Workspace resets to basic each time I open

[CJoski67]

Since updating to 2021 over a month ago, my workspace keeps resetting.  When I open a file, sometimes it opens with my default, chosen workspace.  Sometimes, however, it opens with no toolbars showing and I have to manually go to Window --> Workspace --> Default.  (Default is the name of the workspace I created with my workspace set as I want it.)  How do I set it so that my chosen workspace is the workspace that always opens?  It's so frustrating to have to open it up nearly every time I open a file because it's not defaulting to that workspace!

[Ashutosh_Mishra]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about your experience. Would you mind sharing version of the OS & InDesign? Have you tried resetting preferences of the app? If not, please try doing that by following steps below:

For Windows 

• Close all Adobe applications. 
• Go to Locations : 
• C:\Users\user\AppData\Roaming\Adobe  
• C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Adobe. 
•  Rename InDesign folders to InDesign.old 
• Launch InDesign from CC. 

For MAC  

• Close all adobe applications 
• Go to Locations:  
• ~/Library/Caches 
• ~/Library/Preferences 
• Rename Adobe InDesign and com.adobe.indesign to Adobe InDesign.old and com.adobe.indesign.old 
• Launch InDesign from the CC 

***Please note that resetting preferences will remove all the custom settings and InDesign will launch with default settings. This way all your old settings will be saved in .old folders and InDesign will recreate new folders with default settings.  

Let us know if that helps.

Regards,

Ashutosh

[CJoski67]

Yes, I have tried that.  It still is not working consistently.

I am using Windows 10, with InDesign 2021, v16.0.

[Ashutosh_Mishra]

Thank you for letting us know. Does updating your app to the latest version(v16.4) help?
If not, please try the steps suggested on this community post & see if they help. Thanks!

[LaurenSol]

I'm also having this problem (in the post here https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-16-4-breaks-workspace/m-p/12370495)

No fix that has been recommended has worked yet.  I've got a brand new laptop with a fresh copy of InDesign (version 16.4) and this keeps happening to me.  It's driving me bonkers 😞 

If I open InDesign first and THEN open a file, it will work for me.  But if InDesign is not opened first, and instead I directly open a file (prompting it to open InDesign and then open the file) the workspace won't properly load. I've tried everything and I just can't understand why this is happeneing? 

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about the trouble you are facing. I would request you to share a few more details like: 

• Operating System
• Does this happen with old documents only or all?
• Where are you saving the files (Network Drive/ System HDD/ Shared Folder on System/ External HDD)?
• Are there any recent changes made to your system? For example, any antivirus, system updates, plugins, or web extensions installed recently.
• A small video demonstrating the issue could be really helpful.

Also, I would suggest you try the following steps:

• Close all Adobe applications and manually reset preferences by renaming the folders from the following locations:
  Windows:
  C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe
  C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Adobe
  MAC:
  ~/Library/Caches
  ~/Library/Preferences
  Rename Adobe InDesign and com.adobe.InDesign to Adobe InDesign.old and com.adobe.InDesign.old and
  launch InDesign from the Creative Cloud app

• Rename the CEP folder to CEP.old from the following location:
  MAC: /Library/Application Support/Adobe
  Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe
• If that doesn't help, rename the UXP folder to UXP.old in the following locations:
  MAC: /Library/Application Support/Adobe
  MAC: ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe
  Windows: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\
  Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe
• If that doesn't help either, uninstall the application using the CC Cleaner tool and reinstall from the Creative Cloud Desktop app.

We'll be looking forward to your response.

Thanks & Regards,

Anshul Saini

[default72cq0khd0rx9]

This has just started since the most recent upgrade.

[Anshul_Saini]

Hi there,

Sorry to hear about that. I would like to know if you have tried the steps suggested above? If it doesn't help, please share the details as asked by me. I'll be happy to help.

Regards,

Anshul Saini

[BOOMFLY]

I am getting this problem too. I have followed all these steps and problem still persists. 

• Operating system: MacOS Monterey 12.2 (iMac)
• It happens to all documents
• I save files to the system HDD (Dropbox area) but same problem when same file is outside Dropbox area.
• Only OS upgrades but it has always happened in the latest version of InDesign.
• Here's a video to demostrate the problem https://www.loom.com/share/c1bcc1a85cdd42f188a26857c6df4cbf

[thangdinh989 · Accepted solution]

My trick is:

- Go to C:\Users\Thang\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\Version 17.0\en_US\Workspaces

- Delete Indesign default workspace (Essentials_CurrentWorkspace)

- Rename "your workspace you created" to "indesign default workspace".

Ex: My workspace's name "thang", after deleting "Essentials_CurrentWorkspace" I change "thang" to "Essentials_CurrentWorkspace"

[Dani-L-a]

Hi there, how I would I do this on Windows?

[Sergio S30359217jk48]

Worked like charm!

[Stefan5k]

Thanks!! For my part it worked deleting "Start_CurrentWorkspace" and rename "name of my workspace" to "Start_CurrentWorkspace".

[Stefan5k]

Ok, only worked the first time opening InDesign.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Stefan5k,

Thanks for the update! Since the fix only worked the first time, could you confirm if you tried the suggestion here in the same thread? https://adobe.ly/43QYUhC

Note: Make sure to take a backup of the preferences before doing the reset.

Looking forward to your update!

^

Abhishek

[Stefan5k]

Thanks for the tip. I'm not able to rename the folders, not even after a restart.
But found out I was using an old version. Didn't get the problem with a newer installed one.

[gp432]

It's not an error condition, but a "feature." Opening an InDesign file directly from its location will open in a "Preview" mode. If the InDesign app is open first, then the file, all will open in "Edit" mode. At least that's how Customer Service explained it to me, after 2 hours of support, program cleaning, and fresh re-install (ugh). It's a very pointless feature in my opinion, and one that is not present in Illustrator. Adobe, can we have the option do de-activeate this condition, or just get rid of it all together? I mean, what is the point of "View" mode? I only open InDesign files to do actual work (edit).

InDesign 17.4 x64

Windows 10 Pro x64

[Peter Spier]

Customer service has no idea what they are talking about. InDesign files always open as editable files, whether the app is previously open or not.

Preview mode is a display option that hides non-printing elem,ents and gives you a betrter idea of how your file will output.

[Dani-L-a]

That is odd because I am experiencing the same issue and I have followed all the steps that @gp432 did so maybe it is a bug in the 17.0+ udpate that is occurring for some users (I did not have this issue at any point with InDesign 16).

[TJBRISTER]

AARGH. I have been fighting with this same issue for the last two months. Every Adobe CC app is randomly doing this. Sometimes, I'll open Photoshop (for example) and my workspace panels are all there. But usually they are completely gone. Same for InDesign and Illustrator. I've deleted prefrences, uninstalled/reinstalled, removed plugins, rebuilt my workspace...nothing. This is getting frustrating. I even installed an entirely new user with a fresh install and it's doing it there. I'm on a 2019 16" Macbook Pro with plenty of memory and a maxed out graphics card option. I have scoured the Googles and the Adobes to no avail. Anyone find a solution? My head hurts from banging it against my desk.

[Dani_L_a]

I feel you bro, I still have this issue 18 months later!

[TJBRISTER]

AARGH! That's the worst. Sorry this has been happening to you!

[leo.r]

@TJBRISTER 

it looks like you experience this known issue:

https://forums.adobeprerelease.com/indesign/discussion/2236/panels-dont-appear-when-opening-indesign...

the easiest solution is to select a different Workspace, then switch back to your desired Workspace. it should restore the panels.

[TJBRISTER]

Thank you for that recommendation. Yeah, it's every app, completely random happenings. I usually go to my workspace menu and tell it to reset and everyting comes back. However, it's so random. I do have an external LG display, but I have experienced this behavior when I've been on the go and just on the laptop display. Only started doing this after doing one of the more recent updates. I'm perplexed. It has to be some kind of bug that I hope they fix sooner than later. It's not earth-shattering, but it a very huge annoyance and disruptive enough that I almost cry. 

[Dani_L_a]

This definitely doesn't work for me.