Unable to Open InDesign File After 2025 Update

[Visaitus24997955ef1f]

Hi
I'm have a problem with my file. I can't Open file after 20.0 updating.

It just appear coverting file pop-up only. 

So can I back to previous indesign version or can i do anything that make it open again

Thank you. 

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[Phoenix15]

i had a similar problem, it will open some files and not others. You can download InDesign 2024 version and save the file as an IDML format. This may then open in the new version of ID.

[Visaitus24997955ef1f]

Thanks for your responding. 

Just one more question. how I download InDesign 2024 version? because my CC have 2025 verion only. 
Thank you

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi Visaitus24997955ef1f,  

Thank you for reaching out. To download InDesign 2024, open your "Creative Cloud desktop app", find InDesign, click the 'three dots (More actions)', and select 'Other Versions' to install InDesign 2024. Kindly update the discussion if you need further assistance.  

Thanks,  
Abhishek

[Jodi27474561ydhf]

I tried, that, but the only option I have under the 3 dots is to Uninstall...

[toddp60778997]

The new version was causing all kinds of problems for me, too.  I called Tech Support and they said I should downgrade to the previous version because the new release has issues. Thanks for nothing! 😞

[MickyWeirNSU]

This has caused massive problems with a magazine I'm making for work. The 2025 version continuously beachballs and runs stupidly slow. I've had to return to 2024, which has fixed the slowness. However, when it converts the 2025 file back to 2024 it makes a new "Converted" file and I lose ALL of my Share for Review comments from reviewers when I have a Deadline TODAY!

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @michael237228538edhe,

I'm really sorry to hear about the difficulties you're experiencing with InDesign 2025, especially with a critical deadline looming. I understand how disruptive performance issues can be when working on an important project like your magazine.

Please check out the following guides that might help address the slowness and unexpected behavior you've encountered:

• Resolve Slow Performance and Unexpected Behavior
• Troubleshooting Slow Performance in InDesign

Additionally, reverting a 2025 file to 2024 does create a new "Converted" file, which can unfortunately result in losing "Share for Review" comments. If you continue to face this, let us know, and I'll be glad to assist further or escalate the issue to our product team.

Best,
Abhishek

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone, 

Thanks for your reply! I wanted to inform you that there’s a bug logged regarding the issues you're experiencing after the 2025 update, and the product team is already working on a fix. I’ll keep you posted on any updates as soon as they become available.

If you have any other questions or need assistance in the meantime, please feel free to reach out!

Best,
Abhishek

[Palace Lady]

Downgrading back to 2024 didn't do the trick, now that is also crashing!!! Come with a fix fast please, because I'm on a deadline too

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @PalaceLady,

I'm sorry to hear that downgrading didn't solve the issue—especially with a deadline looming. We've got a bug logged for this problem internally, and the product team is actively working on a fix.

In the meantime, it sounds like we need to do some more detailed troubleshooting. Please visit this link: Adobe Support Contact and click on the chat button in the lower-right corner. This will allow us to guide you through the troubleshooting process more efficiently.

Thank you for your patience, and I hope we can get this resolved for you soon!

Best,
Abhishek Rao

[Katherine271708804ko4]

I'm in the same situation as @Palace Lady I had no problem a day ago and now I can't launch InDesign 2025. The instructions that popup are useless. This needs to be considered like a power outage for those of use who rely on Adobe products to stay in business. Please help! Katherine

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for sharing details about the issues you’re experiencing after updating to InDesign 2025. Our product team is currently investigating this, and they are in need of specific InDesign documents that fail to open for testing and resolution.

If you're comfortable, could you please share an InDesign document that is showing this issue? Additionally, please provide the Adobe email ID you’re using to log in to the Creative Cloud Desktop app where the issue is occurring. This will greatly assist the team in diagnosing and resolving the problem as swiftly as possible.

Thank you for your cooperation, and I appreciate your patience as we work towards a solution.

Best,  
Abhishek

[Katherine271708804ko4]

My files worked fine before yesterday. Now InDesign won't launch. It has a pop up that instructs the user to follow the steps below...

Issue

Sometimes, you may experience some access-related permission issues with the Preferences folder while launching InDesign. Following error messages are displayed indicating that InDesign, InDesign Server, or InCopy cannot be opened because the Preferences folder is read-only.

InDesign Windows

InDesign macOS

InCopy Windows

InCopy macOS

As the Preferences folder is not writeable, InDesign cannot start with the Preferences folder in a read-only state.

 In folder paths or names listed in the procedures, replace <user> with your account name and <product> with Adobe InDesign or Adobe InDesign Server or Adobe InCopy.

[leo.r]

My files worked fine before yesterday. Now InDesign won't launch. It has a pop up that instructs the user to follow the steps below...

By @Katherine271708804ko4

What versions of InDesign and operating system? Did it start after updating to InDesign 2025? Did the suggested steps help?

[Marketing1918]

Is this bug related to the problem where IDML files created from InDesign 2025 documents cannot be placed into InDesign 2024 files?  

We are getting an error that states "Cannot place this file.  No filter found for the requested operation"

[CroftonNJ]

Like everyone else I did something I've never done in 30 years of computer use and went back a version... ID2025 is unusable. After that the documents I'd already created in ID2025 were converted without issue. However, just today it decided not to update one of those docs and said that I wasn't signed in to creative cloud, except that of course I am or I would not be here complaining. Going to Help and the only option is to sign out. And the dialog box tells me to upgrade to the latest version for "new features and stability improvements." Were there massive layoffs in the InDesign team? I see lots of complaints here, but no real solution in the 4 to 6 weeks since it became apparent that there is a problem. Adobe usually does better than this.

[leo.r]

Try to log out, then log in again. Also, you can open the doc in InDesign 2025, save as IDML, then open in InDesign 2024.

[CroftonNJ]

I didn't have to go that far. I signed out of my account, which was a nuisance because it forced me to close Photoshop )beta) as well (but not Illustrator, oddly). When I signed back in and relaunched InDesign, at first it wouldn't convert the problem file... just sat there at 0% doing nothing. I left it for 10 minutes before hitting cancel and trying again. It converted on the second go. Will there be an email from Adobe apologising for the ID2025 issues and let us know when they've been fixed?

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for your patience while we investigate the issue, there is an update from the product team which I would like to share. 

The product team has discovered that the affected file contains a phantom link, which unfortunately cannot be deleted or re-linked easily. This issue has been reported in previous versions of InDesign, and I completely understand the frustration it may cause.

To resolve this, I recommend the following steps:

1. Export the document as an IDML file in InDesign 19.5.
2. Reopen the IDML file in InDesign 19.5 (or 20.0) and save it as a new .indd file.

This should help clear the phantom link and allow the file to work properly. If you do not have access to InDesign 19.5, we can help by exporting the IDML for you.

Please feel free to share the .indd document with me, and I can assist in exporting the IDML file if needed.

Let me know how you would like to proceed or if you need any further assistance.

Best,
Abhishek Rao

[HotMetalPress]

Just updated to v20 today.

A magazine that we've been typesetting every month for the past 50 years (really!) , the last 10 years in indesign, recently in v19.5, which works fine...     wont open in v20, it fails the open file, with no error or warning, whilst the dialog box is saying "converting data".

So I've got both 19.5 and 20 installed, file opens in 19.5, not in 20...   on multiple PC's
Tried the idml route, 19.5 crashes when trying to export the .idml  ! 
...I'd love to attach the file for someone to try but it's 324 Mb  (52 page A5 full colour magazine)

...any help appreciated.

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[Olivier Beltrami]

@HotMetalPress  If you can send me a WeTransfer link at any of the addresses of our contact page (https://www.qppstudio.net/coord.htm), I'd be happy to look at it.

Olivier

[BobLevine]

Honestly, I would never think to move a project that large and that long in the making to a new version of InDesign. And, while a bit OT, I hope you have back ups.

[HotMetalPress]

I have 2.9 Terabytes of backups  🙂

[Mike Witherell]

If the file has always worked right before, I would suspect the install of InDesign v20.0. 

Maybe reset v20 preferences or uninstall and reinstall v20 or (if mac) make sure you have permissions happy and security open to this new app.