Save/Save as are greyed out, as well as undo and redo. Key commands don't work either.

Report · Jan 26, 2022

I'm running InDesign 2022 17.01 on a Macbook Pro 2019 OS Monterey V 12.1.

I use indesign on this computer every single day with no issues, but today, I am unable to save my projects or use undo/redo. I restarted indesign earlier to address the undo/redo problem and it worked for a while, but eventually was disabled again. At the time, I was able to save my files so I felt comfortable restarting the program. But now, both save and undo/redo are disabled. I was however able to succesfully export, which requires saving. Very strange.

other things that may or may not be related:

- Text boxes in one of my projects are creating duplicate edges and I have to double click them for the text to readjust inside the new parameters. Usually the text adjusts while I drag the box. This is only happening on one of my projects open, while the other is normal.

- Zooming with my fingers on my trackpad is randomly disabling and I have to relaunch the program to fix it. Zoom on trackpad works in other windows on my computer and in other Adobe Programs while this is happening.

As I was typing this, the program went unresponsive after I attempted to package my file as a work around to not being able to save. I got a pop up that said "InDesign is shutting down. A serious error has been detected."

Report · Oct 21, 2024

This just happened to me. 2 hours of work down the drain because i cannot freaking save. It won't even save on exit. WTMF...

By @Amanda36502508dzsz

Even export as IDML isn't / wasn't available?

Report · Jun 17, 2025

I'm having similar issues right now. I have to create a simple cover for a class project. As soon as I add anything to my created file (text, rectangle, etc.) the undo/redo, save, save as, etc. is all greyed out. When I go to close the document, it will ask if I want to save the changes that have been made. If I click yes, it will tell me that the file cannot be saved under a different name, even if I make no changes to the name of the file. It will then ask me again if I want to save the changes I made. All I can do is click "no" and start from scratch. InDesign updated just a day or two ago for me, so I'm not sure what the issue is.

Report · Jul 08, 2025

Same. It keeps hapenning, with different files, too. There doesn't seem to be any specific thing I'm doing except all of a sudden, I notice I can't undo anything, or when I try to save, nothing happens. It's really really annoying. Some other little glitches ... images rendering super-pixelated, selecting fonts taking FOREVER. I thought it was my computer but it's just started, and it's only InDesign acting up.

Report · Jul 09, 2025

Same. It keeps hapenning, with different files, too.

By @jamie7607

What are your InDesign and operating system versions?

Report · Oct 22, 2025

This is also happening to me across multiple InDesign files. I cannot save, save as, undo or redo - using the dropdown or the keyboard. Exporting as an IDML was the only way to prevent a total loss of work. I seem to associate this happening when I use the eyedropper tool - might just be coincidence. Please fix this Adobe!
Running InDesing 20.5 on MacOS 15.7.1