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
7412 results found
-
Guides/Gridlines too thin/difficult to see on Retina display
Not sure if really a 'bug', but since upgrading to Apple Retina iMacs, everyone in my office is having trouble seeing gridlines, margins, and guides in the interface. The lines are just extremely thin on Retina displays. I have excellent vision and I find them difficult to see. Other employees with glasses are really struggling. We could really use something in the preferences to slightly increase the thickness of guides.
7 votes -
Changing color space won't change swatches
BUG NOT IDEA
convert cmyk document to rgb. Swatches won't change. Can change custom but black stays CMYK which is different than RGB 000.7 votes -
Spanning columns crashes program
Working with span columns with large documents creates a bug invested document. I'm working on a document now that crashes everytime I make any change to it. So much for professional program.
7 votesHello All,
Thank you for reporting the issue to us.
We have fixed the issue in the latest version of InDesign, Id 15.0Please upgrade your InDesign application to the latest version to try out the fix.
If you face any problems with the new update, do let us know in the comments.
You may also follow the below given link for the list of all fixed issues in Id 15.0
https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/kb/fixed-issues.html-InDesign Team
-
Anchored frame looses the XML tag information as soon as anchor is released/anchor point is moved forward.
Steps to reproduce
Create an anchored text/graphic frame with some inline text/image. Tag the frame with some XML Tag (say 'tag1').
Now release the anchor.
Expected output
- On releasing the anchor, there should be no changes in the XML tag on frame.Actual output
- On releasing the anchor, the frame gets untagged.Additional note: Similar thing happens when anchor is moved forward to another position in inline text. In this case also, frames gets untagged
7 votesHi
Thanks for reporting the issue. It is currently under review.
Regards
Anasuiya Gupta -
Bad preview in colours palette
12.1.0.56 build. Indesign shows a bad preview of the colours, shows jumbled text, also crashes the application if trying to change the colour in the palette.
7 votes -
Placing and Moving Images Changes Opacity
If I place an image and then try to move it within the bounding box, the opacity appears to change to around 50%. However, the opacity is still set to 100%. I can correct it by hitting Undo which reverts the image back to normal. From what I can tell, it is only a visual bug. Exporting the image doesn't show the change in opacity.
I haven't been able to reproduce this issue consistently but would say it happens around 80% of the time I try to move an image. Another interesting thing is that if the issue happens and I duplicate the image and change it's opacity, the original image reverts to normal again.
If I place an image and then try to move it within the bounding box, the opacity appears to change to around 50%. However, the opacity is still set to 100%. I can correct it by hitting Undo which reverts the image back to normal. From what I can tell, it is only a visual bug. Exporting the image doesn't show the change in opacity.
I haven't been able to reproduce this issue consistently but would say it happens around 80% of the time I try to move an image. Another interesting thing is that if the issue happens and…
7 votesHi ,
Thanks for reporting this issue. We are already aware about this issue inside “InDesign CC2017”.
Hence, we have fixed this issue inside our latest release “InDesign CC2018”. Please try it out.If you still face this issue inside our new release please do let us know.
-
Command + option + drag no longer copies text box
Have used this feature for 20 years and now the double arrow indicating that a box is being copied shows up, but the text box is not actually copied--the box just moves.
7 votesThis is working as it should – that is, duplicating the selected object.
Please update to the latest available version of InDesign (13.1) via Creative Cloud application. Before launching InDesign, delete the Application Preferences and Caches to ensure that any corrupt preferences are not causing this issue to happen.
Please let us know if you still experience this issue.
Thanks,
Adobe InDesign team -
Locked text and image boxes
Text and image boxes are locked to the page and can't be moved with the mouse, only with the arrow tools
7 votesHi all,
Can you please provide some more information to help in reproducing the issue at our end:
- InDesign version
- OS
- Language
- If document specific, please share a document with me
- Starts happening after doing some particular steps, please let me know what all things you were performing before this issue happensAppreciate your help in reproducing this issue.
Thanks
-Anshul -
Workspace resets every time I open (InDesign 2026)
On the new InDesign (v21.0) all of my workspaces have been reset and aren't saving properly every time I open a new document. I even set up my docked tabs and tab groups and saved them to a NEW workspace within a fresh 2026 file, and it reset to a default state next time it's opened. It seems to ignore all of the tools I've chosen to remove from their tab groups and opens with all of the default tools within those tab groups.
The screenshot with all of the icons is what all of my workspaces revert to upon opening InDesign 2026, while the other screenshot is what I've saved my workspace to include.
On the new InDesign (v21.0) all of my workspaces have been reset and aren't saving properly every time I open a new document. I even set up my docked tabs and tab groups and saved them to a NEW workspace within a fresh 2026 file, and it reset to a default state next time it's opened. It seems to ignore all of the tools I've chosen to remove from their tab groups and opens with all of the default tools within those tab groups.
The screenshot with all of the icons is what all of my workspaces revert to upon…
6 votes -
Make it possible to anchor a graphic to the beginning of a paragraph without five or six tries and two or three zooms
It'll go AFTER the first letter…it'll go some random place in the first FEW letters, but before the first one? Especially if the first one is a sans-serif letter "I"? HAHAHAHAHAH! No. Not without cajoling, retrying, zooming, threatening, and telling it what a good little cursor it is.
I realize this isn't an exciting problem, but it's been literally decades of this feature being…what's the technical term…bad.
6 votes -
blank screen when switching displays
When I have a file open in InDesign 2025 on my MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2023, 15.3.1) and switch between using the built-in display and an external monitor, the document view becomes completely black/blank, though all toolbars remain visible and functional.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open a file in InDesign on a MacBook Pro.
2. Close the MacBook lid, connect to an external monitor, and wake the computer.
3. The InDesign window stays open, toolbars are visible, but the artwork area is completely blank.
4. Selecting all (Cmd + A) reveals bounding boxes, but no image or text is visible.This also happens in reverse:
• If I’m working on an external monitor, then unplug it and open the MacBook to work, the same issue occurs.
• My MacBook is always closed when connected to an external display, and I use an external keyboard and trackpad.Expected Result:
• The document area should remain visible and fully functional when switching between the MacBook’s display and an external monitor without needing to restart InDesign.Actual Result:
• The document area turns black/blank, preventing any interaction with the artwork.
• Toolbars, menus, and selection boxes remain functional, but the contents of the document are completely invisible.Temporary Workaround:
• Saving the file, quitting InDesign, and reopening fixes the issue temporarily.Additional Info:
• OS, external display firmware, and InDesign are all up to date and have been happening for over a year.
• Issue persists across different external monitors.
• Unclear if this is an Adobe or macOS issue.There is a thread here with other people having the same exact issue:
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-blank-window-when-switching-displays/td-p/14394779When I have a file open in InDesign 2025 on my MacBook Pro (14-inch, Nov 2023, 15.3.1) and switch between using the built-in display and an external monitor, the document view becomes completely black/blank, though all toolbars remain visible and functional.
Steps to Reproduce:
1. Open a file in InDesign on a MacBook Pro.
2. Close the MacBook lid, connect to an external monitor, and wake the computer.
3. The InDesign window stays open, toolbars are visible, but the artwork area is completely blank.
4. Selecting all (Cmd + A) reveals bounding boxes, but no image or text is visible.…
6 votes -
Indesign 20.1 There is a delay in moving picture/text box
Clicking on a text box takes about 5/6 seconds before it selects it to move it.
6 votesWe have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with performance and 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 send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :
a. Please share your OS version and machine configuration
- To save your Mac's system configuration, open the "About This Mac" window, select "System Report," and then choose "File" > "Save" to export a detailed system information file that captures your current settings; you can name and save it to a location on your Mac for future reference.
b. Steps to Collect Windows System Information
- Type System Information in the search bar.
- Double-click the System Information app.
- Click File. Click Save.
- Name the file. Save the file to the Downloads folder. Click Save.
c. Reproducible Steps – What workflow are you experiencing performance issues in?
d. Video recording of the issue
e. 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…)
f. Screenshot of Memory usage while the issue is observed
e. Please follow the below steps on the Macintosh
- Open Terminal in full-screen mode
- Drag the InDesign application on the terminal (e.g. “/Applications/Adobe\ InDesign\ 2025/Adobe\ InDesign\ 2025.app/Contents/MacOS/Adobe\ InDesign\ 2025”)
- Copy the logs when you start facing the slowness in a text(.txt) file. Share the file with us.
—
Adobe InDesign Team
We have released InDesign 2025(v20.2.0.036) with performance and 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 send the following information to santalwa@adobe.com :
a. Please share your OS version and machine configuration
- To save your Mac's system configuration, open the "About This Mac" window, select "System Report," and then choose "File" > "Save" to export a detailed system information file that captures your current settings; you can name and save it to a location on your Mac for future reference.
b. Steps to Collect Windows System Information
- Type System Information in the search bar.
- Double-click the System Information app.
- Click File. Click Save.
- Name the file. Save the file to the Downloads folder. Click Save.
c. Reproducible Steps – What workflow are you experiencing performance issues in?
d. Video recording of…
-
6 votes
-
InDesign 2025 / v20.0: »background task« tries to activate font all the time
Working with the font Minion Pro InDesign 2025 wants to activate the font in the background (shown in the background tasks panel) although it IS activated.
Closing the document does not bother InDesign. It still wants to activate the font (see screenshot 2).
Quit & Restart helps, but it should work correctly without it.
Mac
Sonoma 14.7
M3 processor6 votes -
Indesign Document Setup not holding height and width measurements typed in.
When typing in width and height into Document Setup it does not hold the measurements and reverts to last document opened measurements.
Indesign 20.0 Creative Cloud6 votes -
Placed TIF files export as grey boxes when exported to PNG format
InDesign 19.5, macOS 14.6.1, Apple M1 Max chip
With no document open, set the default view to "Fast" by choosing View > Display Performance > Fast Display.
Create a new document, and place a TIF image on the page.
Choose File > Export, and select PNG for the export format.
The TIF image will export as a gray box. It should export as the actual image. Even if you choose View > Display Performance > High Quality Display and export again, the TIF image will still export as a gray PNG.
If you close the file, change the InDesign default display to High Quality, and then reopen the InDesign file containing the TIF image, the image exports properly to PNG format.
InDesign 19.5, macOS 14.6.1, Apple M1 Max chip
With no document open, set the default view to "Fast" by choosing View > Display Performance > Fast Display.
Create a new document, and place a TIF image on the page.
Choose File > Export, and select PNG for the export format.
The TIF image will export as a gray box. It should export as the actual image. Even if you choose View > Display Performance > High Quality Display and export again, the TIF image will still export as a gray PNG.
If you close the file, change the InDesign default…
6 votes -
Publish Online: if forbidden character in the document name, the name has to be filled in again
To me it’s okay that “special characters” are not allowed in the title of a "publish Online" document.
But if a user gets this message, his/her title is completely deleted and he/she has to fill out the title again. Although there’s maybe only one forbidden character in it.
Annoying. Any chance to change this?
6 votes -
last letter in text frame disappears from PDF Hebrew
We're having issues with the last letter or the punctuation at the end of a sentence disappearing when the file is exported as a PDF. Primarily happens with right-to-left language, we're using Hebrew.
Been happening since the update to 19.0 onward.6 votes -
Bicubic Downsampling artifacts
When an image is exported to PDF with Bicubic Downsampling selected, the interpolation creates a a column of pixels which seem to be duplicated from the column immediately preceding it. This isn't very noticeable on full images, but on specific cases, like the round circle attached, it creates an unsightly "bump out" that alters the shape of the circle.
This does not occur if Average Downsampling is selected, so that's the immediate solution to the problem, but maybe the ID team needs to look at how Bicubic Downsampling is applied and if there's any way to improve this interpolation.
As mentioned, it also affects full images, but the "repeated" column, while there, is not an EXACT replication of the one to its immediate left, so the interpolation is using a set of samples slightly differently, but still very close to a duplication.
The effect also seems to occur on the last row of pixels, but not in the same way, but still creates a sense of a flat spot on the circle example.When an image is exported to PDF with Bicubic Downsampling selected, the interpolation creates a a column of pixels which seem to be duplicated from the column immediately preceding it. This isn't very noticeable on full images, but on specific cases, like the round circle attached, it creates an unsightly "bump out" that alters the shape of the circle.
This does not occur if Average Downsampling is selected, so that's the immediate solution to the problem, but maybe the ID team needs to look at how Bicubic Downsampling is applied and if there's any way to improve this interpolation.
As…6 votes -
Hebrew Vowels colliding
Windows 11
Indesign 19 x64Hebrew Vowels colliding in the latest version of Indesign, please see screenshots from version 18 where everything is good and version 19 where the vowels are colliding.
6 votes
- Don't see your idea?