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Participant
January 2, 2020
Answered

Tools Greyed out

  • January 2, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 4544 views

Hi

all my tools Greyed out somehow the only tools that i can use now is type and note tool. i tried everthing came in my mind and its not working.

i am using Indesign 2020 (MAC)

Correct answer Bill Silbert

As has been suggested deleting your InDesign cache files could be the solution. This is not the same as deleting preferences and is usually successful in dealing with interface issues.

To do so on a Mac:

The User Library folder in which InDesign’s cache files are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N).With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the “Caches” folder. Within the Caches folder find and delete the entire folder “Adobe InDesign”. I find that deleting the InDesign cache folder completely leads to a lasting change.

4 replies

Participant
March 23, 2022

At least for me I had the same issue when using the "Edit" button and the objects on the right pane were grayed out.

I had to click "Comment" and use the toolbar at the top

Mainecoonmom_2
Inspiring
September 9, 2021

I had the same problem. Out of the blue (and every other color), my tools except for the type tool became grayed out. Thanks to Bill Silbert (below) for a solution. 

Bill Silbert
Community Expert
Bill SilbertCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
January 2, 2020

As has been suggested deleting your InDesign cache files could be the solution. This is not the same as deleting preferences and is usually successful in dealing with interface issues.

To do so on a Mac:

The User Library folder in which InDesign’s cache files are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N).With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the “Caches” folder. Within the Caches folder find and delete the entire folder “Adobe InDesign”. I find that deleting the InDesign cache folder completely leads to a lasting change.

Participant
March 21, 2023

OMG thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you.......

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2020

A bit more info would be helpful – which OS, did it just happen, "I've tried everything" – tried what?

Participant
January 2, 2020

using Mojave 10.14

tried Troubleshooting 101: Replace, or "trash" your InDesign preferences

everyone said it will work after this but it didn't 

 

Derek Cross
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 2, 2020

Uninstall InDesign, using the drop-down menu in the Creative Cloud app, and then reinstall it it again. If that doesn't work uninstall it again and run Adobe Cleaner before reinstalling InDesign.

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