How to Fix Acrobat DC Opening InDesign Files as PDFs
Question details
Users are experiencing an issue where Adobe Acrobat DC incorrectly associates with active InDesign files and attempts to open them as PDFs, resulting in error messages.
- Product
- Adobe Acrobat DC
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening InDesign files after a recent Adobe application update.
- Observed behavior
- Acrobat DC launches by default when trying to open InDesign files and fails to open them, displaying format errors instead.
Make sure to enable visible file extensions in your operating system settings. This will help you verify if your documents are genuinely .pdf files or simply .indd files with an incorrect default application assigned.
Restore Default Application Associations for InDesign Files
Reassign the .indd file extension to Adobe InDesign so that Acrobat stops attempting to open these files by default.
Software updates can sometimes reset or confuse default file associations in your operating system. By manually forcing the .indd extension to open with InDesign, you can resolve the launch errors.
Find one of the InDesign files (.indd) on your computer that is currently displaying the Adobe Acrobat icon.
Right-click on the file. If you are using Windows, select 'Open with' and then click 'Choose another app'. On a Mac, right-click and select 'Get Info'.
Scroll through the list of available applications and select Adobe InDesign. If it is not listed, click 'More apps' or browse your computer to find the InDesign executable.
On Windows, check the box that says 'Always use this app to open .indd files' and click 'OK'. On a Mac, look for the 'Open with:' dropdown, select InDesign, and then click the 'Change All...' button.
Repair Adobe Acrobat DC Installation
Run the built-in repair tool to fix corrupted registry settings or file handlers caused by recent Adobe updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my InDesign files showing a PDF icon?
This happens when your operating system's default file association for .indd files is accidentally changed to Adobe Acrobat. The files have not been converted into PDFs; they are simply displaying the icon of the program currently assigned to open them.
Will changing the default app back to InDesign corrupt my files?
No. Changing the default application only instructs your operating system on which software to launch when you double-click the file. It does not modify the structural data or the format of your InDesign documents.
How do I view file extensions on Windows to verify my documents?
Open File Explorer, click on the 'View' tab at the top of the window, and check the box next to 'File name extensions'. This will allow you to clearly see whether your files end in .indd or .pdf.
Can Adobe Acrobat convert an InDesign file to a PDF automatically?
Acrobat cannot directly open or convert native InDesign (.indd) files on its own. To create a PDF from an InDesign document, you must open the file in Adobe InDesign and use the 'Export' function to save it as a PDF.
