Indesign - Copy text from one document to another, text shifts in position (height) within text box

Forum|Forum|5 months ago
December 17, 2025
4 replies
223 views

I'm having this issue where when I copy a text box from a document and paste it into a new document, or even within the same document, and the text shifts its position down within the text box and usually gives me the red dot that means there is cutoff text. This happens within the same indd document as well as between documents. This only happens on my mac mini that I have at my office. It does not happen on my macbook pro or other mac mini that I use at home. The operating systems are the same and both are running the same version of InDesign. It also doesn't matter which file I'm working in.

I have looked at the settings for text frame options (baseline) and that isn't the solution. I have reset my InDesign preferences and that hasn't fixed it. Is this a bug that has a fix for it? It's driving me a bit insane.

Performance

Barb Binder

Community Expert

Is the same version of the font installed on all three systems?

And can you please share a screen shot or quick video so that we can see what you are seeing. Please include the open Paragraph and Character styles panels and either the Control panel or Properties panel so we can get a sense of the formatting/possible overrides. Frame edges and hidden characters should be visible as well.

~Barb

~Barb at Rocky Mountain Training

S

shantu021

This usually isn’t a file bug. When this happens on only one Mac, it’s almost always caused by a baseline grid difference on that machine. Even if the document is the same, InDesign uses app-level baseline grid settings, so when text is pasted it can snap lower inside the frame and cause overset text. Check the Paragraph panel and make sure “Align to Baseline Grid” is turned off, or match the baseline grid settings on that Mac under InDesign > Preferences > Grids. Once those are aligned, the text will paste normally without shifting.

O

optimistic_idealist0150Author

Participant

Thank you for this response. I checked the paragraph panel and it is not set to "Align to Baseline Grid". I've never used that setting. I went to the Indesign > Preferences > Grids as you mentioned but didn't see where it said anything about a baseline grid.

Abhishek Rao

Community Manager

Hi @optimistic_idealist0150,

Thanks for sharing the details, and sorry you're running into this. Could you please confirm the exact InDesign version and macOS version on your office Mac mini? Also, try copying the text into a brand-new InDesign document using a fresh text frame and let me know if the shift still appears there.

If the issue continues, it may help to review a couple of similar community discussions that describe the same behavior and possible workarounds:
https://adobe.ly/48My64o
https://adobe.ly/4p4tICl

Please let me know you observations.

Abhishek

O

optimistic_idealist0150Author

Participant

Hello, I'm running Adobe InDesign 21.1 on my Mac mini that has Tahoe 26.2 loaded on it. I have also tried copying text from an existing document into a new InDesign document and the shift still appears. I will check the two work arounds that you sent. Thank you!

davecourtemanche

Inspiring

I have looked at the settings for text frame options (baseline) and that isn't the solution.

So the First Baseline setting on both text boxes matches? I always set to Cap Height but find if I open an older doc without those settings, it can get wonky like that.