InDesign 20.0.1 sluggish (horrendously sluggish) on Sonoma 15.1.1

[BACnOAK]

I recently had my 2019 mac pro go down and IT wiped and reinstalled everything including updating my OS to Sequoia 15.1.1. I then updated CC to ID 20.0.1. And man... what a nightmare. It is so incredibly sluggish. Open the app... wait... open a file... wait... move the window... nothing... move a window... wait... it moves a bit, then the spinning ball... then wait... I tried to merge a file, and that was a horrendously long process. What took seconds now I wait what seems an eternity. Anyone else having the same issues?

[leo.r]

Many users report the same issues with InDesign 2025 on any macOS version.

Try basic troubleshooting steps:

https://www.rockymountaintraining.com/adobe-indesign-rebuilding-preferences-cache/

While this did help some users, in most cases it didn't make any difference. 

In this case, reverting to InDesign 2024 is the only known solution so far (you can look this up on the forum, there are multiple threads discussing this problem).

[BACnOAK]

Hi Leo, thank you for the info. Unfortunately, it didn't work. And when I down grade to the lower version, the files, even files i've never opened with the new version, won't open and say they need to be converted. I feel doomed right now. I don't get why they don't test more before they release this stuff. This feels like Quark back in the 90's when they flubbed up big time and we all ditched Quark for CC. now we have nowhere to go to with all our eggs in one basket. Shameful.

[leo.r]

And when I down grade to the lower version, the files, even files i've never opened with the new version, won't open and say they need to be converted. I feel doomed right now.

By @BACnOAK

that's a standard situation where the files saved with a new major version have to be converted to be opened with an older version. i agree that it adds an additional level of annoyance in this case.

[BACnOAK]

I totally get it with files opened using 20.0.1. However... ones not opened and it still asks even when you dowgrade to 19.xxx version. Thats bonkers! We have become the beta testers for a company that doesn't pay us to do that. I bet, if this was any other time of year, this topic would be on fire. Most design stuff slows down right before the holidays, and the few that are creating in ID are just getting beat up. I'm incredibly annoyed at the whole thing. Thanks for your input. I really appreciate your time and effort.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @BACnOAK,

I completely understand your frustration with the sluggish performance, especially right before the holidays. It’s never fun when updates seem to create more issues than they solve.

To help identify the root cause of the issue, could you please try the following steps:

1. Test in Safe Mode: Safe Mode can help rule out third-party software or system processes that might be interfering with InDesign. Here’s how to start your Mac in Safe Mode: Safe Mode for macOS.

2. Try working with InDesign while your Mac is offline. Sometimes, background processes like cloud syncing can cause slowdowns, and disconnecting from the internet might help isolate the issue.

3. Test After Disabling Time Machine: Time Machine backups can sometimes cause performance issues. Try disabling it temporarily and check if the performance improves. You can disable it by going to System Preferences > Time Machine and turning it off.

Let me know how these steps work, and we can continue troubleshooting from there. I appreciate your patience, and I’m here to help!

Best,
Abhishek Rao

[BobLevine]

Do you by chance have Magnet installed? If so, delete it.

[BACnOAK]

I don't know what our IT department puts on for security. I'm not familiar with "Magnet". Thank you for your input. I'll ask our IT gurus.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@BACnOAK

https://magnet.crowdcafe.com/ 

[Mike Witherell]

What happens when you turn off the Preflight profile?

[BACnOAK]

Unfortunately, it did not help. Thank you for your suggestion.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@BACnOAK

Turn off Contextual Bar. 

[BACnOAK]

Sorry, no luck 😞