How to Export Your IDML File from InDesign

You've finished your InDesign layout. Now you need to translate it, have a colleague edit it, or send it to a translation service. The file sitting on your computer right now is likely an .indd file — InDesign's proprietary binary format. But if you want to preserve formatting, enable automated translation, or work with tools outside InDesign, you need to export it as IDML instead.

IDML (InDesign Markup Language) is Adobe's open XML format that breaks your design into structured, editable layers. Unlike .indd, IDML can be read by external tools, edited with code, and reimported without losing styles or layout. If you're translating, collaborating, or using a service like TranslateInDesign, IDML is the format you need.

Here's exactly how to export it.

Step 1: Open Your InDesign Document

Open the .indd file in Adobe InDesign that you want to export as IDML. Make sure the document is final and saved — the export creates a new file; it doesn't modify your original.

Step 2: Go to File > Export

In the top menu bar, click File, then select Export (not "Save As" — that's for INDD only).

A dialog box opens. You'll see a file browser on the left, a filename field at the bottom, and a dropdown for file format.

Step 3: Choose IDML Format and Save

1. In the Format dropdown (near the bottom of the dialog), select Adobe InDesign Markup (IDML).
2. Name your file — for example, brochure-english.idml or catalog-2026.idml. Include a language or version identifier if you're exporting multiple versions.
3. Choose a folder where you want to save the file (Desktop, Documents, or a project folder).
4. Click Export.

InDesign CC Tip: "Export" Not "Save As"

A common mistake: new InDesign users look under File > Save As for the IDML option. It won't be there — Save As only offers INDD and INDT (template) formats.

The IDML export is always under File > Export. Once you pick IDML from the Format dropdown and click Export, the file is written immediately. There are no further dialogs — you're done.

What You Now Have

Your .idml file is a zipped archive of XML files. You don't need to unzip it manually — tools and services read it directly. When you open it in InDesign, it opens just like any other file. When you send it to a translation service like TranslateInDesign, the service extracts the text, translates it, and reimports it into the same IDML structure — preserving every layout detail.

File Naming Best Practice

When exporting multiple versions or languages, use a naming convention that makes it easy to track which file is which:

• brochure-2026-english.idml (source file, original language)
• brochure-2026-spanish.idml (translated file, Spanish)
• brochure-2026-german.idml (translated file, German)

This keeps your exports organized and prevents accidentally uploading the wrong language file.

Translating into an RTL Language?

If you're exporting IDML to translate into an RTL (right-to-left) language — Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, or Urdu — the export process is identical to LTR translations. There are no special export settings to toggle or pre-mirroring required.

When you upload the IDML to a translation service like TranslateInDesign, the service handles RTL reflow automatically: text direction, paragraph alignment, and frame positioning all adjust for RTL layout within the translated IDML. The file opens in InDesign ready to use.

One key gotcha: fonts. Many default fonts (Helvetica, Times New Roman) don't include glyphs for Arabic, Hebrew, Farsi, or Urdu. Before translating, check that your InDesign styles use fonts with RTL coverage — Google Fonts and Adobe Fonts publish multilingual families like Open Sans and Noto Sans that work for RTL scripts. If you see missing-glyph boxes after reopening the translated IDML, reassign those styles to a font with RTL support.

For a complete RTL translation workflow and font strategy, see How to Export InDesign to IDML for Translation.

Next Steps

Your IDML file is now ready. If you're using TranslateInDesign to translate it, simply upload the IDML file to get started — your text will be extracted, translated, and reimported with formatting intact.

If you're sending IDML to a colleague or translator, they'll open it in InDesign just like a regular file. Any changes they make and save will create a new IDML that you can compare against the original.

Ready to translate? Upload your IDML file to TranslateInDesign free →