InDesign and Adobe Font activation as background task during PDF export

[Michael382280199icf]

Anyone else have this issue when trying to export a PDF--

The PDF export will not complete and is stuck in queued because InDesign is trying to activate a font that is already installed or added, and sometimes this font it is trying to add is not even from the open document?

This happens to me often, and opening and closing InDesign helps but it is a pain to do all the time. Also, sometimes toggling off and back on Adobe fonts temporarily resolves the issue.

[leo.r]

Check these threads that discuss this issue, see if any solution there helps: 

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/quot-activating-font-quot-background-task-won-t-...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/background-task-activating-fonts-queuing-error/m...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-background-task-never-completes-activat...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/background-tasks-activating-font-spinning-endles...

[Michael382280199icf]

Thank you for these discussion links. I was hoping that since these were older discussions, Adobe had addressed this issue and has devised a better solution than turning off auto-activation or rebooting. As a professional handling 100's of documents a month, constantly needing to quit InDesign/reboot machine is tedious. And turning off auto-activation is not an option as I have several colleagues who need to work on the same files.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Michael382280199icf

Try turning off background Tasks - article by @BobLevine: 

https://creativepro.com/a-new-workaround-for-that-pesky-background-export-issue/ 

[Michael382280199icf]

Thanks Robert, unfortunately it appears that the "DisableAsyncExports.txt" method no longer works starting with InDesign 2025.

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Michael382280199icf,

Would you mind trying the following steps and checking if it helps:

• Close all Adobe applications
• Remove the Creative Cloud Desktop application, CCLibrary, and CoreSync using the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool (https://adobe.ly/4lU83N5)
• Reinstall the Creative Cloud Desktop application (https://adobe.ly/437CCat)
• Relaunch InDesign

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Thanks Robert, unfortunately it appears that the "DisableAsyncExports.txt" method no longer works starting with InDesign 2025.

By @Michael382280199icf

It worked for me.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

I can't check right now - but I'm pretty sure it worked for me as well a few days ago.

[Michael382280199icf]

Thanks all! It appears it does work in 2025, but by organization has limited my admin privledges and this txt file cannot be created by the script or added manually. But I take it that exporting a PDF through a script would eliminate PDFs from being created as a background task and avoid this problem? If that is the case that is probably the route I will go. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

You didn't mention scripting in your earlier post. Nothing like adding parameters after the fact!

Here is an article with a script download. Have no idea if it still works in 2025 or if it will work in your environment.

[Bill Silbert]

Are you on a Mac using a font manager for your non-adobe fonts? Specifically, are you using the Typeface font manager? This particular font manager has been known to cause conflicts in the latest versions of InDesign. If this is the case try disabling it and see if the problem persists.

[Michael382280199icf]

Yes, on a Mac using a font manager (not Typeface). Will try.