Mac, turn off the GPU preference. 

Disable any OS utilities such as Magnet. The easiest way is to boot in safe mode as mentioned.

Remove/disable any InDesign plugins, such as font managers.

 

 

David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
March 7, 2025

Hi @BriannaStarr333,

 

Just to get a clearer picture, could you let me know which version of InDesign you’re using and the details of your operating system? Also, where is this affected file stored? On a local drive, an external drive, a remote location, or in the cloud? If it’s anywhere other than your local machine, could you try saving it locally and see if that makes a difference?

It would also be helpful to test the issue in Safe Mode to rule out any system-level conflicts. For reference: 
Windows: https://adobe.ly/4i8lneh Safe Mode
macOS: https://adobe.ly/4hcmDfb Safe Mode

Let me know how it goes. Looking forward to your update!

 

^

Abhishek

Participant
March 7, 2025

I am using indesign v 19.5.2. This has been happening since last year. (The guide gets updated every year and I thought I solved the problem last summer, but did not). I have it saved a few places actually, but the one I am working from is on the local drive. I tried following those directions to start in safe mode but I never got an option to start in safe mode. 

Robert at ID-Tasker
Legend
March 8, 2025

@BriannaStarr333 

 

Can you check if you have Alternate Layout activated by accident?

 

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 7, 2025

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.



<"moved from using the community bugs">
Participant
March 7, 2025

Indesign

kglad
Community Expert
Community Expert
March 7, 2025

what app?