User Guide Cancel

InDesign system requirements

  1. InDesign User Guide
  2. Get to know InDesign
    1. Introduction to InDesign
      1. What's New in InDesign
      2. System requirements
      3. Common questions
      4. Use Creative Cloud libraries
    2. Workspace
      1. Workspace basics
      2. Contextual task bar
      3. Customize your workspace in InDesign
      4. Toolbox
      5. Set preferences
      6. Properties panel
      7. Touch workspace
      8. Default keyboard shortcuts
      9. Undo edits and manage History panel
      10. Document recovery and undo
    3. Generative AI (Not available in mainland China)
      1. Text to Image
      2. Generative Expand
      3. Generate Effect in InDesign (Beta)
      4. Generative AI FAQ
  3. Create and layout documents
    1. Documents and pages
      1. Create documents
      2. Work with parent pages
      3. Work with document pages
      4. Set page size, margins, and bleed
      5. Work with files and templates
      6. Convert PDFs to InDesign files in InDesign (Beta)
      7. Create book files
      8. Add basic page numbering
      9. Number pages, chapters, and sections
      10. Convert QuarkXPress and PageMaker documents
      11. Share content
      12. Understand a basic managed-file workflow
      13. Save documents
    2. Grids
      1. Grids
      2. Format grids
    3. Layout aids
      1. Rulers
      2. Align and distribute objects using rulers
      3. Measure objects using the Measure tool
  4. Add content
    1. Text
      1. Add text to frames
      2. Threading text
      3. South-East Asian Scripts
      4. Arabic and Hebrew features in InDesign
      5. Create type on a path
      6. Bullets and numbering
      7. Insert MathML to create math expressions
      8. Glyphs and special characters
      9. Text composition
      10. Text variables
      11. Generate QR codes
      12. Edit text
      13. Align text
      14. Wrap text around objects
      15. Anchored objects
      16. Linked content
      17. Format paragraphs
      18. Format characters
    2. Typography
      1. Using fonts in InDesign
      2. Kerning and tracking
      3. Scale and skew type
      4. Apply color effects to type
    3. Format text
      1. Format text
      2. Auto Style text
      3. Work with Style Packs
      4. Tabs and indents
    4. Review text
      1. Track and review changes
      2. Add editorial notes in InDesign
      3. Import PDF comments
    5. Spell check and language dictionaries
      1. Check spelling, autocorrect, and dynamic spelling
      2. Create, add, and manage dictionaries and words
      3. Change dictionary preferences
      4. Duden dictionary
    6. Add references
      1. Create a table of contents
      2. Footnotes
      3. Create an index
      4. Endnotes
      5. Captions
    7. Styles
      1. Paragraph and character styles
      2. Map, export, and manage styles
      3. Object styles
      4. Drop caps and nested styles
      5. Work with styles
      6. Leading
    8. Tables
      1. Format tables
      2. Create tables
      3. Table and Cell styles
      4. Select and edit tables
      5. Table strokes and fills
    9. Interactivity
      1. Hyperlinks
      2. Dynamic PDF documents
      3. Bookmarks
      4. Buttons
      5. Forms
      6. Animation
      7. Cross-references
      8. Structure PDFs
      9. Page transitions
      10. Movies and sounds
    10. Graphics
      1. Understand paths and shapes
      2. Draw with the Pencil tool
      3. Draw with the Pen tool
      4. Apply line (stroke) settings 
      5. Compound paths and shapes
      6. Edit paths
      7. Clipping paths
      8. Change corner appearance
      9. Frames and objects
      10. Align and distribute objects
      11. Linked and embedded graphics
      12. Integrate AEM assets
    11. Color and transparency
      1. Apply color
      2. Use colors from imported graphics
      3. Work with swatches
      4. Mix inks
      5. Tints
      6. Understand spot and process colors
      7. Blend colors
      8. Gradients
      9. Flatten transparent artwork
      10. Add transparency effects
  5. Find and replace
    1. Find and replace text
    2. Find and replace fonts
    3. Find and replace glyphs
    4. Find and replace using GREP expressions and queries
    5. Find and replace objects
    6. Find and replace colors
    7. Search options to find and replace
  6. Share
    1. Save and access cloud documents
    2. Organize, manage, and share cloud documents
    3. View and manage versions in cloud documents
    4. Common questions about InDesign cloud documents
    5. InCopy on the web (Beta)
    6. Share and collaborate        
    7. Share for Review
    8. Review a shared InDesign document
    9. Manage feedback
    10. Invite to edit
  7. Export, import, and publish
    1. Place, export, and publish
      1. Publish online
      2. Publish online dashboard
      3. Copy, insert graphics
      4. Export to Adobe Express
      5. Export content for EPUB
      6. Adobe PDF options
      7. Export to HTML5
      8. Export content to HTML (Legacy)
      9. Export to Adobe PDF
      10. Export to JPEG format
      11. Import SVG files
      12. DPS and AEM Mobile overview
      13. Supported File Formats
      14. Export and import User Settings
    2. Printing
      1. Print booklets
      2. Printer's marks and bleeds
      3. Print documents
      4. Inks, separation, and screen frequency
      5. Overprinting
      6. Create PostScript and EPS files
      7. Preflight files before handoff
      8. Print thumbnails and oversized documents
      9. Prepare PDFs for service providers
      10. Prepare to print separations
  8. Extend InDesign
    1. Automation
      1. Data merge
      2. Plug-ins
      3. Capture extension in InDesign
      4. Scripting
  9. Troubleshooting
    1. Fixed issues
    2. Known issues
    3. Crash on launch
    4. Preference folder read-only issue
    5. Troubleshoot file issues
    6. Unable to export InDesign file to PDF
    7. InDesign document recovery

Your computer must meet the minimum technical specifications outlined below to run and use InDesign.

Before you check the system requirements, ensure that your operating system (Windows or macOS) is up to date.

Do you need an earlier version of InDesign? Check out the system requirements for earlier versions.

Find out what's new in InDesign and try the latest features and enhancements.


Your system must meet these minimum requirements to use InDesign October 2024 (version 20.0) release and later.

Processor

  • Multicore Intel processor (with 64-bit support) or AMD Athlon® 64 processor.
  • Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) Support required
Note:

It is not possible to install the 20.x versions on Intel® 3rd Generation of processors or older (as well as older AMD processors).

Operating system

  • Windows 10 (64-bit)
  • Windows 11 (64-bit)

Supported on Windows 10 versions 21H2, 22H2, and Windows 11 versions 22H2, 23H2.

RAM

Minimum 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended) 

Hard disk

  • 3.6 GB of available hard-disk space for installation
  • Additional free space required during installation (cannot install on removable flash storage devices)
  • SSD recommended

Monitor resolution

1024 x 768 display (1920 X 1080 recommended), HiDPI display support

Note: To use the InDesign Touch workspace, you must have a touch-screen-enabled tablet/monitor running Windows 10 or above (such as Microsoft Surface Pro 3) with the screen resolution set to 2160 x 1440 or more

Scalable UI: Minimum monitor resolution required is 1920 x 1080.

Internet connection

Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.1

Processor

  • Multicore Intel processor or Apple silicon/M1/M2/M3.
  • SSE4.2 or higher SIMD engine.
  • Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) Support required
Note:

The 20.x versions will not install on Mac Pro 2013 or older systems.

Operating System

  • macOS version 14.x (Sonoma)
  • macOS version 13.x (Ventura)
  • macOS version 12.x (Monterey)
Note:
  • Support for macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) has been discontinued. Installing the 20.x versions on macOS 11.0 or older isn't possible.
  • The 20.x versions of InDesign are not supported on Rosetta. Mac users can continue to use the 20.0 version on Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac.

RAM

Minimum 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended)

Hard disk

4.5 GB of available hard-disk space for installation.

Additional free space is required during installation (cannot install on a volume that uses a case-sensitive file system or on removable flash storage devices).

Monitor resolution

1024 x 768 display (1920 x 1080 recommended), Retina display support.

Scalable UI: Minimum monitor resolution required is 1920 x 1080.

GPU

For optimum GPU Performance, your Mac should have a minimum of 1024 MB of VRAM (2 GB recommended), and your computer must support Metal.

Metal GPU feature is supported on:

  • iMac 4K
  • iMac 5K
  • MacBook Pro Retina
  • Mac Pro connected to a HiDPI monitor
  • Mac mini connected to a HiDPI monitor

To check for VRAM value, choose Mac About This Mac (Graphics information)

Internet connection

Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services.1

InDesign is not supported on case-sensitive file systems, removable storage devices, and network drives.2

Available language versions

InDesign is available in the following languages:

Dansk

Deutsch

English

Español

Français*

Hebrew*

Hungarian

Italiano

Nederlands

Norwegian

Polish

Português (Brasil)

Suomi

Svenska

Turkish

Ukrainian

čeština

Русский

عربي*

日本語

简体中文

繁體中文

한국어

* InDesign supports Arabic and Hebrew in the following versions with full right-to-left language support and Arabic/Hebrew features:

  • Middle Eastern version with an English interface.
  • North African French (Français*) version with a French interface.

Have a question or an idea?

Ask the Community

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


NOTES:

1. Internet connection, Adobe ID, and acceptance of license agreement required to activate and use this product. This product may integrate with or allow access to certain Adobe or third-party hosted online services. Adobe services are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms of use and the Adobe Privacy Policy. Applications and services may not be available in all countries or languages and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Additional fees or membership charges may apply.

2. Some of the unsupported virtualized or server-based environments include but are not limited to, Citrix Metaframe/Citrix Presentation Server, NVIDIA Grid, Microsoft App-V, VMWare, Parallels, and Virtual PC. "Thin Clients" are also server-based environments. InDesign has a few technical support boundaries for virtualized or server-based environments.

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?