Certain Variable Fonts crash InDesign 2026

[taylor.brunwald]

My software recently updated to Adobe InDesign 2026 on Windows 11. Whenever I try opening an InDesign document now, I receive a dialog box with the error message "Adobe InDesign 2026 has encountered a problem and needs to close." The program then closes.

I've sent multiple reports. I've updated Windows 11 to the most recent version. I've tried running InDesign as an administrator. Nothing seems to work.

Has anyone else experienced this issue? What can be done here?

<Title renamed by MOD>

[Mike Witherell]

Hi Taylor,

Experiment with resetting InDesign (in up to 4 ways).

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/reset-indesign-preferences-and-other-troubleshoo...

[taylor.brunwald]

I tried these fixes and the issue persists. I even tried repairing my system's C++ files and running the system in Safe Mode, yet InDesign continues to crash upon opening.

[Eugene Tyson]

If @Mike Witherell compendium of fixes is not working or still have issues

I did see this the other day, could be similar

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-v21-not-starting-after-update-win-11/m-...

[taylor.brunwald]

I tried repairing the C++ files and the issue persists. It even persists in Safe Mode.

[Eugene Tyson]

Did you try the creative cloud cleaner tool - I have a saved snippet here to post

Reinstalling rarely fixes everything - you can do a complete reinstall using the
Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

[defaultzchg1y2buluk]

same here! had to uninstall and go back to previous versions

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @taylor.brunwald,

Thanks for sharing the crash details and reporting this. I've reviewed your crash reports and can confirm that a bug has been logged for this issue. The product team has identified the root cause and is already working on a fix.

It appears that the crash is related to certain variable fonts used in some documents. As a temporary workaround, you can remove the affected variable font from your system or document package, or roll back to the previous InDesign version (20.5) until the fix is released.

I'll keep you updated here once the fix becomes available.

Thanks again for your patience and for helping us make InDesign better.

Abhishek

[AnemaDesigns]

Hi @Abhishek Rao , 

I've been having the same issues. To the point where I cannot open any InDesign file and affecting my work. Has this bug issue been sorted?

[Janesveg]

Our whole Design Team are having the same problems and can't update. Our IT chaps are looking into it but now it looks like an Adobe problem I'll update them.

[claudia2323]

I've had now the second case where InDesign 2026 (V21.0) crashes when I try to use certain variable fonts. 

The second I apply the font, InDesign crashes.

I'm on Windows 11, version 25H2 (German OS, English InDesign). It crashes when I open a document with the font in it. It also crashes when I import a paragraph style which contains the font or when I just mark text and try to manually apply it. I've also created a new document and tried there to make sure the issue isn't with my original document. 

1) I've used the font in earlier versions of InDesign without problems

2) The font still works without problem in other Adobe apps (I've tried Illustrator and Photoshop) and also outside of Adobe (I've tried Word... there ofc I only get the default weight because of limited support but that still works). 

I'm using the original font from the designer (Calvin Variable from Typogama) but just in case, I've re-exported the font with a font design tool to see if it makes a difference but I had the same issues as before. It crashes InDesign 2026 and works everywhere else. 

Any ideas what could be the issue and how to resolve it?

Thanks,

Claudia

[claudia2323]

More issues and info...

I've encountered another font with the same issue as described above: Advent Pro (a variable Google Font).

Did some more testing and narrowing down: 

1) Uninstalled & re-installed InDesign  => no change

2) Uninstalled InDesign with your cleaner tool and then re-installed => no change

3) Uninstalled the CC app with your cleaner tool and then re-installed => no change

4) Deleted the Windows font cache => stopped the Windows service and deleted what I could in C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache (I couldn't delete all files in there; Windows would allow me to only delete about half). Restarted everything... => no change

5) Now it's getting interesting: Uninstalled V21.0 and re-installed 20.5 (ie old version) => Font is working properly without crashing. Same font, the only change is the version of InDesign. 

Ie it appears to be a font problem with InDesign 2026 (V21.0), and specifically with certain variable fonts.

I would appreciate any help because I use more and more variable fonts and I have to use the new InDesign version since I updated most of my key templates/documents to the new version already. 

Thanks,

Claudia

[Eugene Tyson]

Could be the variable fonts need a new version or something - did you check with the Variable Font makers to see if there's any updates?

Frustrating that it's not working for you. 

[Pia272631410j6r]

Hello, 

I do have the exact same problem with some Variable Fonts and hope that this problem will be resolved soon!

Best, 

Pia

[claudia2323]

Although it is frustrating for both of us, at least it's good to know I'm not alone with this problem. It reenforces that the issue is indeed with the latest InDesign version and not with your or my set up/installation. 

[jonascreates]

after updating to InDesign 2026, I’m experiencing consistent crashes when trying to open INDD files created with InDesign 2025.

The app loads the document interface, even the document shows up for a second and then immediately quits without an error message.

This does not apple to every document but quite a lot of them.

Will re-install IND 2025 to maintain workflow.

Community: Anyone else facing this issue?
Staff: please investigate, escalate, fix?

PS: Super tired of resetting prefs and the whole shebang and having to invest hours experimenting trying to make software run that I've been paying several grand for in the last decade.

[Bill Silbert]

It's understandable to get tired of resetting preferences but after an upgrade it is essential. Old preferences are tied to old code and don't always respond well to new code. If you have been resetting preferences using key commands try doing it manually in the manner described below:

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: 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.

[jonascreates]

Hey Bill,

thanks. I reset the prefs, even restarted my Mac. No luck. 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @jonascreates,

I'm sorry to learn about the trouble you're having with InDesign. Could you please try the recommendations outlined in this help article (https://adobe.ly/480Ndpg) and see if they assist? Additionally, please submit the crash report using your Adobe email address and share it here for swift tracking. The steps are provided here: (https://adobe.ly/47AMfAW). We value your time and patience in helping us address this matter.

Anubhav

[jonascreates]

Hey Anubhav,

see attached report + I send the same one with with my adobe email address via Adobe Crash Reporter.

I removed my mail address in the report below.

[jonascreates]

@Anubhav M did you get the report? Any insights?

[Abhishek Rao]

Hello @jonascreates,

I appreciate your crash report. I have reviewed the submission and can verify that a bug has been recorded concerning this issue. The product team is diligently working on a solution.

In the meantime, please check the latest pinned response in this thread for the suggested temporary workaround and further information. If you wish, you can revert to the earlier version while the fix is being developed.

I will keep you updated with any progress. Thank you for your patience. 

Abhishek

[Formation Creative]

Yep, same here. 
2026 refuses to load a 2025 file. Won't even accept information copied from a 2025 doc (pastes them in as a flattened jpeg). 
Saving the file I want to open as an IMDL seemed to help as a workaround for some files.. But this is an expensive piece of leading-edge software; it shouldn't have such a huge glitch like this. 
I, too, have reverted to 2025.

[Erwin24261358scj5]

same sh*t...

[leo.r]

Won't even accept information copied from a 2025 doc (pastes them in as a flattened jpeg). 

By @Formation Creative

Just oin case, that's a standard behavior when copying between two different major versions of InDesign.

Also, what's your operating system version and how much RAM do you have?

In any case, at this point it does look like an issue that multiple users experience.