User Guide Cancel

Export and Import User Settings in InDesign

Learn to export and import user settings in InDesign.

InDesign provides an option to export and import User Settings, providing users with a smooth and enhanced experience to restore their custom settings if needed.

You can now

  • Export User Settings to a file.
  • Import and apply User Settings from a file.

Export user settings

You can export User Settings to a file.

  1. Go to FileUser Settings > Export User Settings.

    a screen showing the options user settings > import > export user settings
    Import/Export User Settings

  2. Specify the location and a File name.

    The default file name is IDSettings_<version>_<locale>_<platform>_<date (YY_MM_DD)>

    A screen showing the file name

  3. Select Save.

Import user settings

You can utilize your exported User Settings to quickly set up InDesign.

  1. Go to FileUser Settings > Import User Settings.

  2. Select the saved User Settings file.

  3. Select Restart Now to import the User Settings.

Tip:

Keep your settings up-to-date with the latest version for a hassle-free experience.

Scenarios when User Settings can not be imported 

You may not be able to successfully import the User Settings if these were exported from:

  • a different locale.
  • a different InDesign version (latest public version/beta app/pre-release app).
  • a different OS platform.

User settings

You can now export or import these user settings:

User Settings

How to access

  • [Win] Edit > Preferences > General (ctrl + K)
  • [macOS] InDesignPreferences > General (cmd + K)

Window > Workspace > New Workspace

Edit > Menus

Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts

Type > Glyphs

Note:

This feature is only for InDesign.

Limitations

The following values are set to default while you import User Settings:

  • Interface > Live Screen Drawing
  • User Interface Scaling
  • Type > Enable in-menu font previews > Number of Recent Fonts to Display
  • Type > Enable Japanese Font Preview in 'Find More'
  • Type > Sort Recent Fonts List Alphabetically
  • Type > Preview Font on Hover
  • Advanced Type > Type Contextual Controls > Show Adornment on Text Selection/ Text Frame for more Type controls
  • Clipboard Handling > Show Auto Style Option
  • Clipboard Handling > Show Paste Options

More like this

Have a question or an idea?

Ask the Community

We would love to hear from you. Share your thoughts with the Adobe InDesign Community

Get help faster and easier

New user?