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InDesign is very slow

The latest version is virtually unusable. If I select an image or text box on a layout I get a spinning wheel for 10 - 15 seconds. If I try to move something - spinning wheel 10-15 seconds. Try to save a document - spinning wheel 10-15 seconds. Previous versions did not behave this way on this same computer. No other applications behave this way.

My Mac is a late 2012 model, 32Gb RAM, 2 SSD drives; one for the OS / Applications and one for the customer files. GeForce video card (came with the computer with 1Gb RAM.

I have attached a Quicktime video of this behavior. The long pauses between seeing the cursor move are the times when the application has a spinning wheel. Then is works for a minute or two and starts all over again.

Dozens of users in the forums are reporting this problem with this version.

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Terry Kauffman shared this idea  ·   ·  Report…  ·  Admin →
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CLOSED  ·  Abhinav Kaushik responded  · 

Hello All,

Thank you for your patience all this while.
We had launched our investigation into the matter to get to the root cause of the problem. As the part of our investigation, we had reached out to many of you personally over email.
We have concluded our investigation and have come up with few findings.

1. For many of the users the issue got fixed after updating InDesign to a newer version.
2. For some, the issue got resolved after disabling a third-party application such as Suitecase fusion etc.
3. For few, the issue was intermittent and is no longer reproducible.
4. For majority of the users, the underlying cause of the performance issue was identified to be related to span columns, cross-references, third party plugin etc.

We have created separated threads for these issues and we are now working towards resolving them.

However, over the time this thread has become too generic to serve its purpose effectively. As per your feedback and the outcome of our investigation we have created multiple threads to address each root cause separately and effectively.
If you are facing any slowness in InDesign or seeing any other performance issue, we request you vote for the relevant thread or create a new thread specifying the action/workflow which is slowing you down.
We seek your support in our continuous effort to improve InDesign.

-InDesign Team

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  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    I have been experiencing this very frustrating problem for some time and I'm pleased to discover this thread so I now know it's not just me. Every click or movement is the spinning wheel for 10-20 seconds. I have a brand new iMac and it's simply impossible to work like this.

  • kevin commented  ·   ·  Report

    Same problem on EVERY document over 4 pages. Unbearably slow every time I click, add text or create a new text box. I've already tried all the below solutions and have no external plugins. I have a brand new Mac Pro with 32 GB memory and 250 gb flash drive.

  • patricia commented  ·   ·  Report

    Dear Admin, Actually it's not the document. It's happening to me constantly and to members of my design team. The issue is indesign, there are enough people commenting on this on multiple forums so don't go asking for someone to send you their file for analysis.

  • michsel kulyk commented  ·   ·  Report

    lets just face it - adobe gas really gone downhill - their support is just awful and all the CEO cares about is $

  • Kristen Munro commented  ·   ·  Report

    I am working in windows 10 with Indesign 2018 13.1 and I have the same issue most commonly after placing illustrator eps files in my Indesign file. Performance drops significantly and the more complex the illustrator eps (ie. gradients, details, etc) the worse it is. It is very frustrating when you go to select a box and it takes 5 seconds then another 10 seconds to move it after it finally selects. I can't work like this. Adobe you need to fix this ASAP!

  • Andy commented  ·   ·  Report

    PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

    In InDesign, under Type/Suitecase Fusion/Suitecase Fusion Auto-Activation Preferences.
    Turning off the "Activate fonts in embedded objects" has solved my problem of InDesign running slowly.

  • Terry Kauffman commented  ·   ·  Report

    I started this thread in August of 2017. I updated this issue, for me, on March 16, 2018. My solution documented on this date still stands. I have not had a problem since that date.
    I did try the suggestion from Tom L. I set this preference and turn on the Auto Activation preference in Suitcase for embedded objects. My problem returned immediately.
    My suggestion for anyone with this issue: 1) check your plugins - turn them off and test with a known file with the problem. 2) Look for anything that causes InDesign to sync with any other application, like Tom found. Why the other apps don't do this I don't know but there are different development teams so the InDesign team got it wrong.

  • Tom L commented  ·   ·  Report

    For me this helped:

    Go to Creative Cloud app (not Indesign app prefs), go to prefs, there go to Files, then UNCHECK Creative Cloud Synchronisation!!

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    ok, is there ANY solution for our problems going to happen? This is so unbearable!

  • Terry Kauffman commented  ·   ·  Report

    Update on this problem. I worked with Adobe using a file that exhibited the spinning wheel problem. Turns out it was my Extensis Suitcase 8 plugin. Adobe said, and we tested this while on the phone, that some plugins will cause this issue. I discussed this with Extensis and for those of you that use this font manager there is a setting in the Auto-Activation Preference (Type/Suitecase Fusion/Suitecase Fusion Auto-Activation Preferences) that can cause this. Extensis recommended turning off the "Activate fonts in embedded objects."
    I use a lot of embedded objects (eps and AI files) so I was concerned that my placed graphics would be missing fonts. According to Extensis, older eps and AI files did not embed the links to the fonts into the graphic therefore when placed the font would be "missing." I'm going to be testing this over the next couple of weeks and will get back with my results. If Suitcase users experience a missing font in a placed graphic you need to turn this feature on to resolve the problem.

    I did test a different font manager and there was no issue with the spinning wheel in a file I know had the problem. If the Extensis recommendation does not fix this problem I'll post here the font manager I'm moving to.

  • Terry Kauffman commented  ·   ·  Report

    It's been nearly a month since I sent files to Adobe regarding this problem. They have become the "new" Quarkxpress. Years ago Quark just ignored problems with their software and people left them in droves to use InDesign. I don't care what I use as long as it works. I wish Adobe felt the need to fix/respond to issues.

  • Dieter commented  ·   ·  Report

    Same problem. Intolerable.

  • pixelman commented  ·   ·  Report

    I have the same issue on a brand new iMac PRO with 32GB of RAM and a graphics card with 8GB
    My old iMac 27 inch from 2009 handles indesign better…

  • Terry Kauffman commented  ·   ·  Report

    Update on "Version 2017 is very slow" from Aug. 3.
    I have sent Adobe a Package file with an example of the problem.
    Additional information regarding my usage:
    OS version Sierra (upgrading to High Sierra soon)
    I regularly use eps files for images; InDesign is placing a low resolution thumbnail for position only, Display Performance is set to Typical: My font manager is Suitecase Fusion Version 19.0.5 (6615). I have turned off all font sets not being used.
    I have turned off Preflight.

  • Marina Kirsch commented  ·   ·  Report

    I seem to have solved this slowness problem with InDesign. I sometimes had the spinning wheel for 4-5 minutes or longer—impossible to get work done! I did two things thanks to other comments found online. I disabled all fonts except the ones I need right away (leaving only 7 fonts activated). I also saved the document I'm working on in IDML format, then reopened it and resaved it in InDesign CC format. It now runs like a charm. I intend to activate fonts selectively from now on.

  • Marina Kirsch commented  ·   ·  Report

    InDesign is now so slow that I have a hard time using it as a graphic designer. I can't rationalize to my customers the very long time it takes to complete layouts. I spend more time watching the spinning wheel than actually getting work done—sometimes 30 seconds or more and this is after only clicking in the document or making one small change. I use the latest version of ID CC and have an older iMac with MacOS Sierra 10.12.6. Does High Sierra help? Please help!

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    I am also having this problem, please help. A few seconds per action is insane, especially when you are working on a large multi page documents. It is making my work flow slow and unbearable. Other Adobe Indesign users in my office have the same problem. Only started happening late last year to now. Please please please fix!

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    yeah, ya'll messed it up with this update, seems bloated and slower than well slow. 5 mins to load, then all the fonts are missing, close file reopen, hey 5 mins later there are the fonts. Seems at least better on the PC for all these Mac complaints. But, the amount of time it takes to do anything is ridiculous. especially for a monthly bill!!! patch this up stop breaking things that were not broken. Like the new file page, that is silly having to scroll to hit all the bleeds and stuff. 20 years I have been using Adobe, since I beta tested Indesign 1.0 and all the other software.

  • Betsy commented  ·   ·  Report

    I am having the same problem, also thanks for such a good description of the problem. It seemed to happen after I update indesign. If they can't fix it I not sure I will use the program not worth my time and it is frustrating.

  • Anonymous commented  ·   ·  Report

    I am having this same experience. I have tried many things online and nothing has fixed it. Prior to CC2017 I never had any issue. Now it is constant. VERY ANNOYING Adobe you need to fix this ASAP

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