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! 

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi everyone,

Thank you for sharing the details regarding the performance issues you’re facing. In order to help the product team further investigate and identify the root cause, they’ve requested that you provide a spindump. This diagnostic report will help us analyze any potential factors contributing to the crashes and performance slowdowns.

Here are the steps to capture a spindump on your Mac:

1. Reproduce the issue by opening InDesign and performing the actions that cause the spinning beach ball or crash.
2. Open the Console application:
   • Go to Applications > Utilities > Console.
3. In the Console, go to Action > Send a Report.
4. Then, select Spindump and save the file.
5. Please share the saved spindump file with us by uploading it here.

This will provide valuable insight to the product team and help us resolve the issue more effectively.

Looking forward to your response!

Best,
Abhishek

[WayneS-HFS]

I have reset preferences, tried saving as IDML, and then eventually uninstalled ID (20.0) and reinstalled. Nothing has worked. It has become unusable at this point. Every command or movement results in the spinning ball.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

A new OS (September 2024) and a new InDesign version (October 2024) do not make a good combo. Neither have been user tested for any length of time. Back down to ID 2024 for a few months.

[jenshauge]

I have downgraded to 19 and uninstalled 20.  I have run CleanMy Mac and I am holding my breath and only drinking water and coffee, but the problems have followed the file like a ghost …:
I cannot copy & paste without file crashing. Text on pages disappear. Illustrations disappear. Suddenly, some elements are visible on the page. And then gone again.
I have 90 pages with lots of text and illustrations that need to be ready tomorrow afternoon. This is so horrible!

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@jenshauge

Try IDMLing - export as IDML, open, save with a new name - do not overwrite your original file.

[jenshauge]

Thank you. I tried that but only got what looked like temporary files.  

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Did someone force you to upgrade the OS or software in such a short period of time since their release? Was there a feature you were just "dying" for and needed for work?

Check your Mac preferences and Creative Cloud preferences to make sure they are not set to auto update. Id you want to play new new versions of Adobe software, you can install multiple [major] versions on the same system. Make sure you have enough hard drive space. Also, open the version you want to play with and use the open menu--don't double-click on files at the desktop level.

[jenshauge]

Thanks for advice. Yes, my Creatice Cloud preferences were set to auto update. I have been using Mac since 1988 and I for many years I have not had any trouble with upgrades. I was not prepared for this situation. The setting is now changed.
The file, even after I have uninstalled v.20 and opened it from within v.19.5 is still totally hopeless. I have now started to make the publication from a new document "native" from v.19.5 instead of the document that was converted from v.20.  
If I am lucky, I can copy the elements from each page in the corrupt document and paste into this document without the ghost following.   

[kcdizzle]

For the love of God, has this been fixed yet? i have a macbook, it's older, running ventura. PLEASE FIX THIS!!!! i never had an issue running any adobe programs until this new 2025 version. My working speed has been cut in HALF waiting for the stupid curser to move. UGH!!!

[BobLevine]

What version of Ventura? 

[tscalway]

I am still exeperiencing this on an iMac ...can Adobe fix this ....cant do anything in this 2025 update with a spinning ball speed bump and work with a large community of designers that downgrading to 2024 means I have to convert files and that doesnt seem to work at the moment ... worst update ever!

[robert_7293]

I have the same issue - on a small (3-page) document.  Every click is followed by 3-5 seconds of spinning beach ball.

M1 Mac Studio 32GB memory Running Sequoia 15.2

[usedave]

Same porblem here, and very fristarting as converting files back to 2024 is tedious.

[Marek28380347xkn3]

Hello, since I installed InDesin 2025 it has been impossible for me to work. I experience a delay with every click, whether it's an object in the document itself or simply selecting something in the menu. I would immediately switch to the previous version but unfortunately I have to stick with the current version for a client. It's really annoying how Adobe is charging money for a beta version here... (I work on a mac book pro M1, 15.1.1) And yes, I have seen and tried all the workarounds here in the forum, unfortunately without success. 

When can we expect a proper functioning version? I don't need your fancy ai-tools, I need a stable and fast InDesign.

[reblou · Accepted solution]

In case you still have that problem - my textwindows were moving and lagging every single time i clicked on/selected them and after hours of searching thorugh the fastness of the internet I found this in a forum:

"You won’t believe it but I traced the problem after even formatting the Mac… it was app called MAGNET when it was installed and working it’s messed up indesign I have no idea how but if I closed the magnet app indesign starts to work normally xD so maybe you are using app that is similar to magnet than try to uninstall it and check it again :)"

And it fixed it!! After resetting all preferences (I work in the school book industry, setting it all up is a pain) and clearing the cache, etc etc., that was it - all I had to do was QUIT MAGNET 😄

[Gareth5C2A]

This worked! thanks very much, @reblou , I use Magnet on a day-to-day. Pitty it's causing issues with InDesign.

[reblou]

I'm glad it helped you as well!! Maybe just open it when needed and quit when working in InDesign... ?

It's definitely a pain when you're so used to using Magnet daily 😕

[tanyazboya]

Im seeing the same issues with InDesign Macbook Pro 2018

[nancy_j_design]

I'm having the same issue. Hope there is a solution here as I can't even use it.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@nancy_j_design

If you have Magnet app installed - disable it.

[nancy_j_design]

I do not. any other tips? Has anyone found a solution to this?

[raymondd13924530]

Same problem, laggy piece software from Adobe have gone back to 2024. Do they not even bother testing the software anymore? I love the classic "delete preferences and restart" solution 🙂

[leo.r]

Same problem, laggy piece software from Adobe have gone back to 2024. Do they not even bother testing the software anymore? I love the classic "delete preferences and restart" solution 🙂

By @raymondd13924530

It's one of those bugs that's hardest to fix: while many users do experience this problem, the majority of users don't. Plus Adobe also can't seem to reproduce this bug on their side. Users are justifiably enraged, while developers are struggling to find a way to even witness the issue.

[Herbiedriver1]

Maybe the developers should have actual users test the software, real life users, not just hobbyist beta users.  I need this software to do my job. My. Job.  I have used Adobe products since 1988 and having to deal with all of these new issues is frustrating. Just this morning I had to go back 3 versions just to get Bridge to work, I was freaking out, I have a press deadline that I needed to meet and Bridge is what I use to cull and rate photos...

[raymondd13924530]

I second that Herbiedriver1 🙂