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Participant
October 17, 2024
Answered

Unable to Open InDesign File After 2025 Update

  • October 17, 2024
  • 9 replies
  • 12219 views

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. 

 

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

Correct answer Abhishek Rao

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I completely understand how frustrating this issue has been.

I wanted to let you know that this issue has been addressed in InDesign version 20.2 and above. If you haven't already, I recommend updating to the latest version of InDesign 2025. Once updated, you should be able to open your files normally without seeing the conversion error or getting stuck at the "converting file" pop-up.

If you're still facing trouble even after updating, feel free to share the file or a screen recording, and I'll be happy to take a closer look with the team.

Thanks again for your patience while we worked through this, and I hope this update helps get things running smoothly again!

 

Best,
Abhishek

9 replies

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Abhishek RaoCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
June 17, 2025

Hi everyone,

 

Thanks for sharing your experiences, and I completely understand how frustrating this issue has been.

I wanted to let you know that this issue has been addressed in InDesign version 20.2 and above. If you haven't already, I recommend updating to the latest version of InDesign 2025. Once updated, you should be able to open your files normally without seeing the conversion error or getting stuck at the "converting file" pop-up.

If you're still facing trouble even after updating, feel free to share the file or a screen recording, and I'll be happy to take a closer look with the team.

Thanks again for your patience while we worked through this, and I hope this update helps get things running smoothly again!

 

Best,
Abhishek

Participating Frequently
June 17, 2025

Six months for a reply from Adobe. How about testing your .x releases more before pushing them and turning everyone into beta testers. I demand more from a subscription model, you already have us, why piss us off?

Participating Frequently
December 18, 2024

I'm having the same problem too. IT updated my computer to Sequoia and I updated ID to 20.x and my Adobe experience went from lightning fast to a block of wood. The combo Sequoia and ID 20.x is horrendous. So... i downgrade my ID to 19.x, and find that every file... I TALKING EVERY ID FILE I OPEN SAYS "Cannot open "xxx.indd" becasue it was saved with a newr verion of Adobe InDesign (20.0). You must use that version or later to open the file. To enable it or to be opened in this version, choos save as InDesign CS4 or later, or export to IDML." then i get to convert or open with the IDML which I rarely ever keep becasue i don't want to confuse the actual file with some second. WHY ARE WE BETA TESTING FOR ADOBE? THIS SHOULD NOT HAPPEN CONSIDERING WHAT WE SHELL OUT ANNUALLY!

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
November 28, 2024

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



CroftonNJ
Participating Frequently
November 16, 2024

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
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 16, 2024

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
Participating Frequently
November 16, 2024

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?

Inspiring
November 7, 2024

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"

Abhishek Rao
Community Manager
Community Manager
October 24, 2024

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



Participant
October 24, 2024

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
Community Manager
Community Manager
October 24, 2024

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



Participant
October 23, 2024

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.

 

 

<Title renamed by MOD>

Olivier Beltrami
Legend
October 23, 2024

@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

Participant
October 18, 2024

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! 😞

Participating Frequently
October 22, 2024

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
Community Manager
Community Manager
October 22, 2024

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:

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

Phoenix15
Known Participant
October 17, 2024

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.

Participant
October 17, 2024

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
Community Manager
Community Manager
October 17, 2024

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