# Install the InDesign plugin

Add the Mestra panel to Adobe InDesign and sign in.

The Mestra panel runs inside InDesign. This page covers the install, sign-in and updates.

In the panel, brands are called **Centres** and flagged formats are marked **Needs a look**. On the web they are **Brands** and **To check**. They are the same things.

## Requirements

| Item            | What you need                                                                 |
| --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| InDesign        | Adobe InDesign 2025 (version 20.0) or later                                   |
| Mestra account  | An organisation, with you as an editor or owner. A viewer can't connect apps. |
| The plugin file | `mestra-indesign.ccx`                                                         |
| Network         | Access to `https://app.withmestra.com`. The panel contacts only that address. |

## Install

The plugin isn't in the Adobe Exchange store yet. You download it from the Mestra web app.

1. In the Mestra web app, open **Organisation** > **Apps** and select **Download for InDesign (.ccx)**. Anyone in your organisation can download it. The page shows the current version.
2. Double-click the file, or open it through Creative Cloud. Adobe's installer adds Mestra to InDesign.
3. In InDesign, open **Plugins → Mestra**.

## Sign in

1. In the Mestra panel, press **Sign in**.
2. The panel shows **Your code** and opens your browser at the Mestra **Connect** page. If the browser can't open, the panel shows a link to open yourself.
3. Check that the code matches. Choose your organisation, then press **Allow**.
4. The panel shows **Signed in as** your name and organisation.

The code lasts 10 minutes. If it expires, sign in again. Nobody copies or pastes a token. **Sign out** in the panel revokes the sign-in.

## Permissions

The panel asks InDesign for these permissions.

| Permission                                                 | Why                                              |
| ---------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Network to `https://app.withmestra.com`                    | To plan layouts and sign in                      |
| Local file system (full access)                            | To save the .indd and PNG files                  |
| Launch process (`http`, `https`, `file`, and `.png` files) | To open the sign-in page and your exported files |

Owners can see and sign out every InDesign sign-in on the **Apps** page in the web app. Everyone else sees only their own.

## Updating

There is no update button in the panel. We email organisation owners when a new version is available. Download the new `.ccx` file from the **Apps** page and install the new file. If InDesign says Mestra is already installed, remove Mestra in Creative Cloud and install again.

## Troubleshooting

| Symptom                                      | Cause                                                     | Fix                                                                                                             |
| -------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "Your role (viewer) can't connect apps."     | You're a viewer in that organisation.                     | Ask an owner to change your role. See [Invite your team](https://withmestra.com/docs/how-to/invite-your-team/). |
| "The code expired. Sign in again."           | The 10-minute code ran out.                               | Press **Sign in** again.                                                                                        |
| "Sign-in was cancelled in the browser."      | **Cancel** was pressed on the Connect page.               | Press **Sign in** and choose **Allow**.                                                                         |
| "You're signed out. Sign in again."          | The sign-in was revoked or ended.                         | Press **Sign in** again.                                                                                        |
| "Couldn't sign in. Try again."               | The sign-in didn't complete.                              | Try again. If it keeps happening, contact [Support](https://withmestra.com/docs/support/).                      |
| "InDesign isn't accepting scripts right now" | A dialog is open, such as a missing links or fonts alert. | Close the dialog and try again.                                                                                 |
| A PNG doesn't open from the panel on a Mac   | The Mac won't open a PNG from a panel directly.           | The panel opens the PNG's folder in the Finder. Open the file from there.                                       |

Still stuck? See [Troubleshooting](https://withmestra.com/docs/troubleshooting/) or [Support](https://withmestra.com/docs/support/).