Some recent InDesign versions offer “Save As” or “Export” to an older InDesign version directly.
Steps:
Notes:
Pros: You will have a 100% accurate visual match. Cons: You are rebuilding the file from scratch. Only viable for documents under 5 pages.
While the IDML method works well, it is not perfect. Because newer versions of InDesign have features that older versions do not, some data may be lost or altered during the conversion. Be aware of the following: how to convert indesign file to older version
What if you don't have access to the newer InDesign at all? You have an old version (like CS6 or CC 2018) and you received a CC 2024 file. You need a middleman.
There are online tools that act as a bridge. Use these with extreme caution. Never upload confidential client work. Some recent InDesign versions offer “Save As” or
✅ Pro tip: Always keep the original newer version file untouched. Work from the IDML copy.