InDesign 2025 Performance Issues on Mac M1: Spinning Beach Ball and Crashes in 2024 Version

[cg91002266]

I installed the new Indesign 2025 and it has been unsuable (I get the spinning beach ball everytime I try to scroll). So I have gone back to 2024 but now have issues with it crashing and I lost work. Anyone else having big issues with 2024 since the update of 2025? Or anyone know how to solve the 2025 issues so it is actually usable? (I am on a Mac, Apple M1 Max chip, 64 GB memory running Sequoia 15.0.1). Thank you! 

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[Carla_L]

I was having the same problem. I couldn't do anything in Indesign 2025 without having to wait ridiculously long for the program to respond. It was using up more than 100% of my CPU. I found out that using PDF images inside of my document was what was causing it. I opened up Photoshop and converted my images to JPGs and created a new Indesign 2025 document with those instead, and no longer have the problem with getting the spinning beach ball all of the time and having very long lags. If you are using Indesign 2025 on a MacBook Pro and it keeps freezing up and not responding, and using up high amounts of your CPU, make sure you are not using PDFs in your document. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Did you upgrade to 20.1 yet?

[Carla_L]

Yes, I updated to 20.1 as one of the things that I did to try to troubleshoot the issue. Unfortunately, updating to 20.1 didn't work. I still had the same problems with high CPU usage, spinning beach ball, program freezing and lagging. However, it does work fine as along as I don't use any PDFs in my document. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Carla_L

What is the source of your PDF files?

Have you updated to 20.1 at the time of conversion PDF->JPEG? 

[Carla_L]

My PDF files were created in Photoshop 2025. Yes, I had updated to 20.1 before I realized the PDFs were the issue.

[leo.r]

My PDF files were created in Photoshop 2025.

By @Carla_L

Interesting... I wonder if you have this problem with PDFs created in other apps (not Photoshop), or if you resave these PDFs from Acrobat?

[Carla_L]

For reference, I'm running Sonoma 14.3.1 on a MacBook Pro M1 Max 16" 2021 - 64 GB.

I have the same issue with InDesign 2024 and InDesign 2025 with regards to not being able to use PDFs without 100% CPU usage, spinning beach balls, and horrible lag time. If I don't use PDFs, then the programs seem to be working fine. 

[leo.r]

For reference, I'm running Sonoma 14.3.1

By @Carla_L

Try to update to the latest Sonoma version (even though I'd be surprised if it makes a difference in this particular case).

[Manuel27255616t5uh]

Hey guys – same Problem with an Macbook Pro 16", Nov. 2023 – Apple M3 Max – 64GB 

the wheel keeps Spinning on allmost every action since the update to 25. 

Thats not wat InDesign should do – FIX ASAP!

[Manuel27255616t5uh]

In addition I have to say that we are a Creative Agency – we depend on Adobe working.

My collegues have the same Issues …

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Manuel27255616t5uh

Can't you go back to 2024? 

[Manuel27255616t5uh]

We are currently discussing this option, but there are so many new documents that it would cost a lot of time – do we write a check to adobe for that time?

We are paying for a product that is not working the way it should work – That is the Problem, not us reacting on Adobes failure. It should not need 3 Months to solve a big widespread problem. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Manuel27255616t5uh

Yes, you are right, it shouldn't. 

But it's never a good idea to upgrade to the latest version of the software as soon as it's available. It's always best to wait at least one minor update. 

Especially, in the production environment, without prior testing for stability. 

Also, I don't think there are any really good "reasons" - new features - in the 2025 version - that would justify upgrading? 

[Manuel27255616t5uh]

The software update was available since october 24 – so we waited (because i know that there are bugs every year and they are getting worse)

Now its the 30 of january – there was an update to the version of october.

Either you dont know what you are talking about or you are misinformed. 

If you want to comment please help instead of what you are trying.  

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Manuel27255616t5uh

I'm sorry, I didn't meant to offend you.

Unfortunately, years of experience taught me, that it's never a good idea to update to the latest version - until forums aren't full of complains. 

Exactly the same problem - instability issues - was a year ago or so - when Apple introduced a new iOS and Adobe v19 / 2024. Users for moths couldn't use InDesign. 

[Herbiedriver1]

Robert, you and your crew are getting quite rude with chastising customers when they upgrade and it doesn't work. These apps have been through Beta stages, and then released with a small sentence usually containing a phrase that states "This release includes bug fixes and performance improvements". 

So when Adobe drops an update, we as consumers, paid customers, assumes it is a minor improvement, remember "includes bug fixes, etc."

With you and your crew telling us we're fools for updating our apps, via paid subscriptions, especially a *minor* revision, is totally and completely uncalled for.  Stick with customer support.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Herbiedriver1

I'm sorry, I didn't meant to offend you.

I don't work for Adobe - I'm just a regular user, like you. 

You're not a fool at all - you're just trusting too much in what updates say - without testing it yourself. 

And you're right, Adobe haven't done a good job in testing latest version before making it public. 

Although, in their defence - problem with the Magnet app wasn't Adobe's fault. 

After the previous version experience - no one should install latest version of InDesign on production machines. 

[Herbiedriver1]

Thank you for the apology, but Adobe, being in the industry for decades, should know when they should release an update.

As for blaming the Magnet app, I don't have Magnet, never installed it.

The only true solution to this problem is to have customer roll back to the previous version. But that has it's own set of problems, especially when you receive client files from a new version.

As for years of experience, you are talking to someone who has been an Adobe customer since 1987. Once was a beta tester when they would send you floppies to test.  So yes, I have been around the block as well.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I have to second @Robert at ID-Tasker comments. If one is in a professional design/production entironment, upgrading for a relatively new release can be problematic. This includes Adobe software and the Mac OS. Both have histories of having problems upon release. IIRC, InDesign 2025 was released last September and the Mac OS was released last October. One should wait at least 6 months before upgrading.

Lucily, the Creative Cloud app's preferences allows on to keep the older versions while installing the new version. That way, one can test the new version on non-critical files. 

[Manuel27255616t5uh]

I have to strongly disagree – if you relase software, and people pay a lot of money for it,  it should work. 

We as a community allowed it for to long that this kind of practice happens everywhere now. (I dont mean little problems – mistakes are human and ok) 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS · Accepted solution]

Just a note about an M1 Mac... 

With the latest OS update 15.3 and InDesign update 20.1, I am not experiencing any delay. 

[Craigvs]

InDesign 2025 is horrible. Mine keeps crashing when I click and drag any element. Besides all the lagging and the screen not updating. This has been going for over 4 months now Adobe??? 

[leo.r]

InDesign 2025 is horrible. Mine keeps crashing when I click and drag any element.

By @Craigvs

Does it happen when you actually Option-drag an object to make a copy? If so, then it's a known bug in InDesign 20.1. Try to roll back to InDesign 20.0.1 (Creative Cloud app > InDesign > Other Versions menu). Although earlier versions have their own sets of issues.

Also, what's your macOS version?

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Besides the EXACT Mac OS version, please give your EXACT InDesign version.

For example, the latest Mac OS is 15.3.1 and the latest InDesign is 20.1.

[DynaGraphics Reno]

 macOS 15.x is not a prerequisite of InDesign

I'm experiencing the problem *ONLY* on Apple Silicon. I have 2 computers, side by side on my desk. Both on macOS 12.7.6. One's a M1 Mac Mini (2020), the other an Intel iMac (Late 2015)
InDesign 2025 is so slow as to call it unusable on the (M1) Mac Mini.
InDesign 2025 runs perfectly fine on the (Intel) iMac.

Same OS (12.7.6)

Same version of InDesign (20.1)

No 3rd party plugins

Same files

Same enviornment

Completely different results

This screams that the software is not coded properly for Apple Silicon.