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CJoski67
CJoski67
Participating Frequently
September 7, 2021
Answered

Workspace resets to basic each time I open

  • September 7, 2021
  • 8 replies
  • 6364 views

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!

    Correct answer thangdinh989

    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"

    8 replies

    Raindogg
    Raindogg
    Participant
    March 31, 2026

    Well, it’s happening again in March 2026. This is why monopolies are bad. 

     
    Abhishek Rao
    Community Manager
    Abhishek RaoCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    March 31, 2026

    Hi ​@Raindogg,

     

    I can understand how frustrating this is, especially when it keeps coming back even after updates. That’s definitely not the experience we want you to have.

    To begin with, I’d recommend resetting the InDesign preferences manually, as this often helps when the workspace doesn’t load correctly or keeps resetting. You can follow the steps shown in the video at the bottom of this article:
    Adobe InDesign preferences reset guide: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/setting-preferences.html

    If the issue still persists, I’d suggest going through the approaches shared in this similar community discussion, which has helped others with the same problem:
    https://community.adobe.com/questions-671/indesign-constantly-resetting-workspace-889649

     

    Please give these a try and let me know how it goes. Also, when you get a chance, do share the exact InDesign version and OS details so I can check this further with the team if needed.

    Abhishek

    Zen Creative Agency
    Zen Creative Agency
    Known Participant
    April 8, 2023

    I've been having this problem for about 3 YEARS now. No matter what computer I'm using, or how many updates to the Adobe apps are done... this is an ongoing and VER FRUSTRATING PROBLEM.

     

    FIX IT, ADOBE!

      T
      TJBRISTER
      Participant
      March 21, 2023

      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.

        D
        Dani_L_a
        Participating Frequently
        March 22, 2023

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

        T
        TJBRISTER
        Participant
        March 22, 2023

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

        gp432
        gp432
        Participant
        August 30, 2022

        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
        Community Expert
        Peter SpierCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        August 30, 2022

        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.

        D
        Dani-L-a
        Participating Frequently
        September 1, 2022

        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).

          T
          thangdinh989Correct answer
          Participant
          July 28, 2022

          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"

            D
            Dani-L-a
            Participating Frequently
            August 16, 2022

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

            B
            BOOMFLY
            Participating Frequently
            February 1, 2022

            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
            L
            LaurenSol
            Participating Frequently
            October 12, 2021

            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
            Community Manager
            Anshul_SainiCommunity Manager
            Community Manager
            October 14, 2021

            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

            D
            default72cq0khd0rx9
            Participant
            November 12, 2021

            This has just started since the most recent upgrade.

             

            Ashutosh_Mishra
            Ashutosh_Mishra
            Inspiring
            September 7, 2021

            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
            CJoski67Author
            Participating Frequently
            September 7, 2021

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

             

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

            Ashutosh_Mishra
            Ashutosh_Mishra
            Inspiring
            September 8, 2021

            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!

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