Adobe InDesign 16.3.2 Using the Keyboard to zoom (cmd+Space) has stopped working Using the Keyboard to pan (Space bar) has stopped working {Renamed by MOD}

Hi there, Sorry to hear about this trouble. This is really weird. This generally happens when there is a third-party application that has similar shortcuts. Could you please share a few more details like:version of macOSWas it working fine on the previous version?When did this start happening?Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, or web extensions installed recently. Also, please try booting the system into Safe Mode and check how it works there. It starts your system to perform certain checks and prevent third-party software/ services from automatically loading or opening. Thanks & Regards,Anshul Saini

S

shannonc25251716

Participant

Answered

Unable to zoom and pan using keyboard shortcuts in InDesign v16.3.2 on macOS

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
August 10, 2021
10 replies
7776 views

Adobe InDesign 16.3.2

Using the Keyboard to zoom (cmd+Space) has stopped working
Using the Keyboard to pan (Space bar) has stopped working

{Renamed by MOD}

Performance

Correct answer Anshul_Saini

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this trouble. This is really weird. This generally happens when there is a third-party application that has similar shortcuts. Could you please share a few more details like:

version of macOS
Was it working fine on the previous version?
When did this start happening?
Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, or web extensions installed recently.

Also, please try booting the system into Safe Mode and check how it works there. It starts your system to perform certain checks and prevent third-party software/ services from automatically loading or opening.

Thanks & Regards,

Anshul Saini

A

Angus Hume

Inspiring

CMD + Space just stopped working for me on the latest MacOS and InDesign. I had just installed a minor system update and Adobe updates. I've never seen this issue before. Quitting Safari made no difference, but I started closing everything else, and eventually something worked. Unfortunately, I closed the last few without checking, so I'm not sure which did the trick, but it was likely either Whatsapp, Discord, Slack, or Fontbase. However, it seems people are finding different apps being quit as a solution, so I'm not convinced my experience would be consistent.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @AngusHume & @Cecilia5E25,

Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I know how frustrating it can be when trusty shortcuts like CMD + Space suddenly stop working out of the blue.

Since you've recently updated both macOS and InDesign, could you please confirm the exact versions you're currently running? It will help us better understand the setup. As others have mentioned, certain background apps like Safari, Edge, Bridge, Discord, or Slack can sometimes interfere with shortcut keys, especially if they've been granted keyboard or accessibility permissions.

If the issue pops up again, try restarting your system and launching only InDesign first, before opening any other apps. This can help identify if a specific app is causing the conflict. Also, take a moment to check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Input Monitoring and Accessibility to see if anything unusual is listed there that might be intercepting the shortcuts.

If possible, please share a short screen recording showing the behavior. That would be really helpful for further investigation.

Keep me posted if the issue returns.

Abhishek

C

Cecilia5E25

Participating Frequently

I'm working in InDesign 2025 (20.3.1) in Sonoma and my zoom (Command + Spacebar for zoom in/Command + Spacebar + Option for zoom out) had stopped working a few days ago as well, someone else said Safari was interfering with theirs, I did not have Safari open, but I closed out the Microsoft Edge browser which I had been using for CoPilot. Happily, once I closed it out the zoom started working again in InDesign! I then opened Microsoft Edge and CoPilot again and the zoom is still working. So I guess Microsoft Edge just needed to know that I was the one in control and if it tries to mess with me again, I have the power to shut it down! 😄

DonkieHoatie

Participant

So it was Adobe Bridge that caused the problems for me. Turned it off and restarted... everything work correctly now. None of the other fixes were actual fixes.

P

perssongrafisk

Participant

Try close Siri - it worked for me. 🙂

D

defaultws9nhkwo19l7

Participant

The problem occurs erratically so it's hard to tell what action triggered it. It occurs during stable conditions (i.e. no new instals, apps etc) and I haven't noticed any particular pattern in the lead-up. I also had wondered about Safari and will experiment...

A

Autantpourmoi

Known Participant

Same problem with me with monterey 12.3.1 PS23.2.2 , at the first start every thing ok , then if the computer go to sleep mode it happens even sometimes it doesn't need to fall asleep. Can't use the shordut anypore , reached adobe assistance which was crap, they only ask you to reset preferences and reinstall ( really i did already before reaching them and no improve ) ,it doesn't work . Crazy that this bug exist since more then 10 years as i checked all the messages concerning this problem and adobe isn't able to give proper solution ... the only way for me is to restart the computer which is a pain and a real loss of time ..Thanks adobe

Anshul_Saini

Community Manager

Hi @Autantpourmoi,

We are sorry to hear about your experience. As I said above, this generally happens when the third-party application is interfering with InDesign or any other Adobe app. In that case, you may try running the app in Safe Mode and launch the Adobe app only. If the shortcut works fine in Safe Mode, then open other apps one by one, which you usually open, and see which app is conflicting with the Adobe app shortcuts. It is something that cannot be addressed from our side, and it varies from computer to computer & app to app.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

Jeremy AB

Known Participant

I find when this happens that I have Safari open. For some reason it interferes with certain key commands in InDesign. And it makes a difference in which order the apps are launched too. For example (going by memory) if InDesign is launched after Safari then it should be no problem.

J

Jenna257764555yk9

Participant

This completely solved my problem, thank you!

D

defaultws9nhkwo19l7

Participant

I have the same problem, which occurs intermittently. I have tried quitting and re launching, quitting all other apps and nothing fixes the issue other than a complete restart. Im on MacOS Big Sur, using Indesign 17.0.1. MacBook Pro 13-inch, 2020.

The exact problem is that the following keyboard shortcuts suddenly stop working in Indesign:

- Spacebar (toggle to pan tool)

- Command + spacebar (toggle to Zoom tool)

Requires restart to fix.

Any suggestions?

Anshul_Saini

Community Manager

Hi @defaultws9nhkwo19l7,

We are sorry to hear about the trouble you are facing. This generally happens when the third-party application is interfering with InDesign. In that case, you may try running the app in Safe Mode and launch InDesign only. If shortcut works fine in Safe Mode, then open other apps one by one, which you usually open, and see which app is conflicting with InDesign shortcuts.

Also, it can happen due to corrupt preferences. In that case, you may try resetting them (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/indesign-preferences-support-file-locations.html) and see if that helps resolve the issue.
Disclaimer: Please note that resetting preferences will remove all the custom settings, and InDesign will launch with default settings. You can also take a backup of the folders in case you want to. Location is mentioned in the article.

Let us know how it goes. We'll be looking forward to your response.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

Anshul_Saini

Correct answer

Community Manager

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about this trouble. This is really weird. This generally happens when there is a third-party application that has similar shortcuts. Could you please share a few more details like:

version of macOS
Was it working fine on the previous version?
When did this start happening?
Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, or web extensions installed recently.

Also, please try booting the system into Safe Mode and check how it works there. It starts your system to perform certain checks and prevent third-party software/ services from automatically loading or opening.

Thanks & Regards,

Anshul Saini

J

Jeffrey_Smith

Community Expert

Are you using Webroot Secure (virus scanner)? If yes, make sure to "Pause Secure Keyboard Entry"

Bill Silbert

Community Expert

The Key commands to zoom out is not (nor has it ever been) Command-space(bar). Rather to Zoom out (enlarge) use Command = (equal sign) and to Zoom in (reduce) use Command - (minus sign). Holding the spacebar to pan does not work if your cursor is in an active text frame (holding the option key will work to pan within an active text frame). Holding the spacebar will allow you to pan outside of an active text frame.

Holding the Command and Spacebar will access the magnify tool so that you can drag on the screen to enlarge. Adding the option key to that will allow you to drag a reduction.