What is a .IDLK file?
The .IDLK file extension stands for Adobe InDesign Lock File. This type of file is linked with Adobe InDesign, a popular software used for designing and creating layouts for magazines, flyers, posters, and other types of print and digital media. When you open a project file in Adobe InDesign (which has the extension .INDD), the program automatically creates an .IDLK file. This is a special kind of file that works like a lock.
Imagine you have a diary with a lock on it, and only you have the key. While the diary is locked, no one else can open it and write in it. The .IDLK file does something similar for your InDesign project. It "locks" the project so that only one person can make changes at a time. This is very useful when many people are working together on the same project but are using different computers. It prevents two people from making changes at the same time, which could cause confusion or loss of work.
The name of an .IDLK file is usually made up of the name of the InDesign project it is locking, followed by a random string of characters, and ends with ".idlk". For example, if your project file is named "MyProject.indd", the lock file might be named "~MyProject~xyz123.idlk". Both the project file and its lock file are saved in the same folder on your computer.
You can open .IDLK files with Adobe InDesign 2023. However, you normally wouldn't need to open the .IDLK file itself. It's automatically created and deleted by Adobe InDesign. If you find an .IDLK file but the InDesign program is not running, it might mean the program didn't close properly. In such cases, you can safely delete the .IDLK file. This will remove the "lock" from the project file, allowing you to open it in Adobe InDesign again.
Verification
Our goal is to help people find the most up-to-date information about file extensions for Windows, Mac, Linux, Android and iOS. We researched over 10,000 file extensions and their respective programs that open those files. If you want to suggest edits or updates about .IDLK file formats, example files, or programs that are compatible. Please contact us.