Adobe InDesign: Bugs
When filing a new bug, please provide:
- Version of Adobe InDesign, InCopy or InDesign Server
- Steps to reproduce the issues
- Expected result
- Actual result
- Test file, screenshot, video or GIF capturing the issue (optional)
- or
No existing idea results
- ~ No ideas found ~
7773 results found
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CC Files in InDesign not showing up
I shared files using CC Files for teams using my work account, and the sync with my account on my home computer in the user folder/creative cloud files, however they don't show up in the START workspace when I launch InDesign. How do I get these files to show up in the application?
3 votes -
The order of Arabic digits is reversed when changing their character direction
- Adobe InDesign CC 2017.1
- Create a textbox, type Arabic characters including some digits. Change character direction from 'Default' to 'Right to Left'.
- Arabic letters are RTL, but Arabic digits are written LTR; So when you change character direction to RTL, they should be in their right direction.
- Letters are RTL, but digits are reversed. The problem is that Arabic script is written RTL, but its digits' direction is LTR. Just like when you move caret and logically it moves in correct direction.
3 votes -
3 votes
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Hyperlinks
I use a lot of hyperlinks in a document which link to the individual products on our website for online ordering and stock levels.
The Hyperlink panel frequently corrupts - I lose the ‘traffic light’ link status indicator and location of the link (page No.) - meaning I have to remove InDesign and execute a clean install to get the feature back.
3 votes -
Adobe inDesign is shutting down
Adobe in Design is shutting dow. A serious error was detected. Please restart InDesign to recover work in any unsaved InDesign documents. This happened when importing an image cmd D.
3 votes -
Object disappears when anchored in a textbox with Stroke: Directional Feather
To recreate:
- Create a textbox with Effects Stroke: Directional Feather with any width >0
- Create an object and anchor it into the textbox with Position: Custom
The object will not be visible.
2 votes -
Placing Linked Files Crashes App
Version 21.6 x64
Placing a linked (Illustrator) image crashes the app. When placing, the file appears blank, the mouse turns into a constant "loading" wheel, I am not able to type any text, not able to save, not able to close the application besides force closing.2 votes -
PDF security permissions password
With the new macOS Golden Gate 27.0 (and via the most up to date ID 21.6) when exporting to PDF from InDesign, there appears to be a bug which prevents you keying in a Permissions Password. The cursor is present in the box, but you are unable to type.
This is imperative in our industry, when generating printing proofs. Please fix :-)
2 votes -
TEXT BOX FREEZE
I use indesign and for about a minute I can drag and move the text box the frame and select all the text within the box but soon it all freezes or locks all of a suddent i try to drag the box i cant, i try to size the box i cant, i try to select text I cannot only one word at a time,
I have attached a word link to the video I need help ASAP I have an assignment due FRIDAY 24th and I cannot solve this. I am using V.21.6 if that helps and It is adobe 2026, Below is uncluded a video (about 2 minute mark is when it freezes). Also noticed my microsoft word does that too i cant select words but one word at a time maybe theres a corrolation I am not sure.
I use indesign and for about a minute I can drag and move the text box the frame and select all the text within the box but soon it all freezes or locks all of a suddent i try to drag the box i cant, i try to size the box i cant, i try to select text I cannot only one word at a time,
I have attached a word link to the video I need help ASAP I have an assignment due FRIDAY 24th and I cannot solve this. I am using V.21.6 if that helps and It…
2 votes -
InDesign 21.6 freezes for 5 seconds when placing images ONLY when offline on macOS
A severe 4-to-5 second application hang/freeze occurs every time a user attempts to place an image file while the Mac is disconnected from the internet. If the Mac is online, the lag disappears completely. This is a regression bug introduced in recent 21.x builds.Steps to Reproduce:Open Adobe InDesign v21.6 on macOS.Disconnect the computer from the internet (turn off Wi-Fi and unplug ethernet).Create a new, blank document.Press Cmd + D to place any standard image file (e.g., JPEG, PNG) stored on the local hard drive.Click on the document layout to place the graphic asset.
Expected Result:The image should place instantly onto the layout canvas without hesitation.
Actual Result:InDesign freezes entirely, displaying a spinning wait cursor or locking up the mouse pointer for roughly 4 to 5 seconds before the image finally drops onto the page.Crucial Diagnostic Variables (Verified):Network Status: The bug only triggers when the Mac is offline. If the computer is connected to the internet, images place instantly without any lag.Regression: Rolling back three versions prior entirely fixes the problem. The issue does not exist in older builds, pointing directly to a telemetry, asset verification, or cloud-feature timeout loop introduced in recent 21.x code.
Tested: Verified on local files (not cloud-synced folders or network servers).
Third-party utilities have been ruled out.
System Specs:App Version: InDesign v21.6 (and recent 21.x builds)OS: macOSA severe 4-to-5 second application hang/freeze occurs every time a user attempts to place an image file while the Mac is disconnected from the internet. If the Mac is online, the lag disappears completely. This is a regression bug introduced in recent 21.x builds.Steps to Reproduce:Open Adobe InDesign v21.6 on macOS.Disconnect the computer from the internet (turn off Wi-Fi and unplug ethernet).Create a new, blank document.Press Cmd + D to place any standard image file (e.g., JPEG, PNG) stored on the local hard drive.Click on the document layout to place the graphic asset.
Expected Result:The image should place instantly onto…
2 votes -
Open PDF in InDesign not properly working when a vector image is present (.ai or .eps)
When we export a PDF from InDesign with the box "Preserve InDesign Editing Capabilities" checked, if we open the resulting PDF in InDesign, it is perfect, styles are preserved, guidelines, tables, Layers, Parent Pages... All is ok. (just as if a idml was included in the PDF)
However, as soon as we include a .ai or .eps anywhere in the InDesign file, the exported PDF can no longer be imported back in InDesign with all format. Styles are lost or are named "Paragraph1", "Paragraph2", no more guidelines, no more Parent Pages, tables are not like before...
We're trying again every time a new version of InDesign is out. This morning, it was InDesign 21.6 (Windows). Still the same problem.
When we export a PDF from InDesign with the box "Preserve InDesign Editing Capabilities" checked, if we open the resulting PDF in InDesign, it is perfect, styles are preserved, guidelines, tables, Layers, Parent Pages... All is ok. (just as if a idml was included in the PDF)
However, as soon as we include a .ai or .eps anywhere in the InDesign file, the exported PDF can no longer be imported back in InDesign with all format. Styles are lost or are named "Paragraph1", "Paragraph2", no more guidelines, no more Parent Pages, tables are not like before...
We're trying again every…
2 votes -
InDesign 2026: CMYK objects on the pasteboard display darker with Overprint Preview or Separations Preview Body I am experiencing a displa
I am experiencing a display issue in InDesign 2026 when using Overprint Preview or Separations Preview.
CMYK objects placed on the pasteboard (outside the page) become significantly darker, while the same objects displayed inside the page remain correct.
The same document does not show this issue in InDesign 2025.
I have tested this issue in multiple versions of InDesign 2026:
Version 21.4.1.4
Version 21.5.1The same issue occurs in both versions.
Environment
Adobe InDesign 2026
Versions tested: 21.4.1.4 and 21.5.1
Mac mini M4 Pro
macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 (25G83)
Monitor: EIZO ColorEdge CX240
Connection: USB-C to DisplayPort
IssueI have CMYK text and graphic objects positioned so that they extend from the page area onto the pasteboard.
In Normal Preview, everything displays correctly both inside the page and on the pasteboard.
However, when print simulation preview modes are enabled, the objects on the pasteboard display incorrectly.
When Overprint Preview is enabled
When I enable:
View > Overprint Preview
the display changes as follows:
CMYK objects inside the page → display correctly
The same CMYK objects on the pasteboard → become significantly darker
Placed photos on the pasteboard → may disappearThe CMYK values of the objects are the same.
The appearance changes specifically when the object crosses from the page area onto the pasteboard.
Separations Preview test
I also tested:
Window > Output > Separations Preview
Preview: Off
Inside page → Correct
Pasteboard → Correct
Preview: Separations
Inside page → Correct
Pasteboard → CMYK objects become significantly darker
The same issue occurs as with Overprint PreviewTherefore, the problem also occurs when Separations Preview is set to Separations.
Both Overprint Preview and Separations Preview produce the same incorrect display behavior on the pasteboard.
Summary of test results
Preview mode Inside page Pasteboard
Normal Preview Correct Correct
Separations Preview: Off Correct Correct
Overprint Preview Correct CMYK becomes darker / images may display incorrectly
Separations Preview: Separations Correct CMYK becomes darker / same issue
Comparison with InDesign 2025I tested the same document in InDesign 2025.
With Overprint Preview enabled, objects display correctly both inside the page and on the pasteboard.
However, the issue occurs in InDesign 2026.
I tested:
Version 21.4.1.4
Version 21.5.1and the same issue occurs in both versions.
This appears to be a possible display regression or rendering issue introduced in InDesign 2026.
Steps to reproduce
Create a new document
Create a text or graphic object with a CMYK fill
Position the object so that it extends from the page onto the pasteboardEnable either:
View > Overprint Preview
or
Window > Output > Separations Preview > Preview: Separations
Compare the appearance of the object inside the page and on the pasteboardThe CMYK object displays correctly inside the page but significantly darker on the pasteboard.
Expected result
The same CMYK object should display consistently and correctly both inside the page and on the pasteboard when Overprint Preview or Separations Preview is enabled.
At minimum, I would expect the same behavior as InDesign 2025.
I would appreciate it if others could test whether this issue can be reproduced on other systems, or confirm whether there has been an intentional change to pasteboard rendering in InDesign 2026.
Screenshots are attached.
I am experiencing a display issue in InDesign 2026 when using Overprint Preview or Separations Preview.
CMYK objects placed on the pasteboard (outside the page) become significantly darker, while the same objects displayed inside the page remain correct.
The same document does not show this issue in InDesign 2025.
I have tested this issue in multiple versions of InDesign 2026:
Version 21.4.1.4
Version 21.5.1The same issue occurs in both versions.
Environment
Adobe InDesign 2026
Versions tested: 21.4.1.4 and 21.5.1
Mac mini M4 Pro
macOS Tahoe 26.6.2 (25G83)
Monitor: EIZO ColorEdge CX240
Connection: USB-C to DisplayPort
IssueI have CMYK…
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2 votes -
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In Design bleibt immer hängen
Ich kann keine Dokumente mehr bearbeiten. Der Curser der Maus dreht immer blau im Kreis. Ich kann keine Texte mehr abändern. Habe InDesign Version 21.5.1. Es geht so seit 2 Wochen, habe ganze Installation deinstalliert und jetzt wieder installiert. Es nützt nichts.
2 votes -
Image placing issue
Hi,
Whenever I place two or three images, the software becomes unresponsive and gets stuck. I have to force-close the application and restart it to continue working.
2 votes -
InDesign 2026 (macOS): every open CEP panel costs ~20–25% CPU continuously
InDesign 2026 (macOS): every open CEP panel costs ~20–25% CPU continuously — the host redraws the panel at display refresh rate even when the panel is completely static
Summary
With any CEP (HTML) extension panel open, the InDesign process burns roughly
20–25% CPU permanently on a 120 Hz display, with no user interaction and no
activity in the panel. Each additional open panel adds the same again (three
panels ≈ 75%). Closing the panel, or collapsing it to a dock icon, returns
InDesign to its ~5% idle baseline immediately.Call-stack sampling shows InDesign's main thread spending ~67% of its time in
-[MTKView draw]→PlugPlugOwl.framework, which on EVERY display-link tick
allocates a newMTLTexture, runs a CPU pixel-conversion pass over the whole
panel bitmap, and uploads the full bitmap with
-[MTLTexture replaceRegion:mipmapLevel:withBytes:bytesPerRow:]— even though
the panel's renderer (CEPHtmlEngine) is idle and has produced no new frame.
The MTKView appears to be in continuous-draw mode at the display's native
refresh rate rather than paused-and-drawn-on-demand.Illustrator 2026 on the same machine, with the same PlugPlugOwl 12.1.0.5
build, does NOT show this: opening a CEP panel there adds no CPU at all. So
the issue is in InDesign's hosting of the CEP view, not in CEP/CEF itself.Environment
- Adobe InDesign 2026, version 21.5.1.73 (build 21510)
- macOS 26.6.2 (25G83), Apple M1 (8-core), 16 GB
- Display: DELL U2725QE, 3840×2160 at 120 Hz, UI scaled to 1920×1080 (2×)
- CEP 12.1.0 (CSXS 12);
PlugPlugOwl.framework12.1.0.5 inside the InDesign app bundle; CEPHtmlEngine Chrome/99.0.4844.84 - CEP
PlayerDebugMode = 1(unsigned development panels), but the panels used are ordinary HTML panels with no special CEF command-line flags - For comparison: Adobe Illustrator 2026 (30.8.0) — same machine, same PlugPlugOwl build — is unaffected
- Persists after a full restart of InDesign: [ ] yes / [ ] no ← fill in
Steps to reproduce
- Launch InDesign, let it settle, watch the InDesign process in Activity Monitor: ~5% CPU at idle.
- Open any CEP HTML panel. (Reproduced with three different in-house panels;
the one used for the measurements below is a fully static page — no
timers, no
requestAnimationFrame, no CSS animations, no polling.) - Do nothing. InDesign's CPU rises by ~20–25% and stays there for as long as the panel is open.
- Open a second and third panel: each adds ~20–25% more (≈75% with three).
- Close a panel: CPU drops by the same amount immediately. Collapse a panel to a dock icon: same — cost goes to zero.
Expected
An idle panel should cost ~0%. The host should redraw the panel's view only
when CEF delivers a new frame.Actual
The host redraws — and re-uploads the full panel bitmap to a NEW Metal
texture — on every vblank, regardless of whether the panel content changed.Evidence
1. It is the InDesign process, not the panel's renderer. With one static
panel open (Activity Monitor): InDesign 50–58% (withsamplerunning
concurrently; ~30% without), the panel's CEPHtmlEngine process 0.8%. A Chrome
DevTools Protocol CPU profile of the panel page over the same period was
99.7% idle, anddocument.getAnimations()returned an empty list — the page
produced no new frames.2. Call-stack sample (attached:
indesign-sample-one-panel-open.txt,
sample <pid> 5at 1 ms). Of 3465 main-thread samples, 2310 (67%) are:-[NSApplication run] … __CFRunLoopRun → _dispatch_main_queue_drain → __23-[MTKView __initCommon]_block_invoke (MetalKit) → -[MTKView draw] → PlugPlugOwl +0xf0ea8 → +0xf03ec → +0xf07ec (2302 samples) ├─ PlugPlugOwl +0xf0da4 → +0xf5b20/+0xf5b64/… (1216 samples — a per-pixel CPU loop over the panel bitmap) ├─ PlugPlugOwl +0xf0874 → -[IOGPUMetalTexture replaceRegion:mipmapLevel:withBytes:bytesPerRow:] │ → AGX::Texture::writeRegion / processCompressedRegion2D (342 samples — full-bitmap upload) ├─ PlugPlugOwl +0xf0744 → -[AGXTexture initWithDevice:desc:…] → IOGPUResourceCreate (35 samples — a NEW texture every frame) └─ PlugPlugOwl +0xf087c → _xzm_free_large_huge (freeing a large buffer every frame)The CEP
CVDisplayLinkthread in the same sample shows MetalKit's
DisplayLinkCallback → dispatch_source_merge_data → _dispatch_runloop_queue_poke
on every vblank — i.e. the MTKView is running withisPaused = NO/
enableSetNeedsDisplay = NOat the display's refresh rate.For comparison,
indesign-sample-panels-closed.txtis the same sample with
all panels closed: the main thread is ~96% blocked inmach_msgand there
are no PlugPlugOwl frames at all.3. The cost tracks the display refresh rate. Switching the display from
120 Hz to 60 Hz (nothing else changed) roughly halved InDesign's CPU with the
panel open (one measurement: 58% → 24%).4. The cost tracks the panel's pixel area. Resizing the panel larger /
smaller moves InDesign's CPU up / down accordingly.5. A collapsed (icon-docked) panel costs nothing — consistent with the
per-frame work being proportional to the view's size.6. Illustrator is unaffected. Same machine, same session, Illustrator
2026 with a CEP panel open stays at ~2% CPU.Impact
Every CEP extension — third-party and Adobe's own — costs a sustained ~20–25%
of a CPU core per open panel on any 120 Hz display, which includes every
MacBook Pro since 2021 (ProMotion). Users who keep two or three panels open
have InDesign sitting at 50–75% CPU all day: lag, fans, battery drain, and the
effect compounds with other work. Users are unlikely to attribute it to the
panels since the panels themselves look idle and their renderer processes
show ~0%.Related reports
InDesign 2022 17.3 – HIGH CPU when idle
(community forum, Jul 2022 – Jan 2024, unresolved). Very likely this same
bug seen from the outside: 30–40% idle CPU in the InDesign process itself
(the reporter ruled out CEPHtmlEngine when staff pointed at it) on a 16"
M1 Max MacBook Pro — a 120 Hz ProMotion display — persisting from 17.0
through the 2024 release. The default workspace includes the CC Libraries
panel, which is a CEP panel, so a user needs no third-party extension to
hit it. Quick check for that thread's reporters: collapse the Libraries
panel to an icon and watch the CPU drop.High GPU load on macOS 26 Tahoe
(Illustrator UserVoice, also reported for InDesign; status "Started",
3 Aug 2026: "platform-level compositing issue … flagged with Apple",
workaround in Illustrator beta 30.8.0.72). Adjacent but NOT the same
issue — that one is WindowServer GPU with the app's CPU low, whereas this
is CPU inside the InDesign process in its own MTKView draw. Please don't
merge them; note that Illustrator 30.8.0, which carries that workaround,
is the app that does NOT show this problem.
Suggested fix
In the InDesign side of the CEP view hosting (PlugPlugOwl's MTKView usage):
- Run the MTKView paused (
isPaused = YES,enableSetNeedsDisplay = YES) and callsetNeedsDisplayonly when CEF delivers a new frame (OnPaint), the way Illustrator's hosting evidently already behaves. - Reuse one
MTLTextureper view rather than allocating and freeing one per frame, and skip the CPU conversion + upload when the frame is unchanged.
Workarounds for affected users
- Set the display refresh rate to 60 Hz (halves the cost).
- Collapse panels to dock icons when not in use (cost goes to zero).
- Keep panels closed rather than open-but-idle.
Attachments
-
indesign-sample-one-panel-open.txt—sampleof the InDesign process, 5 s at 1 ms, one static CEP panel open. -
indesign-sample-panels-closed.txt— same, all panels closed (baseline).
This bug report produced at my request by Claude Code Fable.
InDesign 2026 (macOS): every open CEP panel costs ~20–25% CPU continuously — the host redraws the panel at display refresh rate even when the panel is completely static
Summary
With any CEP (HTML) extension panel open, the InDesign process burns roughly
20–25% CPU permanently on a 120 Hz display, with no user interaction and no
activity in the panel. Each additional open panel adds the same again (three
panels ≈ 75%). Closing the panel, or collapsing it to a dock icon, returns
InDesign to its ~5% idle baseline immediately.Call-stack sampling shows InDesign's main thread spending ~67% of its time…
2 votes -
Puntero de mouse queda trabado con icono de reloj y permite trabajar a medias
Apenas se abre el programa y selecciono una herramienta, el puntero queda trabado con ese icono, permite seleccionar menues pero no puedo hacer nada mas y es mucho peor cuando inserto una imagen, se crashea todo y es imposible tener un flujo de trabajo, no se soluciona incluso al reiniciar el programa. La unica forma de salir es a través de el finalizardor de tareas.
No puedo deshacer ninguna accion y los menues que se abren estas en blanco.2 votes -
Pointer disappears / shows unrelated shape after ~10–15 min of use — requires force quit
Environment:
InDesign 21.5.1
macOS Tahoe 26.6.2
Mac Studio, Apple M1 MaxDescription:
After roughly 10–15 minutes of normal use, the pointer stops behaving correctly. No specific action seems to trigger it — it just starts happening during regular work. The pointer either disappears completely or displays a random shape unrelated to the current tool or action. Once this occurs, InDesign becomes unresponsive and the only way to recover is to force quit and relaunch the app.Steps to reproduce:
Open InDesign and work as usual.
Continue working for approximately 10–15 minutes (no specific trigger identified).
Observe the pointer.Expected behavior: Pointer reflects the active tool/action as normal.
Actual behavior: Pointer disappears or shows a random, unrelated shape. InDesign then stops responding and must be force quit.
Workaround: None. Force quit and restart InDesign to restore normal function.
Frequency: Consistent, occurs after ~10–15 minutes of use.
Environment:
InDesign 21.5.1
macOS Tahoe 26.6.2
Mac Studio, Apple M1 MaxDescription:
After roughly 10–15 minutes of normal use, the pointer stops behaving correctly. No specific action seems to trigger it — it just starts happening during regular work. The pointer either disappears completely or displays a random shape unrelated to the current tool or action. Once this occurs, InDesign becomes unresponsive and the only way to recover is to force quit and relaunch the app.Steps to reproduce:
Open InDesign and work as usual.
Continue working for approximately 10–15 minutes (no specific trigger identified).
Observe the pointer.Expected behavior:…
2 votes -
Incorrect PDF Tagging for Tables Split Across Pages with Repeated Header Rows
When exporting a tagged PDF from InDesign, tables that span multiple pages and use repeated header rows are tagged incorrectly.
Instead of generating a single table structure, the exported PDF creates repeated <THead> and <TBody> elements within the same table:
<Table>
├─ <THead>
├─ <TBody>
├─ <THead>
└─ <TBody>This results in an invalid or semantically incorrect table structure for PDF accessibility.
Expected Behavior:
Option 1 (structurally correct, though not ideal semantically):
Each table continuation on a new page should be exported as a separate table:<Table>
├─ <THead>
└─ <TBody>
<Table>
├─ <THead>
└─ <TBody>Option 2 (preferred, semantically and structurally correct):
The entire table should be exported as a single tagged table:<Table>
├─ <THead>
└─ <TBody>In this case, the automatically repeated visual table header on subsequent pages should be marked as an Artifact and not be included as a second <THead> element in the tag structure.
Impact:
The current tagging can lead to accessibility issues, incorrect table semantics, and potential PDF/UA compliance problems for assistive technologies.When exporting a tagged PDF from InDesign, tables that span multiple pages and use repeated header rows are tagged incorrectly.
Instead of generating a single table structure, the exported PDF creates repeated <THead> and <TBody> elements within the same table:
<Table>
├─ <THead>
├─ <TBody>
├─ <THead>
└─ <TBody>This results in an invalid or semantically incorrect table structure for PDF accessibility.
Expected Behavior:
Option 1 (structurally correct, though not ideal semantically):
Each table continuation on a new page should be exported as a separate table:<Table>
├─ <THead>
└─ <TBody>
<Table>
├─ <THead>
└─ <TBody>Option 2 (preferred,…
2 votes -
UNDO doesn't work and/with cursor issue
Several times a day, at random, my cursor suddenly gets stuck on a tool (while remaining usable). Then UNDO stops working. At that point I can save my document and close it, but I'm forced to quit InDesign via Task Manager and restart it for things to work again.
I updated to version 21.5.1 yesterday, but the problem persists.
-
MacBook pro nov 2023
Apple M3 - 8 GoMac OS Tahoe 26.5.1 (25F80)
InDesign 21.5.1
2 votes -
Undo for Indesign does not work consistently for v21.5.1
Undo for Indesign does not work consistently for v21.5.1. I have to quit and restart. I will work again, but then randomly stop working and I have to restart again. On MacBook Pro Nov 2024, OS Tahoe 26.5.1
2 votes
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