InDesign 2025 Crashes When Exporting PDFs from a Book (.indb)

[chiara_7538]

Hello,

After updating to InDesign 2025, I have noticed significant performance issues. The program has become much slower, and every time I try to create a PDF from a book, InDesign crashes and closes entirely.

Can you please help me?

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[Laubender]

Hi @chiara_7538 ,

did you build a new book from InDesign 2025 documents?

Or did you use an old book file from e.g. InDesign 2024 and opened it with InDesign 2025?

Regards,
Uwe Laubender
( Adobe Community Expert )

[chiara_7538]

I used an old book file (InDesign 2024), but I converted it and re-saved it before opening it in InDesign 2025

Could this be causing the issue?  I'll try creating a new book directly in InDesign 2025.

[chiara_7538]

I created a new book with InDesign 2025, but it keeps crashing and closing.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @chiara_7538,

Sorry to hear about the crashes. To troubleshoot the issue, please try the following steps:

1. Run InDesign in Safe Mode and test the issue. Reference: https://adobe.ly/4h4h5Vh

2. Try to export after disabling the third-party fonts and plugins. 

3. Convert to IDML: If the issue persists, try saving your document as an IDML file. You can do this by selecting "File > Save As", then choose "InDesign Interchange (*.idml).

After saving, open the IDML file in InDesign and attempt to export again.

Let me know if these steps help resolve the issue!

Best,

Abhishek Rao

[massimo_5876]

Hi Abhishek Rao,

the problem is not related to the OS 

indesign crashes after pdf creation from one book containing several files 

if I convert indd files in idml I can't use it in the book

Indesign has no problems creating pdf from a single file

indesign crash exporting in pdf from a book in interactive mode

thanks in advance

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @massimo_5876,

Thank you for the clarification! I understand how frustrating this must be, especially when dealing with large book files.

Since InDesign crashes when exporting a book to PDF in interactive mode, here's what I suggest:

1. You mentioned that exporting a single file works fine. Try exporting each document within the book individually to see if you can identify the file causing the issue.

2. Problematic hyperlinks or interactive elements can cause issues during export. Try disabling these or checking for any broken links and then try exporting again. 

3. Export the book as a print PDF (non-interactive) and then use Adobe Acrobat to add interactive elements. This could help bypass the crash during the interactive export.

Let me know if this helps or if you're still experiencing the issue, and we can further investigate!

Best,  
Abhishek Rao

[daniela_2563]

Hi Abhishek Rao,

my answer point by point:

1. It is not a single file that causes the closure because if I export them one by one in pdf they all work perfectly and also the global final pdf is generated correctly but it closes the entire book with the files in Indesign.
2. As I wrote in the previous point, the global PDF that is generated is correct because there are all the links and interactive elements.

3. I need to generate books over 200 pages so I can't recreate the links manually on Adobe.

Thank you!

[saraheJP]

We have the same issue - also some of the links are linking to other documents in the book, so exporting through the book is the best way to maintain those links when the document is consolidated. The work is already done to apply the links in InDesign, therefore repeating the work by manually adding through Adobe is inefficient and costly. Seems to me it's a bug in the new version.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @saraheJP,

Thank you for your feedback. I understand that exporting through the book is crucial for maintaining your links, and it sounds like you've encountered a frustrating issue.

To help the product team address this potential bug in InDesign 2025, I recommend submitting a crash report. You can do this by following the instructions here: Submit Crash Reports.

When submitting the report, please use the same email address you use to log in to the community. This will help us locate your submission more easily.

Your input is invaluable in helping improve InDesign, so thank you for taking the time to do this! If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.

Best,
Abhishek Rao

[saraheJP]

@Abhishek Rao thank you , I will do

[daniela_2563]

Personally I have been sending reports since I downloaded the last update and I have encountered the problem with PDF generation but the bug is not fixed yet.

Thank you,

Daniela

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @daniela_2563,

Thank you for your response and for submitting the reports. I understand it can be frustrating when issues persist.

Could you please confirm if the reports were submitted using the same Adobe ID you’re logged in with on the community? This will help us locate them internally and ensure they’re properly tracked by the product team.

Looking forward to your confirmation!

Best,

Abhishek Rao

[daniela_2563]

I always send the report from my account but unfortunately our company has changed its name and therefore the email address with which I logged in to this discussion is different from the email address with which I signed up to Adobe some time ago, even if they then redirect to the same email address and the initial part with my surname is the same. 

[massimo_5876]

ciao 

last update

indesign doesn't crash exporting pdf in printable mode 

but we need interactive 😄

thanks again

[leo.r]

also, what's your operating system's version?

[chiara_7538]

The operating system is Windows 11 Enterprise, version 24H2.

[BethSJP]

Hi @chiara_7538, also struggling with this issue. It still runs the PDF but will crash at the end. Have noticed it more with interactive PDF exporting. 

Have tried the below about saving as new file versions and a new book but this doesn't make any difference. 

Also on Windows 11 Pro V.23H2

Beth

[BethSJP]

for reference, I have just tried a packaged book onto my local machine, to check this isn't a network issue from our side. 

I have just submitted a report, but for reference, I have opened the packaged book file, ran an interactive PDF from the book drop down, as I have been doing normally, and it has crashed again. Still on Windows 11 Pro V.23H2. 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @chiara_7538 and @BethSJP,

I understand how frustrating this issue is, especially when it disrupts your workflow. To help investigate further, could you please provide the packaged book file for us to test? You can find guidance on how to create a package in the following link: Creating Assignment Packages.

Once we have the file, we can take a closer look at the issue and work toward a solution. Thank you for your patience!

Best,
Abhishek

[BethSJP]

Hi Abhishek, 

I can't send the specific file I am working on (however there are multiple), but I have looked at a previous file which has the same issue I am able to supply. Can you please let me know the best way to do this? Do you have an email address I can contact/send a transfer to, or can I message you privately with this? 

many thanks,

Beth

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @BethSJP,

Thank you for your response. I understand the need for privacy regarding the specific files. Please feel free to send me a direct message (DM) over the community with the packaged file, and I’ll take a look at it.

Looking forward to your message!

Best,
Abhishek

[BethSJP]

Hi Abhishek, thank you for getting back to me, I have just supplied you 2 links to download the packaged file, it was too large to send in one. 

Many thanks

Beth

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi Beth,

Thank you for providing the links to the packaged file. I appreciate your prompt response! I will test the files and get back to you with my findings soon.

Many thanks,  
Abhishek

[BethSJP]

Thanks Abhishek, 

I just thought to try 2 new blank documents with a couple of pages in, put into a new book, the same has happened and it crashes when creating the interactive PDF.

thanks

Beth