Facing a different issue? Need more help?
System-level issues can cause errors and other unexpected behavior. Before assuming that a document is damaged, we suggest you to run a disk repair utility.
Windows: Check your hard disk for errors
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.
- Ensure that your computer meets the specified system requirements.
- Perform disk clean up to reduce the number of unnecessary files on your drive and ensure that your Windows temporary folder is empty.
- Quit some applications to free up your system's memory.
- Expand your system's RAM, if possible.
If no resolution works, we're here to help!
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. |
File is already open or locked (in use) by another user | Close the file from other applications or user profiles. |
File is password protected or invalid login or password for the file | Ensure that correct login credentials are provided. |
File is placed on a network and the network location is not reachable | Check the network connectivity and try accessing the file again. |
If no resolution works, we're here to help!
- Close the file that is open in another version of InDesign.
- If you are unable to close the file, force close all versions of InDesign or restart your computer.
- If you're facing this issue with file save, try changing the file name and location.
If no resolution works, we're here to help!
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. |
If no resolution works, we're here to help!
InDesign displays an error message when the file is found to be damaged or corrupt and auto-recovers the file.
- The auto-recovered file may have some contents missing or changed.
- The auto-recovery process does not change your original file because it runs on the copy of the file.
If no resolution works, we're here to help!
In addition to the above scenarios, InDesign cannot open a file and recover a file in the following cases:
- Unexpected or unknown errors
- The file is damaged and beyond repair
- The extension of the file you are trying to open is not supported by InDesign
We suggest you to send your files to us and help us investigate into the issue.
See: We're here to help!

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.
If you have a question to ask or an idea to share, come and participate in Adobe InDesign Community. We'd love to hear from you.