Fonts changing in files when opened in Illustrator 29.5.1

[Lavish_coder1549]

I've experienced this twice now, both times in the last month. I design beer labels and I'll often open an older label and use it as the template for a new one. When I open the older file (an .AI file), it will load, and most of the live text will have switched to a different font arbitrarily. Some fonts switch to OTHER typefaces that exist in the same document, others switch to different weights of the same font, and still others switch to defaults like times and myriad.  Some of the switched fonts are stored locally, and others are served via Adobe Fonts. The file does this consistently even after I've restarted illustrator and restarted my computer. 

I've attached a screenshot of one of the files with its original fonts (from an outlined version for print), as well as a shot with the changed fonts.

Has anyone else experienced this?

System:

2022 Mac Studio M1 Max

MacOS Sonoma 14.6.1

Illustrator v 29.5.1

[silveryblu]

I have been having this problem for a few moths too - and today, I even had Illustrator *permanently change the fonts* to the random default fonts it assigned when I opened the file. The fonts were fine when I opened the file an hour earlier. After it changed them, my only recourse was to rebuild the file. I'm using the most recent Illustrator on a Mac with Extensis Connect. (Screenshots below - the super skinny font is the random defaulted one.)

[Hyanri]

A frustrating bug that keeps happening for like week now. 29.6.1 version updated ten days ago (Windows 11). I have no idea what's happening, but I just created a new file yesterday and I reopened it today to edit and a popped up appeared saying the illustrator file was made using the old version of Illustrator (it isn't, it's a new file created yesterday on an app updated ten days ago!) and the only option is "review" (does not help, did not flag the changes) and "cancel" opening the file altogether. All the text formatting changed - bold fonts changed to thin, thin changed to heavy italicized, spacing, etc. It made editing 1 day old files a burden to mix and match to what they were before. I do not think it is fixed yet. Finding fixes on community threads feels like wasting my time when there are deadlines to meet.

[craigiem123]

I've had to reinstall an earlier version of Adobe illustrator 28.5 - and it seems to be doing the trick at the moment, but still not great having to backsave!!!

[averyb30768583]

You're not alone. The same thing just happened to me. Frustratingly, to a file that contained 50+ individual designs. No new fonts were entered into the document, but the fonts essentially all switched with each other. Makes no sense and is incredibly frustrating. Hope they fix this bug quickly. 

[russellw17789794]

This has happened to me a few times recently and it's really disconcerting. Right when i go to release mechanical files.

[k9tag]

I keep getting emails sent to me on this topic about folks trying various versions of Illustrator 29.5.whatever, and 29.6.whatever.

No.  Don't do that.  Both of those versions have this random font substitution bug, and it has not been fixed.  You have the potential, using those versions of Illustrator, to lose days worth of client work instantly, costiing you untold re-work hours and dollars.

Just revert back to 29.4 and you will have no issue.  Then wait the weeks, months, or years that it takes for this devastating bug to be fixed.

[Martin_Wilson747]

Why why why does Adobe still have 26.6.1 availabe for download on CC. They realy don't seem to care. I am wondering if they are even bothering to fix this. Thinking they are hoping it will just go away. Very sad that they are our only option 😞 

[k9tag]

Just received an email saying that a user on a Mac was able to use the Beta version of Illustrator (currently 29.8 28) to open a previously hosed file with the fonts all scrambled, and he found that the fonts were unscrambled and life was good again.  I'm happy for this Mac user.

FOR WINDOWS 10 and 11 USERS, HOWEVER, THIS DOES NOT WORK.  I downloaded and installed Illustrator Beta 29.8 28, and opened two previous files that had their fonts scrambled by Illustrator, and they were still scrambled.  NO MIRACE CURE.

But what about new files created with 29.8?  Will those develop the random font substitution problem?  I don't know about you, but Homey here is unwilling to try creating any new work with 29.8 until I get definitive info from Adobe saying that they found where they messed up the program, and that they have now fixed the random font substitution bug, and it will absolutely, positively, no longer happen.  I can't afford to test the program with my live production data because of the HUGE impact this bug had, the time it cost me, the money it cost me, etc.

Again, I am happy that at least one Mac user found that 29.8 fixed this issue for him, and even allowed him to open previously hosed files.  For Windows, the only safe option remains to back off to Illustrator 29.4 if you wish to continue to work safely.

[dang8813046]

I'm working on a packaging project and have maybe a mix of 10-15 fonts that I'm using within the document. I closed the file last night, and when I reopened this morning every font within the document was changed. I'm working from my desktop and I'm the only one using this computer. It appears to be some kind of bug. What's interesting is that all of the fonts are still using the same 10-15 fonts that I've been using, but none of them are in the correct places. It's as if they've all rotated. I've tried running updates, but there aren't any. I've uninstalled an reinstalled the fonts. I've closed and restarted. Nothing. I've got a meeting with this client in 10 minutes. It wouldn't be a huge deal if this were just a couple of designs, but I've got 20-30 layouts that I need to fix now. I've never seen this before.

[Monika Gause]

Which version are you using?

[dang8813046]

Version 29.6.1

[Anubhav M]

Hello @dang8813046,

Our product team has tried fixing this issue in the latest Illustrator Beta 29.7.0.88 release. Would you mind installing/updating to the latest Illustrator (beta) to check if it helps resolve the problem?

Looking forward to your feedback.
Anubhav

[thebronxdaddy]

I tried Beta and the problem is still exactly the same.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @thebronxdaddy,

I'm sorry to hear that. Could you kindly share a link to a sample file you're having trouble with, so I can get it checked with the team?

Note: While sharing the file, kindly make the link public and enable the option to Save a Copy/Download (if any).


Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[MattG80]

I have ran into this same issue before upgrading to Illustrator 29.6.1 and today it has happened again. When I opened a file I worked on previously about a month ago, it has completely wrecked my file, changing all my text to random glyphs! I cannot even salvage the file by retyping the correct text as it continues to input the same random glyphs and not the appropriate letters! This is a HUGE problem! Thankfully in this instance it's a simpler design and I had the artwork saved in a separate proof file with the fonts converted to outlines otherwise I would have had to completely rebuild. If the client comes back at a later date wanting, changes to their file.....I'm screwed and will have to rebuild it so I can edit it. This is a catastrophic issue and if it begins to happen more frequently especially with bigger/complex design files, it will kill the software from a professional standpoint. This must be resolved ASAP.

[Yuttapichai]

I have encountered a bug in Adobe Illustrator after updating to version 29.6.1. Some of the design files I had previously worked on are now experiencing font-related issues. For example, fonts in some files have changed — a file that originally used Font A is now showing Font B when opened. Additionally, in files where bold text was used, the text now change to regular type when opened in this version.

Please kindly address and resolve this issue as soon as possible. Thank you.

[kglad]

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.

<"moved from cc desktop bugs">

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Yuttapichai,

Our product team has tried fixing this issue in the latest Illustrator Beta 29.7.0.88 release. Would you mind installing/updating to the latest Illustrator to check if it helps resolve the problem?

Looking forward to your feedback.
Anubhav

[Martin_Wilson747]

Hi.

Good to see that Adobe is working on this. Unfortunately our Agency policy is to do pro bono work for charities. As Adobe is not a charity we cannot do free work for Adobe. We are happy to run a test on the Beta software at a cost of $2,000 +gst. For this we will isolate a Mac, upload the beta software, test several files that we are having problems with and supply Adobe with a report. If this acceptable please forward an Order Number as approval for us to begin. Any questions please let me know.

Regards Martin 

[Drew McMillan]

Just had this issue occur (fonts changing, sizes and styles changing, with the latest version of illustrator) - I didn't have time on a project to try installing all of the previous versions, but I can confirm that version 29.0 does NOT have this issue and I was able to finish and submit my file. I probably went further back than is necessary, but for anyone with a time crunch I can confirm 29.0 works for a quick fix to this issue.

[thijs5272]

Same problem here. Is there a solution yet? I don't know what the consequences of installing the beta version are. I've now installed version 29.4, but the problem persists. It seems to have something to do with documents that use both Adobe and third-party fonts. This is a serious problem because if it happens, the only way to fix it is to rebuild everything. And then it might happen again later! Adobe, please do something about this!

[k9tag]

thijs5272,  

If a file has been hosed by this bug, and you save it using version 29.5.whatever, or 29.6.whatever, the file is hosed forever.  If you open it in 29.4 or any prior version, it will still be hosed.

If you start a new file in 29.4, or open other non-infected older files in 29.4, you will not have this random font substitution bug.  At least I dont.  I am now working along blissfully building file after file, and it's as if the random font substitution issue never existed.  I will not dare, for now, to use any version past 29.4.

I really think that Adobe should   1) send out a public srvice announcement saying that all Illustrator users should revert to version 29.4,  2)  turn off the download possibilities for any version newer than 29.4,  3) have the development team  SCRAP ALL OF THE CHANGES that were made to the software after version 29.4 including ANY CHANGES HAVING TO DO WITH FONTS,  and 4) START OVER with  post version 29.4 software development VERY VERY CAREFULLY.

That's what I think should be done, but instead I get an advertisement from Adobe in my email this morning (attached) encouraging users to update to the latest version of Illustrator.  They appear to be quite clueless that the latest version of Illustrator has a devastating, horrendous, unbelievably bad bug that is costing their loyal users time and money.

The answer provided in this forum by the Adobe contact is to download the beta version 29.7 and install that, but the version that gets installed when you download the beta is 29.8.... so that is bad information too.

This bug is causing real problems with rework time and money as well as client relations for Illustrator users worldwide.  This needs an all-hands-on-deck-Adobe-company-wide reaction, not this hard to even find online non-reaction in the forum.  This isn't a bug. This is a BUG. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Yuttapichai,

Our product team has tried fixing this issue in the latest Illustrator Beta 29.7.0.88 release. Would you mind installing/updating to the latest Illustrator (beta) to check if it helps resolve the problem?

Looking forward to your feedback.
Anubhav

[thijs5272]

I'm willing to try that, although I think it's Adobe's responsibility to fix this. However, if I install the beta version, I have the following questions:
-Will the previous version remain on my Mac?
-Can documents saved in the beta version still be opened by third parties?
-Can files saved in the beta version also be opened in previous versions?

[Anubhav M]

Hello @thijs5272,

The release and beta versions are managed through different channels and reside as separate apps on your computer. Depending on the version chosen when saving the file, you should also be able to use your files across other versions of Illustrator.

Feel free to reach out if you have more questions or need assistance. We'd be happy to help.

Anubhav