Are you facing issues while opening or saving InDesign files? Read on to learn about the possible reasons and resolutions.
System-level issues can cause errors and other unexpected behavior. Before assuming that a document is damaged, follow these steps:
Ensure that your system meets the minimum system requirements to run the latest version of InDesign.
InDesign system messages help you determine the cause of the crash by providing a list of problem-causing scenarios. Here are some of the scenarios and their solutions:
Facing a different issue? Need more help?
InDesign cannot open the file when your system does not have enough memory (RAM) to read the file. One of the reasons for less memory can be too many applications open on your computer.
InDesign cannot open a file and displays an error message if you face any of the following access-related issues with the file:
Issue |
Resolution |
Not authorized to open this file or required access permissions are not available. |
Obtain access permissions from the owner of the file and try signing in again. Tip: Before you work on a shared file, create a local copy if possible. |
The file is already open or locked (in use) by another user. |
Close the file from other applications or user profiles. |
The file is password protected or invalid login or password for the file. |
Ensure that correct login credentials are provided. |
The file is placed on a network and the network location is not reachable. |
Check the network connectivity and try accessing the file again. |
InDesign cannot open or save the file when it is already open in another version of InDesign.
InDesign cannot open or save a file when the read or write process is interrupted or if the file cannot be accessed or found.
Following are some scenarios that can cause interruptions to the file read or write process:
File location |
Reason |
Resolution |
---|---|---|
Removable devices (USB stick, external drive, pen drive, and so on) |
Device is not removed or ejected safely from the computer |
Ensure that you safely remove the device after every read or write operation. |
Network location |
Network connectivity is lost |
Ensure your network connection is available. |
Shared location |
Shared file is no longer available |
Ensure that the shared location is accessible. |
InDesign displays an error message when the file is found to be damaged, corrupt, or when it tries to auto-recover the file. Select a tab based on your scenario and follow the troubleshooting steps to try and recover the contents of the document.
When you open a document as a copy, InDesign reads from the original file and opens an untitled copy. If you can open a copy of the document, choose File > Save As, save the copy with a different name than the original document, and use the copy instead of the original document.
Follow these steps to open a document as a copy:
Before you begin troubleshooting, create a backup copy of your damaged document. Some of the following tasks require you to change or delete the document's information.
A backup copy of the document lets you quickly restore information. Move the backup to a local drive if the document is on a network volume or removable media like a CD or jump drive.
If the problem is resolved, continue to use the .idml or .inx file as a replacement of your original document. If the problem persists, move on to the next step.
Force Recomposition of all the stories using the shortcut Cmd-Opt-/ on macOS and Ctrl-Alt-/ on Windows.
Copying page elements into a new document leaves structural (internal) damage behind. If the problem recurs after you copy page elements into a new document, delete elements one by one to see if one of the elements is the issue.
Follow these steps to copy page elements into a new document:
Save the new document to a new name (different from the name of your original document) and try to re-create the problem.
Styles that you created in InDesign or imported with files created in other apps could be damaged. Also, there could be some empty pages and unnecessary elements. To find out if this is the case, delete the styles, pages, and then resave your document.
Follow these steps to delete Character Styles:
Follow these steps to delete Paragraph Styles:
Follow these steps to delete Pages:
If the problem recurs after you delete some pages, delete half of the remaining pages and save the document as a new name. Then try to re-create the problem.
After you determine the page that causes the problem, remove and replace elements on it, including imported graphics, InDesign-drawn objects, and text frames on the page.
To determine if the problem is related to a damaged font, replace all fonts used in the document with a standard font, such as Arial or Times New Roman. If the problem recurs after you change fonts, it is not font-related. If the problem doesn't recur, the original font or fonts could be damaged or outdated. Try reinstalling the original fonts or obtaining updated versions from the font manufacturer.
If all else fails, re-create the document. Make frequent backup copies, and periodically test the document to ensure that imported elements aren't causing the problem.
In addition to the above scenarios, InDesign cannot open a file and recover a file in the following cases:
We suggest you send your files and help us investigate the issue.
If no resolution works, share the affected file with us at idfile@adobe.com. We'll investigate the issue and let you know if the recovery is possible.
When you share your file(s) with us, you not only enable the Adobe team to find a solution to your problem, but also help us improve the overall user experience by identifying and resolving other similar issues.
We assure that your file will strictly remain confidential and will be used only for investigation purposes. Ensure that the file you share does not include any sensitive personal information.
We'll try our best to assist you, but as recovery depends on various factors, we cannot promise a permanent solution.
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