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Illustrator file does not appear correctly when imported to InDesign

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
November 3, 2025
19 replies
3987 views

So I have sets of illustration in separated artboard (same layer) in Illustrator. But when I am importing it to InDesign, some parts of the illustration is missing. It occurs on some illustration, especially reused graphic asset from Freepik.

Funny enough, this isn't happening using the previous version of Indesign. Right now I am using the current latest 21.0 (not beta).

What I have done for the workaround;

saved into a new file, only the error artboard. not working.
saved the error artboard into EPS, works. But I wish everything works in native format.

Correct answer Abhishek Rao

Hi everyone,

Thank you all for continuing to share your observations and test the suggested workarounds.

Previously, the product team confirmed that this issue was addressed in Illustrator 30.3, and that older Illustrator files need to be opened and re-saved in the latest Illustrator version before placing or relinking them in InDesign. If you haven't already, please update to the latest Illustrator version, open the affected AI files, save them again, and then place or relink them in InDesign. Also, please try disabling "Save in Background" in Illustrator > Preferences > File Handling, save the file again, and test once more.

For reference, this issue has also been tracked here:
https://illustrator.uservoice.com/forums/601447-illustrator-desktop-bugs/suggestions/51032623-file-links-breaking

If you've already tried the steps above using Illustrator 30.3 or later (the latest version is 30.6) and are still experiencing the issue, a new bug has been logged with the product team, and they are actively investigating it.

We've tried multiple scenarios to reproduce the issue but haven't been able to replicate it. To help us investigate further, could you please share a screen recording of your complete workflow? Please start by saving the file in Illustrator, then place it in InDesign, and demonstrate the change you're seeing.

If possible, please also share the Illustrator (after packaging via File > Package) and InDesign (packaged) files with us. You can attach them here, or if they're confidential, feel free to send them to us via direct message and can use any of the cloud sharing services like Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.

I'll continue working with the product team and will keep this thread updated as soon as I have more information to share.

Thank you all for your continued patience and for helping us investigate this further.

Abhishek

Show previous replies

vlovegrove

Participant

Same here. My illustrator files look different when placed into indesign. Very different, stuff has moved and it is a real pain.

vlovegrove

Participant

to solve my recent one, I’ve deleted layers, recreated them and grouped and put everything in clipping masks, then it was solved. A massive faff

leo.r

Community Expert

Just to make sure, is your Illustrator updated to its latest version?

If you do experience the problem with the latest update, then there are two other potential solutions mentioned in this thread:

-Disable Save in Background preference in Illustrator

or

-Revert to Illustrator 2025

TomHolmes_G&I

Inspiring

I’ve been having issues like this for a couple of months now. I work on vector images in Illustrator, and place them in InDesign image boxes. If I go back to Illustrator and make an amendment, then refresh the linked file in InDesign, occasionally things will be incorrect, like it made the preview at a random point mid change, rather than when I hit save in Illustrator.

For example, here I made a black logo in Illustrator, then updated it to an off white colour in Illustrator. Indesign now shows half the lettering in black and half in the new colour. (Screenshots show file in Illustrator (all off-white as it should be), the file preview in Mac Finder and the file as it appears placed in InDesign (shown on textured background).

I’ve had similar issues with items appearing in the wrong place or missing too.

Kevin330664232toh

Participant

This “new” functionality is odd. There were certainly a few hoops to jump through to get this “normal” again.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi everyone,

Thanks so much for sharing your files and observations. The product team is actively working on this, and the latest updates are being posted on the UserVoice report for this issue. Please keep an eye on the thread here for progress and fixes as they roll out: https://adobe.ly/3WXLj3A

If you notice any new behavior, feel free to share it, so we can work on it.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

T

Tanya2000

Participant

Hi Abhishek, I find that if I delete any empty layers in Illustrator, the linked Illustrator file tends to appear in InDesign correctly. Also, I've had a couple of Template layers cause the links not appearing correctly. Might be worth looking into to solve the above issue.

A

Amy3602122606jp

Participant

Hi,

My collagues & I are having the same issue. Our illustrator files are not linking through to our indesign proofs properly even when all links are updated etc. The issue is inconsistent but definitely there. We have all recently updated to the newsest 2026 versions for Indesign & Illustrator. Have attached screenshots of the same file in Illustrator, Indesign & then exported from Indesign to PDF.

Koos Verdegaal

Participating Frequently

Hi, when I import an Illustrator file in Indesign, some of my last saved changes are not properly updated in the preview.

Also, when I choose Object layer options, I see the layers for every artboard in the document.

When I save my Illustrator document as an older version and directly after as the latest version, the document layer options are ok again, but the preview remains sketchy.

This is obviously a bug, can this be fixed?

Thanks!

Ton Frederiks

Community Expert

Can you try to save the Illustrator file with Preferences > File Handling > Save in Background turned off?

Koos Verdegaal

Participating Frequently

Thank you, that worked indeed. But like saving as an older version, this seems more like a workaround than a solution.

Why would turning this option off matter?

J

Jon31417863q2ip

Participant

Since updating to InDesign 21.0, files created in Ilustrator (vs. 30.0) seem to drop colors randomly when Imported to InDeisgn. The files render properly when exported as PDFs or even JPGs. Seems to only be when viewed in InDesign. Files I open that were generated and saved in the previous version of InDesign render the files accurately, this is specific to the 21.0 update. Display settings are set to High Quality Display and I've attempted an uninstall/reinstall of the software all to no avail. Images below: Top shows the file as it should appear, bottom file is once imported to InDesign 21.0. To my knowledge, no changes have been made to either file other than opening them in the latest version of each piece of software. Preferences have not been modified as far as I can tell, and neither file was directly modified since updating the software. It may be that some setting was changed in the background when updating, but I can't find anyting that was changed that could be causing this. Both files worked flawlessly prior to last week's update.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @Jon31417863q2ip,

Thanks for sharing the details and screenshots. I tested this with Illustrator 30.0 files placed into InDesign 21.0 but couldn't reproduce the color drop issue on my end. Could you please confirm which OS version you're using and whether this happens with all Illustrator files or only specific ones?

Also, please check if you're saving your Illustrator file with the 'Create PDF Compatible File' option enabled before placing it in InDesign. If possible, could you share an affected sample AI file where this issue appears, so we can test it further? A short screen recording showing the save process in Illustrator and then opening the same file in InDesign would also be really helpful.

Looking forward to your update.

Abhishek

G

ganesh_2836

Known Participant

Hi @Abhishek Rao

I also have the same issue, while some part of the images in not visisble in InDesign eventhough all layers are on in Illustrator and InDesign.

Illustrator version: 30.0 (Windows version)
InDesign version: 21.2 (Windows version)

Issue: If i placed Illustrator file in InDesign particular portion of images not visisble in InDesign

Illustrator screenshot: In the below screen shot that 4 icons and 3 rules and 1 triangle not visible in InDesign. It was in Key color layer, all are visible in InDesign

InDesign output: 4 icons and 3 rules and 1 small triangle missing in InDesign

Note: If i do Save as the images the issue is solved. But this is not our regular practice to save as each and every image, we will use the customer supplied file directly in InDesign. In that cases the part of the images is missed out. There is any way to identify this issue without save as the images. Or it seems to be issue in InDesign 21.2

Thanks

Ganesh.R

I

ivy_8550

Participant

Hello,

Since your EPS workaround is proof that the vector data itself is fine, here's the quickest and most effective fix to try on the native AI file:

Open the Illustration in Illustrator.

Select the entire illustration (the one with the missing parts).

Go to Object > Expand Appearance.

Then go to Object > Expand... (check both Fill and Stroke options).

This process simplifies complex strokes, effects, and gradients into basic paths, making it much easier

Best Regard,

harriet

hekselsiorAuthor

Known Participant

thanks for the suggestion, I will try it later and see if it works.

leo.r

Community Expert

Funny enough, this isn't happening using the previous version of Indesign. Right now I am using the current latest 21.0 (not beta).

By @hekselsior

If you can consistently reproduce it in InDesign 2026, while not in InDesign 2025 with the same Illustrator files, then it sounds like a bug in InDesign 2026. Are you also using the same import settings? Click Show Import Options when you place Illustrator files in both versions.

hekselsiorAuthor

Known Participant

Can't say it's a consistent occurence. Some assets from stock graphic works just normally, some don't, but ONLY happening in the current InDesign (v 21.0). I was working with the same file with previous indesign never had this problem at all. I do use "Show import options" as well.

Yes I guess it's a bug.

J

Jon31417863q2ip

Participant

I'm seeing the same issue. Inconsistently, but definely there. Opening the file in previous versions works completely fine, and exporting as a PDF shows the files properly... just seems to impact Illustrator files that are imported to InDesign and, at least for me, directly conincided with the 21.0 update.

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