Turn off Application Bar in InDesign 2020 on mac OS

[Dan Byer]

I've been trying to give InDesign 2020 a chance and one thing that's consistently in my way is the big, empty Application Bar. In every previous version, I've always turned off Application Frame and Application Bar under the Window menu, but in ID 2020 the Application Bar option is missing. I have absolutely zero need for this big empty bar that takes up even more space than the Mac menu bar so I've undocked it and just stuffed off the edge of my scree. It's not wasting so much space anymore, but how do you turn it OFF off? 

{Renamed by MOD}

[Frans v.d. Geest]

You don't longer in 2020... 

[Barb Binder]

Hi Dan:

The application bar changed in 2020—icons on the left were removed. And now you can no longer hide the application frame on a Mac, and then hide the application bar like you could in 2019.

2020

2019

If you would like to see that option restored, file a feature request here:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/

~Barb

[mattb31157197]

Wow, that's moronic! Almost every InDesigner I know has their interface set up like your 3rd screenshot. What's the rationale behind force-wasting so much screen space?

[Frans v.d. Geest]

Most, I think close to 90%, users I know have the second option. Who wants to hide the Application bar or Window? Mostly no one.

That said: I miss the icons as they were in 2019!

[mattb31157197]

OK, that's an interesting statistic, then. What did it add, in your opinion? For me, the loss of screen space outweighed the tiny and occasional advantage of clicking those few buttons instead of using the menu.

But even so, now that it's basically empty, who wouldn't want to hide it?

[denbykev]

I've always hidden the applcaition bar / frame on every Adobe app that has this 'feature'…

Maybe 90% of people still have it showning becuase they didn't know they could hide it? 😉 

[Barb Binder]

If you would like to see that option restored, file a feature request here:

https://indesign.uservoice.com/

~Barb

[Srishti Bali]

Hi Dan/ Matt,

So sorry for the inconvenience caused due to this change. This has been raised by a few other users as well and our Product team is currently looking into this. 

I would request if you can upvote this feature request here (https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601021-adobe-indesign-feature-requests/suggestions/38971201-ui...) and stay tuned for updates.

Regards,

Srishti

[aalbright · Accepted solution]

This works for me in the 2021 version of InDesign.

Go to this folder: Volume > Users > username > Library > Preferences > Adobe InDesign > Version > en_US > Workspaces and you should have an .xml file with a filename that ends in "Workspace.xml" - open it with textEdit.

Find the line that looks like this: <app-container-control-bar id="31" origin="-15 -2" size="587 32" is-closed="false"/>
and change the "false" to "true" and then save the file.

[Dan Byer]

Yes! Thank you! It didn't occur to me to try to edit the workspace directly. This worked for me, too.

Notes:

• You may have multiple workspace xml files so be sure to edit the the one you are currently using. If you're not sure, go back to InDesign and save a New Workspace... 
• The id, origin, and size values vary by installation. The key part is the "app-container-control-bar". There will also be one that just says "control-bar," but you don't want to hide that one!

[spaceprobe]

Thanks Dan. Your comment on the differences is much more concise than mine 🙂

[zBob]

Thanks a lot! Indeed, this solution works great in ID 2023!

[urban.space.man]

No longer works in the 2022 version.  Very annoying.

[urban.space.man]

Correction, that tag is in the "Essentials" XML but not the "Start" XML.

[형재5FE1]

It works! been PIA for a long time since they took the option.

[toddb41473913]

THANK YOU! A simple and effective work-around.

[toddb41473913]

This solution works in ID 2023!!!

[Rhys Jolly]

Works perfectly, thanks!