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

[Bobby Henderson]

Are any of the fonts in the older Illustrator files styled using Postscript Type 1 fonts? Are any variable fonts used? Are the files being edited on more than one computer? I'd be tempted to delete the font data cache to make the computer re-build it. I suppose it's possible there could be some corruption in the file.

[Lavish_coder1549]

• This example file was initially created this past March, and all of these fonts seem to work fine in other labels with the same layout and type styling. No variable fonts.

• It's possible this file was edited on my macbook pro at some point, that's an avenue i'll explore.

• I'll try deleting the font data cache as well.

Thanks!

[Brad @ Roaring Mouse]

Mixing fonts between Adobe Fonts and locally-installed is a potential problem; Make sure you are getting your fonts from the same source each time....especially if you have "Auto Activate Adobe Fonts" turned on in File Handling.  If you are sure the fonts came from Adobe Fonts in the file that was "good", it's better in the long run to go to the website and make sure the whole family is properly activated there. And if there are local fonts, especially if they came from a different source (say Google Fonts), you might have to deactivate them so they won't conflict....this can easily confuse fonts/styles.

[Lavish_coder1549]

I've definitely had problems with font versions differing between Adobe and local installs. I should probably be more sanitary with removing local fonts when I use the Adobe versions. Thanks!

[Kylie38184007n56r]

I'm having the same issue and all of my typefaces are local. Files created on 29.1 are showing the correct typeface, but when I open them in 29.5, they are randomly changing so something else - sometimes it's a typeface that's used in other places in the doc and sometimes it's a completly new typeface with a completly different weight. AND it can be multiple times in one text block. As an example, the front half of this block changed to Gotham Bold when the full thing should be Trade Gothic Regular. 
Reverting back to 29.1 does fix the issue - but that's not a long term solve.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Kylie38184007n56r,

Could you share a link to a sample file, along with screenshots of the problem, after uploading it to a file-sharing service, so I can check it on my end?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Anubhav

[Lavish_coder1549]

You didn't address this to me, but I figure I can provide my file with some context.

Here's a drive link to an .AI file that's been untouched since Jan. 7 2025:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/16yJY7nj8oEpxeLMgJeALE6ViCwouAQmV?usp=sharing

When I open it, the fonts are switched around seemingly at random, and the switch pattern is not exactly the same as the switch happening on other files with the same layout and typefaces. The fonts ONLY switch to other fonts that exist elsewhere in the document or default to Myriad or Times. 

I've also included a screenshot of the affected text block as it appears when I open the file in AI 29.5.1

One thing that I did not mention in my original post is that I use FontBase to manage my installed fonts.

[bwatel]

Same happens to me and I use the font manager Extensis Connect. Reverting to another Illustrator version might work but that's not even a guarantee that it won't happen again as it seems to be so random, so not willing to invest the time in doing that.

[M S V]

hi

I have something new about this issue

I have a file made with Illustrator 29.2 and modified with 29.7 on another mac

if I open the file on my mac with 29.8.1 and save with a new name it is all ok 

but

if I have Illustrator closed and double clic the file that starts Illustrator and save with a new name

after reopen the new file the fonts are changed

you can download the file here

https://www.marcovaccaroli.it/ftp/test.ai

so you can try if you have the same result

I hope this can help to solve the problem

[Lavish_coder1549]

I downgraded Illustrator to 29.5 and the font switching is replicated.

When I downgraded to 29.4, the problem went away.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Lavish_coder1549,

Could you try running Illustrator 29.5 under a different admin account (Windows / macOS) and checking if it helps?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Anubhav

[Martin_Wilson747]

I have the same problem Multiple fonts randomly change on opening .AI file.

I am using Extensis to manage fonts. I think Adobe combined with this is just not very good. Hard to fly like an eagle when you are forced to wast time with chickens. Also after the file has been opened it saves the randomly chosen fonts. The only way to fix this is to go in and change each font. And who knows if it will do it again, I'm sure Adobe have NO idea.

And how broken is the whole system I can not use system fonts and loaded fonts in the same file when you have been able to do this for the last 30 years. Adobe need to FIX this NOW! It is just wasting our time. Why should we pay subscription for somthing that is so BAD! If there is a way of fixing this that would be good. Ar this stage I have no idea what our files are going to look like every time I open them. 

[Martin_Wilson747]

Yep Just downgraded to 29.4 and it fixed the file. ADOBE DO NOT SEND OUT UPDATES THAT ARE NOT TESTED!!!

Do I get a refund on my last month subscription. Or do I just send you an invoice for my time.

How can you not improve in all these years???

[Martin_Wilson747]

I think this a bug in auto activation.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Martin_Wilson747,

Could you confirm if you face the same problem if you pre-activate the fonts from Extensis before opening the file in Illustrator?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Anubhav

[Martin_Wilson747]

Hi Yes.
Regardless for the status of Extensis the fonts change. They do not come up as not activated they just change all the fonts in the file to random system fonts. If you do not save, close the file and open it again it saves the file with the incorrect fonts.
It seems to be the new update. I have deleted the new update and loaded 29.4. The files now are fine. However unless you notify us that you have fixed this we will be forced to use 29.4 for ever!
I have been using Adobe for 30 years and I must say If I could load Illustrator 6 on my computers I would change back.


Martin Wilson

<Personal info removed by MOD>

[64flair]

Ditto Martin. These last few updates have been the most unreliable and frustrating versions I've ever dealt with. Now this is the worst. 3 files I have had corrupted on me. First, I rebuilt thinking it was a saving error. I am now forced to use a beta (which is not compatible with some plug-ins) or reinstall an older version? Adobe needs to do better. Their current improvements feel like they are focused on college kids and fanciful art projects, not professionals needing their products to be reliable for conducting business.

[Lorenzo MENHIR PACKAGING]

At the office we have the exact same problem. The file reopens with the completely wrong fonts. The latest version 29.6 does NOT fix the bug. Going back to 29.4 everything goes back to normal. This is a very serious problem and you risk making a mess if you don't notice it right away.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @lorenzo I. - MENHIR, @Martin_Wilson747,

Would you mind trying the following steps and checking if it helps:

• Close all Adobe applications
• Remove the Creative Cloud Desktop application, CCLibrary, and CoreSync using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool (https://adobe.ly/463dN1m)
• Reinstall the Creative Cloud Desktop application (https://adobe.ly/4n8Luof)
• Relaunch Illustrator

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Lorenzo MENHIR PACKAGING]

OK, let's start again.
I’m here to report (and echo what many others have already pointed out) a critical and frankly unacceptable bug in Illustrator 2025 – specifically in versions 29.5 and 29.6 – where fonts are randomly changed upon reopening a file. This does not happen in version 29.4 or earlier, which confirms it’s a regression introduced in recent updates.

In my case, I work in pharmaceutical artwork – where precision is mandatory, not optional. A bug like this isn’t just inconvenient, it’s dangerous. Random font substitutions can lead to regulatory issues and massive repercussions.

What’s worse is Adobe support’s typical scripted response: “Please uninstall everything, delete all preferences, reinstall Illustrator, and maybe, just maybe, it will stop happening.”

Sorry, but that’s not a real fix. You seriously expect an entire office to waste hours (if not days) doing complete reinstalls on multiple machines because you introduced a regression?

How about acknowledging the issue properly and pushing out a real fix instead of telling professionals to perform voodoo IT rituals in hopes of a miracle?

This needs immediate escalation.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Lorenzo MENHIR PACKAGING,

I completely understand how frustrating this must be. To help us investigate further, could you please share a sample file that was created in version 29.4 and shows the issue when opened in versions 29.5 or 29.6? We'd like to try reproducing the problem on our end to work toward a resolution.

Also, could you confirm if the issue seems specific to a certain font? You can package the file using File > Package and upload it via a public cloud link (like Google Drive or Dropbox). If the content is confidential, feel free to send it via DM here on the community.

Looking forward to your response,
Abhishek

[Lorenzo MENHIR PACKAGING]

Hi,

I’ve just sent you a direct message with all the details and the test file. Please check it and let me know if you need anything else.

Thanks.

[Kristine27730524liu6]

My company does package design and we are having this same issue, I find it repulsive that this is the solution Adobe is recommending. We have lost hours of our valuable time rebuilding existing files over the past few weeks. I don't think telling companies that are paying for your inferior software to uninstal, reload and restart is an acceptable response, nor do I think downgrading to a lesser version is helpful. This is odvioulsy been an on going issue and it donesn't seem like Adobe is doing much to fix it. Very unacceptable. We are currently exploring other non-Adobe software options.

[k9tag]

Kristine,

There is another entire discussion on the link below that you may have missed.   You did not mention what version of Illustrator you are using.  Versions 25,26,27,28,29 have been shown to have the random font substitution issue on the PC.  Supposedly, version 30.0 on the PC finally fixes the issue.  I have not yet been brave enough to upgrade to Illustrator 30.0, opting instead to stick with version 24 and actually get some work done.  I have never seen the issue on version 24, except for files that have already been hosed by another version.  Once a file is hosed, it is forever hosed.   Any file developed from scratch in version 24 will never see the random font subtitution bug.  A couple of users have reported that version 30.0 fixes the issue.  With millions of Illustrator users out there, you would think that at least thousands would have already reported that this devastating bug is finally fixed.  So there you have it, try 30.0 if you like, and your troubles may be over.  I may bite the bullet soon too, if I could just hear a few more success stories with 30.0.

The other discussion:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/illustrator-discussions/fonts-changing-in-files-when-opened-in-illust...