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Aug 18, 2026 7:10 PM UTC
Question

Whenever I paste in a file, whether it's a pdf or a picture, InDesign freezes up and I have to force quit out and restart. Sometimes that helps the issue for awhile and other times it just keeps freezing up over and over again.

My InDesign has been acting up for the past six months or so when I try pasting in a separate file into the InDesign document. Whenever I paste in a file, whether it's a pdf or a picture, InDesign freezes up and I have to force quit out and restart. Sometimes that helps the issue for awhile and other times it just keeps freezing up over and over again.

 

    3 replies

    Mike Witherell
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Aug 18, 2026 8:51 PM UTC

    File > Place is a better workflow than paste.

    Also, the Generative AI feature is known to slow down InDesign. Go to Preferences > Generative AI to turn it off. I made a script to put into Startup Scripts in order to block this feature whenever you start InDesign.

    https://trainingonsite.com/235-indesign-generative-ai-blocker.html

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    Mike Witherell
    Dave Creamer of IDEAS
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Aug 18, 2026 7:48 PM UTC

    What happens if you place the file rather than paste it?

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    David Creamer: Community Expert (ACI and ACE 1995-2023)
    leo.r
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    Aug 18, 2026 7:17 PM UTC

    First, disable Generative AI options in preferences. Will it solve the issue?

     

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