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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[Bernie5E0A]

Yep, having the same issue. Unusably slow, constant whizzing wheel every time you do anything. Reverted to 2024 version.

[Gary at Brand-ing]

I cannot believe Aobe would actually release a version like this. It's incrrdibly poor of them. Beyong belief.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You already stated that. 

[michaela74685873]

Same Issue.  Totally unusable software. I going to have to revert back to 2024.

[Don30229011tva4]

FWIW, I too was frustrated by this. I knew it couldn't be all my documents suddenly being corrupt, and I keep my installed fonts pared down, so I bit the bullet and emptied caches and reset Preferences. This seems to have worked.

I would suggest deleting that caches first to see if that resolves the issue. If not, then reset preferences. I did scren shots of all my preference settings before I reset them so I could get back where I liked to be. Be sure to note your panel layout and  workspace too!

The bottom of this page shows where the cache files (and preferences) are: https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/using/setting-preferences.html

Good luck to yahs all!

[Frans v.d. Geest]

Same here, on Mac M1 Max... disabled Context bar, emptied caches, rebuild preferences... There is something wrong with this version.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Same here, on Mac M1 Max... disabled Context bar, emptied caches, rebuild preferences... There is something wrong with this version.

By @Frans v.d. Geest

Looks like it hasn't been tested at all... especially on Apple CPUs... 

[Frans v.d. Geest]

I've reported the slow behavior with the Context bar many times during pre release testing. They released it anyway...

[Abhishek Rao]

Hello everyone,

To help us further investigate and resolve the performance issue with InDesign 2025, could you please provide the following information:

1. Does the issue also exist with InDesign 19.5.0 or is it specific to InDesign 2025?
2. Is this issue only happening on MacBook Pro devices, or are users also experiencing it on iMacs?
3. Is the issue specific to macOS Sequoia, or does it occur on other macOS versions like Sonoma or Ventura as well?

Your input will help our team prioritize the fix and improve the overall performance. Thank you for your cooperation!

Best,

Abhishek Rao

[jenshauge]

MacBookPro M1 here with Sonoma 14.6.1 and after installing 2025-version of InDesign horrible times with spinning beach ball and crashes especially when copy paste. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

MacBookPro M1 here with Sonoma 14.6.1 and after installing 2025-version of InDesign horrible times with spinning beach ball and crashes especially when copy paste. 

By @jenshauge

Unfortunately, for now, the only solution for you is to downgrade to 2024 / 19.5. 

[jenshauge]

Thank you.  Please, I have two questions: 
1) Do I need to uninstall the 2025-version first?
2) Will I be able to open my 90-pages document in the previous version of InDesign?

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thank you.  Please, I have two questions: 
1) Do I need to uninstall the 2025-version first?
2) Will I be able to open my 90-pages document in the previous version of InDesign?

By @jenshauge

1) no, you can have multiple major versions 20, 19, 18, etc. - installed at the same time, but you can't have 19.2 and 19.5 - minor versions of the same major version. 

2) were you able to create this document in 2025 already? Anyway, when you try to open document created in 2025, in 2024,you should see a warning and question if you want Adobe to convert it for you.

Or If you can still open it in 2025 - export it as IDML - then you'll be able to open it in 2024. 

[jenshauge]

Thank you so much! 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Thank you so much! 

By @jenshauge

You're welcome. 

[Abhishek Rao]

Hello everyone,

It’s clear from this thread that many of us are experiencing frustrating performance issues with InDesign 2025, especially regarding the constant spinning wheel on macOS Sequoia. To help bring this to the attention of the product team and prioritize a solution, I encourage you all to upvote and comment on the relevant UserVoice suggestion.

Your feedback is vital in demonstrating the impact of these issues and pushing for a fix. Let’s ensure our voices are heard!

Upvote and comment here.

Thank you for your support, and let’s hope for a swift resolution!

Thanks, 

Abhishek Rao

[RobFrease]

I updated my Mac to new Macos-Sequoia. I have Mac Studio, 2 x 32 inch 4K monitor, 64gb ram.

Now InDesign is laggy,  I click an object and wait for 1 second delay for InDesign to select.

On my end I did these to improve:

-Mac up to date

-Adobe up to date

-Reduced file sizes

-Turned off Preflight

-All images in same links folder

-No Transparent effects

-Unchecked GPU performance

-Nothing running in the background

Nothing worked

Open for more recomendations

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@RobFrease 

InDesign 2024 or 2025?

[RobFrease]

2025

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

2025

By @RobFrease

Then you should downgrade to 2024. 

There are a lot of serious bugs & glitches in 2025... 

[RobFrease]

Thank you, will do!

[RobFrease]

Thank you Robert, InDesign 2024 19.5 working flawless. I am flying through pages right now.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

As a general rule, one should wait 6-12 months after any major software or OS release, especially on production units. And whatever you do, don't upgrade both in a short timeframe. Sequoia just came out in Sept. and ID 20 in Oct. Too soon for "prime time". 

[Jeroen357688072isn]

Same problem here.

Opening one file seems okay only slight performance drop versus version 2024.
When opening two or more files, it is no longer workable and I get the wheel spinning continuously.

Running on iMac Retina 5K, 27-inch, 2020 with Sonoma 14.7.1 (23H222)

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Jeroen357688072isn

Downgrade to 2024 / 19.5