P: InDesign 20.2(March 4, 2025) crashing after export to pdf / close file

[100pk]

Unfortunately the update to 20.2 lets InDesign crash whenever I close a document.

Luckily CC lets you revert to an earlier version quite easily.

<Title renamed by MOD>

[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">

[Gavin31332558259u]

Not quite sure why this was moved – it was originally posted in "Bugs" as I determined that was what the issue was

[Bill Silbert]

When you updated did you retain the preferences from the previous version? Using preferences that were compatible with older InDesign code usually will lead to poor performance in the newer version. Try resetting your preferences. This will restore the program to its defaults. Hopefully running a "clean" version of InDesign will fix the issue tht you're having.

To reset preferences:

For Macintosh Users: The User Library folder in which InDesign’s preferences are stored is hidden by default on most Macintoshes. To access it make sure that InDesign is closed and click on the desktop to launch a Finder Window (Command-N). With this window in column view follow the path User>Home folder (it’s the folder with an icon that looks like a house—it may have the user’s name rather than “Home”) and click on the Home folder. With the Option Key pressed choose Library from the Finder Go Menu. “Library” will now appear within the Home folder. Within the Library folder find the folder called Preferences and within it find the folder called “Adobe InDesign” and the file called “com.adobe.InDesign.plist” and delete both that folder and that file. When InDesign is next launched it will create new preference files and the program will be restored to its defaults.

For Windows Users: You can try the quick way of resetting on a PC which is to hold down Ctrl + Alt + Shift when launching InDesign and respond affirmatively when asked if you want to reset. There have been some recent reports that the window asking if you want to reset is not popping up but that the prefs are being reset anyway. If this works great but if it doesn’t you may have to manually delete them.

To do so: On Windows 7 and above the preference files are hidden. To find them go to the Control Panel and open Folder Options and then click the View tab. Then select “Show hidden files and folders” or “Show hidden files, folders or drive options” in Advanced Settings. Then delete (or rename) the folder at the end of this path: C:\Users\<USER>\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\InDesign\<Version #>\<Language>. Make sure that InDesign is closed when you do this. When you relaunch the program it will create new preference files and the program will be at its default settings.

The advantage of manually deleting preference files is that after you’ve reset up the program (make sure that no document window is open) to your liking, you can create copies of your personalized “mint” preference files (make sure that you quit the program before copying them—that finalizes your customization) and use them in the future to replace any corrupt versions you may need to delete.

[leo.r]

Are you using Typeface? If so, then it started causing crashes after the 20.2 update. If you do use Typeface then either disable its font auto-activation option for now or revert to InDesign 20.1 from the Creative Cloud app (Other Versions menu).

[Gavin31332558259u]

Yes, I use Typeface and have found that turning off the auto-activation stops InDesign crashing.

Seeing as it was the 20.2 update that caused this, the issue is not with Typeface but with Adobe.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Gavin31332558259u

Turn off Typeface app. 

For some reason there was no reply from @leo.r?

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @Gavin31332558259u,  

Did the suggestions from the experts help resolve the issue, or are you still experiencing crashes? Let me know how it’s going. Moreover, sharing a similar community thread: Solved: 20.2 UPDATE (March 4 2025) lets ID crash - Adobe Community - 15190174

Looking forward to your update!  

^

Abhishek

[Gavin31332558259u]

Yes, turning off Auto-activation in Typeface resolves the issue but this is an issue that Adobe need to address not Typeface seeing as it was the Adobe ID 20.2 update that caused it.

[unhappycustomerEU]

I'm experiencing the same. InDesign keeps chrashing when I close one of my document tabs. I also use Typeface, but I do not have the auto-activations for InDesign turned on.

This is a problem with InDesign

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I'm experiencing the same. InDesign keeps chrashing when I close one of my document tabs. I also use Typeface, but I do not have the auto-activations for InDesign turned on.

This is a problem with InDesign

By unhappycustomerEU

What's the platform, OS and InDesign versions? 

[adjef]

Hello! 🙂

Yesterday I updated my mac to 15.3.1 and today Indesign crashes almost everytime I export to pdf and close the Indesign file. See attached report.

Any ideas on this? Thank you!

Arie 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @adjef,

Thanks for reaching out. The logs you shared from your Mac won’t provide the necessary details for troubleshooting. Could you confirm if you were able to submit the crash logs via the Adobe Crash Reporter? If yes, could you DM me the email used, so I can check the logs and get it investigated? Reference: https://adobe.ly/4i4C9uK

Also, check out this UserVoice thread: InDesign 20.2 crashes after opening a document. If your issue is similar, upvoting and commenting will keep you notified of updates.

Are your affected files stored locally, on an external drive, or in the cloud? If you haven’t yet, try running InDesign in Safe Mode (Apple Support – Safe Mode) and check if the issue persists. Also, please try the troubleshooting mentioned in this crash article here and update: InDesign Crash on Launch.

Let me know how it goes! 

^

Abhishek 

[adjef]

Hi @Abhishek Rao 

I could not submit crash logs as the crash reporter does not appear after restarting. Checked crash reporter settings, and it should be. Files are stored locally. Will try other options. Thank you.

[adjef]

Trashing prefs and cache does nothing. And it does look a lot a like InDesign 20.2 crashes after opening a document.  As I do not need to make pdf, just closing document wil make the crash. 😞 This sucks hard.

[adjef]

And in safe mode no crashing....

[adjef]

Another update, I chatted a bit with chatgpt, and it suggested turning of font management. This works. I use "Typeface" so probably the answer is in there. I saw that in this case InDesign 20.2 crashes after opening a document.  the same font manager is used.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @adjef,

Good to hear Safe Mode stopped the crashes. This points to a third-party conflict. Since turning off Typeface helped, it’s likely the culprit. Try disabling it temporarily or updating it to see if that resolves the issue. If you need to keep using it, manually activating only the necessary fonts might help.

Since your issue matches the UserVoice thread, upvoting and commenting there will keep you updated on fixes. I will also update the product team about this as this will help them in their investigation. 

^

Abhishek 

[Craig Long 66]

I'm getting crashing on documents when they have missing fonts with 20.2. Also using Typeface. I've rolled back to 20.1 and working fine again.

[L33Hodge]

I turned off the auto-activation in Typeface app and it seems to have cleared up the issue of crashing on closing.

Mac mini M1, macOS Sequoia 15.3.1, InDesign 20.2 and Typeface app 3.15.3 (4320)

[harby]

Had the same problem with Indesign crashing when collecting for print and saving/closing. Switched off font management app (Typeface) and the problem went away. Just using the Apple Fonts app that comes with mac now.

[Steve Brown UK]

Typeface seems to be the culprit. Same situation for me.

[We are Singular]

Been having the same issue. Using Typeface, InDesign crashes whenever I close a file. Downgraded to V. 20.1 and there's no conflict with the font manager. I have no clue if it's an Adobe or Typeface issue but font management is definetly more important in my case than having the latest version of the software. Hope this can get worked out when 20.3 rolls out.

[SanyamTalwar]

Thank you for reporting the issue. We have been able to reproduce the issue and it is currently under investigation. 

Please track https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180/suggestions/49555079 for latest updates.

Workaround for the crash issue

• Deactivate the Typeface app and continue to work with InDesign v20.2.0.36
• Rolling back to InDesign 20.1.0.71 to continue to work with the Typeface app

[divedave]

Are you using Typeface? Deactivate the automatical activation of fonts for InDesign and it should work. It is a well known issue...