Co-edit InDesign (beta) documents in real time

Last updated on Oct 26, 2026

Learn how to invite collaborators in Adobe InDesign (beta) to co-edit a shared cloud document and view changes in real time.

Co-editing lets multiple people work on the InDesign (beta) document at the same time. Everyone can make layout and text changes that automatically sync with everyone else. Edit full layouts and text in InDesign (beta) desktop, the right choice for designers making layout changes.

Updates in this release

  • More features supported: AI Assistant, Hyperlinks and Cross-references, MathML, Text Variables, Data Merge, Insert HTML, Place Gun and Content Collector, Generative content, Interactivity, Share for review, and XML.
  • Text editing on the web: Collaborators can edit text in a browser with InCopy on the web (beta).
  • Stability improvements.
Before you begin
  • Ensure all collaborators install Adobe InDesign (beta) version 22.9 to Co-edit a document.
  • Ensure the collaborators have an Adobe ID or create one to receive the invite.

Invite collaborators to co-edit

Open the document in InDesign (beta).

Select the Share icon in the menu bar or choose File > Invite to Co-edit.

If the document is saved in your local system, you will view the Collaborate in real-time (beta) dialog. You can leave the default file name or type a new name and select Continue. The document is now saved as a cloud document (INDDL file).

In the Share document dialog, type each collaborator's name or email address in Add names or emails to invite field.

InDesign Share document dialog opened from the highlighted Share icon, with an invite field, a Copy link button, and an access list showing you and six collaborators as editors.
Manage who can co-edit the document and check each person's role.

Select Invite as Editor. The invited collaborators will receive an email with a link to open the document. You can also select Copy link to share the document with collaborators to edit the document on the web.

Open a shared document

Collaborators can choose an option to open the shared document.

  • Invitation email: Select the link in the invitation.
  • Creative Cloud home or Creative Cloud desktop: Select the bell icon to view your co-editing invitations, then select the notification. You can also select Files > Shared With you to view and open the document.
  • InDesign (beta) desktop app: From the Homescreen, select the document from the Shared with you section, or select File > Open, then select Open from Adobe cloud storage.

Start editing once the document finishes loading. Your changes sync automatically with all collaborators, and you can view the updates in real time without saving or refreshing.

If you want to open the document on web, sign in with your Adobe ID if prompted. The document opens in the browser as an InCopy on the web (beta) document, where you can edit text with other collaborators in real time.

If you’ve shared your document for co-editing, you can view the file from the Your files section of the InDesign (beta) home screen, and your collaborators can view it from the Shared with you section.

See who's editing and what's locked

Open the shared document in InDesign (beta).

While co-editing, you can view the presence icon with a down arrow icon just beside the Share icon. Select that to view the collaborators working in the document. 

InDesign (beta) locks text frames during editing and shows an alert if you try to edit a frame someone else is already working on. This restriction doesn't apply to other elements, such as images or shapes. Multiple collaborators can edit non-text elements at the same time.

Share feedback

Since co-editing is in beta, we'd like to hear from you. Select the presence dropdown next to your avatar in the menu bar.

Select the presence dropdown next to your avatar in the application bar, and then select thumbs-up icon or thumbs-down icon.

InDesign Application bar with the profile icon highlighted and its menu open, showing your name and a Rate collaboration experience option with thumbs up and thumbs down icons.
Share feedback for the Co-edit feature from your presence icon dropdown.

In the Give Feedback dialog, select all the options that apply, and enter additional details in the text box.

Select Adobe may contact me to discuss my feedback, to allow Adobe to follow up on your feedback and then enter your email address in the Enter Email Address field.

Select Submit Feedback.

Share logs to help troubleshoot co-editing

Your logs help the team understand and resolve issues you see during a co-editing session.

Open the CECLogs folder for your operating system. Replace <username> with your user name.

  • macOS: In Finder, choose Go > Go to Folder, and type /Users/<username>/Library/Caches/CECLogs, and then press Return.
  • Windows: In File Explorer, type C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Adobe\Caches\CECLogs in the address bar, and then press Enter.

Compress the CECLogs folder into a ZIP file.

Upload the ZIP file to a file-sharing service you prefer, such as Dropbox, Google Drive, etc. and copy the sharing link.

Share the link with Adobe in one of these ways.

  • Feedback: In the Give Feedback dialog, paste the link in the text box, and then select Submit Feedback.
  • Email: Send the link to sharewithID@adobe.com.

Limitations

  • Currently, co-editing does not support third-party plugins. Data that a plugin adds to a document might not sync between collaborators.

Set up InCopy on the web (beta) to show the Open in InDesign button

Before InCopy on the web (beta) can open InDesign (beta), allow local network and device app access in your browser. Until you do, the Get InDesign button appears.

Once the document opens in the browser as InCopy on web (beta), select the Customize and control Google Chrome icon, then select Settings.

Select the Privacy and security tab, then select Site settings.

In the Permissions section, select Additional permissions.

Change Local network and Apps on device to permission to Allow.

Both settings are required. Without them, InCopy on the web (beta) can’t detect whether InDesign (beta) is installed on your computer.

What you see after you allow both settings

InCopy on the web (beta) checks whether the required version of InDesign (beta) is installed, and then shows one of these buttons.

  • Open in InDesign: InDesign (beta) is installed. Select the button to open InDesign (beta).
  • Get InDesign: InDesign (beta) is not installed. Select the button to go to the installation page.
InCopy on the web (beta) toolbar for the document collaborate-and-review, with the Get InDesign button highlighted next to collaborator avatars. A layout with a text frame being edited by another collaborator appears below.
Select Get InDesign in the toolbar to open the installation page for InDesign (beta).