"Loosing" keyboard shortcuts (on Windows 11 v18.0)

[Roger Breton]

For the longest time, I always used Ctrl + Shift + D to summon the Links panel, but to no avail, now?

I recently stumbled on some occasions where I could not longer type anything in InDesign. I exited and res-started InDesign and that solved the problem. 

I have been using a Custom keyboard shortcut set for years.

The next thing I plan to try is to use a different keyboard, to see whether problem persists. 

But, earlier, I did visit the Edit > Keyboard shortcut command, in an effort to troubleshoot my problem : I selected the Window menu, and then scrolled down to the Links entry. Sure enough, the default keyboard shortcut was  listed as Ctrl + Shift + D, as expected : I tried placing the cursor in the NEW field and tried typing in Ctrl + Shift + D but nothing appeared. Deleting the default keyboard shortcut worked but I still wasn't able to get InDesign to accept the new keyboard shortcut...

I'll continue to try different things... In case. But it's kind of frustrating?

Same thing seems to happen with capturing screen grabs from InDesign? In the past, I was able to capture any palette, any panel with with SnagIt or Microsoft's own SnippingTool but not anymore? There are instances that I can only capture the entire Document window? It could be my NVIDIA video card, the driver, maybe Windows 11 itself -- who knows.

[Steve Werner]

It could be caused by an application or browser extension which is "stealing" your modifier keys (like Shift, Alt or the Space Bar) causing your shortcuts not to work.

To test for this, reboot your computer. Launch it turning off startup up applications. Open InDesign first before any other applications and test to see if the shortcut now works. It may! If so, you may have an app or extension like a virus checker, for example, which is the culprit. Open up new applications on by one until you find the one causing the problem.

[Roger Breton]

Hi Steve,

I tried restarting Windows -- no difference.

I tried using a different keyboard -- no difference.

I tried switching to the Default InDesign keyboard shortcuts --no difference.

This was working so well until this weekend. No idea what could have possibly changed in my system.

[Barb Binder]

Hi @Roger Breton:

Delving further into @Steve Werner's reply, which is likely the correct answer—are you running anti-virus or anti-malware? Webroot is cited most often as interferring with InDesign's modifier keys, but other apps cause headaches as well. Can you please reboot again, and only open InDesign? Do the shortcuts work again?

If not, take a look specifically at the apps that autoload as soon as your computer starts. 

https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/stop-windows-10-apps-from-launching-at-startup

~Barb

[Roger Breton]

Barb and Steve,

I installed InDesign CC2023 on my Dell Alienware laptop and found the Ctrl + Shift + D shortcut works perfect? So the problem is not in InDesign but on my desktop PC. No, I don't have any antivirus on this machine other that whatever Microsoft supplies in Windows 11.

I'll take a look at the your PC Mag link... 

Thank you so much for your kind help 🙂