Large file size when exporting as a PDF - InDesign 2026

[Linda274776202tig]

InDesign 2026, exporting to a small PDF file doesn't work!!!! The PDF is way too large.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Linda274776202tig,

Thanks for reaching out. Could you share more details, such as whether this issue occurs with all InDesign documents, and provide screenshots of the export settings used, so we can better assist you? Also, try the suggestions shared here (https://adobe.ly/4qMfGHF) and let us know if they help.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Linda274776202tig]

Hello, thank you for trying to help me.

InDesign 2025,
my file is 348,288 KB in size.
Through File - Export - to PDF, my file is still 806 KB and easy to send
via email.


InDesign 2026
This is the same file, which is 348,288 KB in size.
Via File - Export - to PDF, my file is still 328,828 KB in size and
cannot be sent by email.

I have been working like this for years and have never had any problems,
but as soon as I do the same operation in 2026, I have problems.



Met vriendelijke groeten

Linda Deruyter




__________________________________
Verzonden met eM Client | www.emclient.com <>

[leo.r]

Hello, thank you for trying to help me.InDesign 2025,my file is 348,288 KB in size.Through File - Export - to PDF, my file is still 806 KB and easy to sendvia email.InDesign 2026This is the same file, which is 348,288 KB in size.Via File - Export - to PDF, my file is still 328,828 KB in size andcannot be sent by email.
By @Linda274776202tig

Are you sure you're using exactly the same PDF export settings in both versions of InDesign? If so, then can you post screenshots of the settings. I wonder if you can also share the InDesign file. In addition, what's your operating system version?

[Bill Silbert]

Make sure that [Smallest File Size] is chosen as the Adobe PDF Preset in the Export Adobe PDF dialog window. Also make sure that you are exporting as a Print PDF rather than an Interactive PDF.

[Linda274776202tig]

The problem has meanwhile been resolved for me. In the print menu, you need to turn off 'Preserve InDesign editing capabilities', then the files return to a normal size, and I can send my file by email again. There were others who also had this problem, and I hope they can proceed with this solution as well. Thanks to sunetn23296824.
Regards, Linda

[Linda274776202tig]

Hi, I had the same problem but it has been resolved for me in the
meantime. In the print menu, you need to turn off 'Preserve InDesign
Editing Capabilities', then the files will return to a normal size and I
can send my file by email again. There were others who had this problem
too, and I hope they can continue with this solution as well. Thanks to
sunetn23296824. Kind regards, Linda

[carloss67]

Sorry! This topic it's Not here - this is about to export to PDF ... and I, it's about to Export to Jpeg & Png, the Files Getting Very Heavy (Big) Adobe Indesign - Never Happened Before! 1080X1080 with 300 Dpi's gets 10.642 Kb !!! The best program from Adobe for Exporting | Compressing files and now they become huge | heavy - Why!!!? Adobe

[Anubhav M]

Hello @carloss67,

Thanks for reaching out. Could you share a link to a sample INDD file, the exported JPEG/PNG file, along with screenshots of the export settings used, so I can check this with the team?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[sunetn23296824]

I too am having the exact same problem. All the files I export in Ver 2026 are too big compared to the last Indesign version 😞

[nathanm10081180]

I am also having this same issue.  I am creating files with a bleed FOR PRINT.  I am not converting to RGB, as these are CMYK, at a high res for large format printing.  This exact file in 2025 was around 18MB.  I've updated with small changes to the text, with the same EXACT settings and no changes to the images; the file is now 543MB.  This is insanity; what can we do to fix this?

[nathanm10081180]

*while exporting to "High Quality Print" PDFs. ("Press Quality" is still obnoxiously large that my print vendors reject the PDF.)

[leo.r]

This exact file in 2025 was around 18MB.

the file is now 543MB.

By @nathanm10081180

Just to make sure: are you referring to the size of your InDesign file OR the exported PDF size?

[leo.r]

Other users have also reported this issue, here's one of the threads:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/pdf-export-create-very-large-file-since-2026-upg...

My own tests mentioned in that thread indicate that this indeed might be a valid concern.

[jamesb25822464]

I’m experiencing the same issue and have reverted back to the 2025 version until it’s resolved. It’s impossible to run a professional business on software that isn’t consistent. This problem seems to be happening more frequently, likely because the Adobe suite is being updated almost daily. I miss the days when we had properly tested disc or download releases that were updated annually, rather than rushed updates pushed out for the smallest changes.

[jamesb25822464]

Looks like the problem could be embeded images in the document.

Any chance this will be fixed?

[jamesb25822464]

You also can't copy and paste from 2025 to 2026 without it making it in to some sort of eps? WHY?

[jamesb25822464]

Sorry, that's either way (2025-2026 & 2026-2025)

[Mike Witherell]

Hi James,

Your comment appears to be a different matter relative to this post. May I suggest you start a new post and describe your challenge with more detail?

[leo.r]

You also can't copy and paste from 2025 to 2026 without it making it in to some sort of eps? WHY?

By @jamesb25822464

Yes, that's the usual behavior when you copy-paste between two different major versions.

[reagan_0580]

Also having this issue with both my preset and the default "smallest file size". PDFs of the exact same file exported on 2025 were 5-7MB and are now 48-50MB ex[orting with 2026 Indesign.... not ideal going to have to remove 2026 and redownload 2025 if possible to meet deadlines.....

[sunetn23296824]

Hi, 

Quick fix that I discovered but not a solution is you have to unceck : "Perserve Indesign editing capabilities" then the files are the normal size.

[BobLevine]

That is actually the solution. By maintaining InDesign edition capabilities, you are adding a tremendous amount of data to the file. 

[jamesb25822464]

Yep, it cuts down the file size, but it still doesn’t bring it back to the previous version’s size. The only workaround I’ve found is unembedding the images. I’ll be sticking with the 2025 version for the time being.

[leo.r]

The only workaround I’ve found is unembedding the images.

By @jamesb25822464

Do you have any particular reasons to embed images in InDesign documents? It's generally not advised anyway for various reasons.

(Which still doesn't mean that InDesign 2026 should produce bigger PDFs from the same InDesign files even if you uncheck the new editing capabilities option, so it remanis a valid concern).