Turn off the Application Bar in InDesign 2024 on Mac OS

[aalbright]

I figured this out for the 2024 version of Adobe Indesign.

Launch InDesign, and choose a Workspace.

Go to Window --> Application Frame and make sure this is UNchecked.

Go to the upper left corner (to the left of the home icon) and drag the Application Frame down from the top of the screen. The Control Strip should shift up in its place.

Quit InDesign.

Go to this folder: (This has changed, preferences are in an Adobe Indesign folder without the year) Volume > Users > username > Library > Preferences > Adobe InDesign (no year) > Version 19 > en_US > Workspaces

There should be several .xml files in there. Look at the modification dates - the one most recently modified is the one you're using.

Open that file with the Text Editor. (Right click on the file, open with --> Text Editor)

Search for this text: app-container - and it should take you to a line that looks like this toward the bottom:
<app-container-control-bar id="63" origin="346 612" size="669 37" is-closed="false"/>

Change "false" to "true" and save the file.

The pesky Application Frame Bar is gone!

NOTE: If you can't find the text app-container, then you either didn't un-check Application Frame in the menu, or you didn't drag the Application Frame from the top of the screen so that it became a floating palette. Make sure to do those two steps and then quit InDesign.

Also, don't bring back the Application Frame in the Windows menu or you'll have to do this again. Good Luck!

[Mike Witherell]

Why are you doing this?

[aalbright · Accepted solution]

I don't use anything on the Application Frame, and it takes up valuable space, especially on my laptop. Previous versions of InDesign had the option of turning it off, but that option hasn't been available for a while.

[80ad]

Fantastic! Worked as explained. Wasted screen real estate is an irritant. I suppose app interfaces are designed for 27" monitors. But on a 15" MBP and 21.5" iMac I want palettes, tools, etc. to take up as little space as possible. Thanks for posting.

[andrewv53371465]

Because its a complete waste of space.

[Urs374146380fyc]

Thank you so much!