Skip to content

Adobe InDesign: Bugs

When filing a new bug, please provide:

  1. Version of Adobe InDesign, InCopy or InDesign Server
  2. Steps to reproduce the issues
  3. Expected result
  4. Actual result
  5. Test file, screenshot, video or GIF capturing the issue (optional)
If you are facing a crash in InDesign, please submit the crash report as well. How to Submit Crash Report
Join the InDesign Prerelease Program to try out the new features and the bug fixes that are available in beta builds.

  • Hot ideas
  • Top ideas
  • New ideas
  • My feedback

581 results found

  1. iCloud

    When opening files stored on iCloud, most of the time InDesign freezes/crashes (spinning beach ball forever). The file usually opens, but then freezes once you move the cursor around a bit or try clicking a menu, etc. I've tried opening the same files saved to my local drive with no problems. The links in these files also reside on iCloud. If I download the InDesign file first, sometimes it doesn't crash. However, if I have links to update, I have to make sure to update each of them first or InDesign crashes.

    InDesign 19.2.0.46
    macOS Sonoma 14.3.1
    MacBook Pro M3…

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already using it) as it is more robust.

    If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign froze?
    • Video recording of the issue
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  2. Not opening

    I keep running into a bug where InDesign won't open. I click the application, get the first loading screen, and then it disappears and closes. I've tried restarting my computer but the issue persists. The only way I've found to fix it is uninstalling and reinstalling the program. It's a pain to have to do it everyday though.

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already on it) as it is more robust.

    If you still face this issue even after updating, please submit the crash report to us. (Guidelines to submit crash are available at (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/submit-crash-reports.html )

    Also, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign crashed?
    • Video recording of the crash
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  3. InDesign freezes when a new document is created

    InDesign freezes when a new document is created

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already using it) as it is more robust.

    If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign froze?
    • Video recording of the issue
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  4. New document

    When I want to create a new document via the "File" > "New" dialog box, a document setting appears to create a document. The entire program remains stuck. I can then force close In-Design and restart it. As a result, open files are lost. To create a new document I can only open an existing document and save it again as "save as",

    2 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already using it) as it is more robust.

    If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign froze?
    • Video recording of the issue
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  5. Export or Save dialog box partially hangs if you go to another app's window.

    When exporting to PDF or saving, if you go to another app or Finder window while the dialog box is open, it partially hangs. For example, if you've called up the Export box then hop over to Finder to verify the name/location of the folder to which you want to export, then go back to ID to complete the export. Everything that is normally blue ("save" "export," the name of the file, etc.), turns gray. You can click on it but nothing happens. You have to either cancel and close/reopen the document, or if you have unsaved changes, it hangs…

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already using it) as it is more robust.

    If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign froze?
    • Video recording of the issue
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  6. Balance Column Freezes InDesign (MAC/PC) and InDesign Server

    InDesign Server 18.1, InDesign (18.2.1, 18.3 on Mac and PC) (also did this in 17 but was hoping better in 18)

    (Zip and indd files are not being allowed to upload). Please contact me for the file.

    System freezes when selecting the frame on the last page and balancing the column.

    4 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  7. InDesign 19.0.1 hangs when trying to place image. Mac Sonoma M2 chip.

    InDesign has been crashing and freezing a lot recently. Why hasn't Adobe supported Mac's M2 chip yet??

    2 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already using it) as it is more robust.

    If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign froze?
    • Video recording of the issue
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  8. find/replace font dialog box freezes InDesign program

    InDesign on Mac Sonoma 14.1.2
    Select Find/Replace Font.
    Dialog box appears.
    Program freezes completely.
    Need to Force Quit InDesign.

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already using it) as it is more robust.

    If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign froze?
    • Video recording of the issue
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  9. crash at every startup

    InDesign crashes on every startup from this computer (Win11 Intel i9 G13, 64GB RAM, nvidia RTX 3600). This bug happens in all versions of InDesign installed trough CreativeCloud (also the 4 previous versions). When I start the app trough the CreativeCloud application it starts up without issues. When I start it trough the TaskBar icon, StartMenu or by double clicking an indd file it craches. Crash information bug report attached.

    Note: My Windows user account is always elevated (admin privileges) and UAC is disabled. I tried starting up Indesign as a normal user but the salme crash happens.

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already on it) as it is more robust.

    If you still face this issue even after updating, please submit the crash report to us. (Guidelines to submit crash are available at (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/submit-crash-reports.html )

    Also, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign crashed?
    • Video recording of the crash
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  10. Crash when exporting to pdf - WHEN IS THIS GETTING FIXED

    So I've had this issue now for over five years and still nothing has been fixed despite me sinking thousands of pounds in subscription fees to this steaming pile of an app. We do lots of presentations that have other indesign files as links and we are constantly getting crashes when we export to pdf - I've been on with adobe with this and they insist it's corrupt files that cause this, yet when I proved to them that it wasn't they just stopped replying to them - great customer service. The crash can simply happen when adding or deleting…

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already on it) as it is more robust.

    If you still face this issue even after updating, please submit the crash report to us. (Guidelines to submit crash are available at (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/submit-crash-reports.html )

    Also, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign crashed?
    • Video recording of the crash
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  11. Crash on launch in 19.0.1

    Crash on launch immediately after splash screen appears. New to 19.0.1.
    Using macOS Sonoma 14.1 on a 27" iMac (Intel).

    2 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already on it) as it is more robust.

    If you still face this issue even after updating, please submit the crash report to us. (Guidelines to submit crash are available at (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/submit-crash-reports.html )

    Also, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign crashed?
    • Video recording of the crash
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  12. Montserrat Font errors

    The Montserrat font is not displaying correctly in the program, I exported a page to see if it is just a display issue but it is not, the font is still displaying incorrectly even when exporting the file, I checked in Illustrator but it is displaying normally, fix this problem please. It even stuck when I was doing my typography tests, specially with the Bold style

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already using it) as it is more robust.

    If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign froze?
    • Video recording of the issue
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  13. Error message "Save File Operation Failed" seen for PNG/JPEG export in Adobe InDesign 2024

    InDesign 2024 (v19.0)

    In v18.5 any design can be Exported as a JPEG or PNG.

    When I Export a design to JPEG or PNG in v19.0 then I get the "Save File Operation Failed" message and the program freezes - see attached screen shot

    2 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  14. Indesign Crashes when scrolling

    When I scroll pages using the keyboard, Indesign keeps crashing. The document has photos, but not excessively high resolution and I'm viewing on typical display mode.

    MacOS. Indesign 19.0.1.205

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already on it) as it is more robust.

    If you still face this issue even after updating, please submit the crash report to us. (Guidelines to submit crash are available at (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/submit-crash-reports.html )

    Also, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign crashed?
    • Video recording of the crash
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  15. InDesign 19.0.1 Crashes When Exporting Stories to InCopy

    I have just set up a new MacBook Pro running InDesign 19.0.1 on Sonoma (pre-installed). Every time I attempt to export .icml stories from a layout file to my SMB Synology share, the file crashes and InDesign quits. When a co-worker on Monterey does the same thing with the same file, the .icml stories export normally.

    I have tried exporting individual text frames rather than "export all stories" and got the same result. I've tried exporting the stories from a different local .indd file to my computer and got the same result.

    What else should I try? Reinstall InDesign?

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with many stability fixes. We recommend you upgrade to the latest version (if you’re not already on it) as it is more robust.

    If you still face this issue even after updating, please submit the crash report to us. (Guidelines to submit crash are available at (https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/submit-crash-reports.html )

    Also, please send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :

    • Reproducible Steps – What were you doing when InDesign crashed?
    • Video recording of the crash
    • Is(Are) the issue related to a specific document(s)/asset(s)? If yes, could you provide us with the document(s)/asset(s)? Please package the entire document (To package the document, choose File → Package…)

    Adobe InDesign Team

  16. Can't save

    This is so frustrating. Why cant i save? 3rd time its happpened, try to save my file when i need to quit and come back to the file later and cant save. Force quit is the only option. Never had this problem when using InDesign Creative Suite (non-cloud version). What the ****, Adobe?

    3 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  17. Color Picker causes InDesign to Crash

    Every time I try to use the eyedrop Color Picker tool in InDesign it causes InDesign to crash and close. It will not allow me to drag the eyedropper to pick up a color, and if I try to drag the eyedropper it makes the color box freeze to where I cannot click "Ok" or "Cancel" and I need to press the "Esc" button on my keyboard to get out of the color box. Shortly after closing the color box, InDesign will crash and close. I have tried updating InDesign to the newest version, turning on/off my computer multiple times,…

    7 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    If you are still seeing this crash happening in InDesign, please do the following:

    1. do a screen recording
    2. attach a test file
    3. mention the OS version, InDesign version.

    Put the screen recording and test file in a shared drive and share the location of the same with us.

    Thanks,

    Adobe InDesign team


  18. InDesign hangs for minutes when I/O for Document fonts is slow

    Using version 18.2.1 and opening a document that has an associated "Document fonts" folder alongside, the app performs a lot of I/O on the main thread. If the fonts are on slower storage, the app will open the document, but the window is completely frozen, since all those I/O calls are performed on the main thread.

    Note the attached traces: some calls are even performed twice for the same file. Can the CT calls be moved off the main thread?

    2 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  19. 96 votes

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    Many internal as well as external factors can cause the InDesign application to crash/freeze/hang. A few workarounds are listed at Fix crash issues with InDesign.

    We completed the investigation and came up with the following: Either the issue has been resolved in the most recent release of InDesign (Refer to InDesign Release notes), the issue was intermittent at the time of reporting and is no longer reproducible, or the InDesign version mentioned in the report is no longer covered by Creative Cloud Support Policy.

    We would recommend you upgrade to the latest version as it is more robust. If you are still facing this issue even after updating it, either submit the crash report(Refer to Submitting crash reports) to us or Contact Adobe support.

  20. Crashes on "Object Layer Options" for an AI file in a table

    I'm using v18.4 (x64) on Windows 11 Pro, v22H2.

    I have a two-layer vector graphic created in Illustrator (current version) placed in a table cell. If I select the graphic and then select "Object layer options," the correct dialog appears. But when I click on the visibility "eyeball" on either of the layers, InDesign immediately vanishes, having crashed.

    This is repeatable.

    1 vote

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)

    We’ll send you updates on this idea

    1 comment  ·  Crash/Freeze/Hang  ·  Admin →
    How important is this to you?

    We're glad you're here

    Please sign in to leave feedback

    Signed in as (Sign out)
  • Don't see your idea?

Feedback and Knowledge Base