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OsakaWebbie
OsakaWebbie
Inspiring
May 4, 2025
Answered

InDesign falsely claims a font is missing

  • May 4, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 2792 views

I added several Adobe fonts from the family AgencyFB, and then used three of them (Bold, BoldWide, and BlackWide) in an InDesign document. A day or so later, InDesign started claiming that the Bold version is missing, but it's definitely not. I removed and re-added it on the Adobe Fonts page, but there was no change in InDesign. I can still choose that font variation in the pulldown, and InDesign will render it properly and even embed it in exported PDFs, while continuing to claim it's missing! I did notice that in the list of embedded fonts in the PDF, Bold is rumored to be TrueType while BoldWide and BlackWide are Type 1 Open Type - it seems unlikely that different fonts in the same family would be different types, so that got my attention. In InDesign's Find/Replace Font dialog, the More Info area says the font is supposed to be OpenType CFF, not TrueType, so that's definitely odd. What should I do to try and fix this?

 

Here are three screenshots to support what I just wrote: (1) a view in InDesign showing the font pulldown and one of the pieces of text being displayed by InDesign in classic "I can't find this font" pink, (2) Find/Replace Fonts with the full info showing, and (3) the relevant part of the font list in an exported PDF.

    Correct answer Brad @ Roaring Mouse

    There is literally no mechanism in InDesign to change a font from OpenType CFF to TrueType when creating a PDF. That means there must be a version of Agency FB Bold in TT format somewhere on your system that is conflicting.

    Since it appears you are on Windows, just know Windows/Office apps include AgencyFB Regular and Bold in TrueType; I suspect that is causing your issues, so if you want to use the expanded family from Adobe Fonts, you will need to deactivate the TT version that Windows supplies. e.g. check your C:\Windows|Fonts folder or C:Users\**Username**\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts

    4 replies

    Brad @ Roaring Mouse
    Community Expert
    Brad @ Roaring MouseCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    May 4, 2025

    There is literally no mechanism in InDesign to change a font from OpenType CFF to TrueType when creating a PDF. That means there must be a version of Agency FB Bold in TT format somewhere on your system that is conflicting.

    Since it appears you are on Windows, just know Windows/Office apps include AgencyFB Regular and Bold in TrueType; I suspect that is causing your issues, so if you want to use the expanded family from Adobe Fonts, you will need to deactivate the TT version that Windows supplies. e.g. check your C:\Windows|Fonts folder or C:Users\**Username**\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows\Fonts

      OsakaWebbie
      OsakaWebbieAuthor
      Inspiring
      May 5, 2025

      Aha! This is probably related, but it's not solved yet. Yes, you are correct - Bold and Regular are in C:\Windows\Fonts. Although the CC app claims the Adobe versions are installed (for Adobe apps only), apparently there is interference between them or something.

       

      Interestingly, Windows claims the designer/foundry is The Font Bureau, whereas Adobe Fonts says it's David Berlow/Monotype. It seems unlikely to be a name coincidence, but anyway, onward we go trying to solve it.

       

      I removed the Adobe versions of Bold and Regular using the CC app, and then looked again at InDesign, hoping I could just use the Windows font. InDesign then indicated it as "[Bold]" instead of just "Bold". Then I changed the paragraph style to something else, saved, and closed/re-opened InDesign. At that point, Bold (and Regular) were no longer choices at all. Then with InDesign closed, I added Adobe's Bold again, and opened InDesign. I'm back where I started - Bold is a choice (not in brackets) and I can select it, but the text becomes pink and Find/Replace Font reports it as missing.

       

      It's possible that it would clear up if I uninstalled the two Windows fonts, and presumably OpenType CFF is a better font format than TrueType (at least it's newer), but I hesitate to uninstall fonts that came with Windows - I don't know what other effects that might have.

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      May 5, 2025

      @OsakaWebbie

       

      Can you share a sample document? 

       

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 4, 2025

      Hi @OsakaWebbie , Also, check your Creative Clound>Apps>Managed fonts window and make sure AgencyFB is listed and active:

       

       

      And if you go to the Adobe Fonts site, search for AgencyFB and make sure the Add font button has changed to Remove, which indicates it is active on your account:

       

      OsakaWebbie
      OsakaWebbieAuthor
      Inspiring
      May 4, 2025

      I had already confirmed both those things. I even took screenshots of them, but I didn't bother including them in my initial post because it was already really long.

      rob day
      Community Expert
      rob dayCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 5, 2025

      Variations on this problem are starting to be common on the forum, and I think in all cases they involve conflicts between fonts activated at Adobe Type, and fonts with the same name installed in the local system’s font folders. In the end it will be better not to mix local and cloud fonts with the same name and different version numbers.

       

      When I opened your example file there were no missing fonts because I don’t have a local version of Agency FB installed in my system, and I have InDesign setup to auto activate Adobe Fonts as needed:

       

       

       

      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Robert at ID-Tasker
      Legend
      May 4, 2025

      What platform - Windows? 

       

      What OS and InDesign versions? 

       

      If you've updated recently to 20.3 - try downgrading to 20.2 or lower. 

       

       

      OsakaWebbie
      OsakaWebbieAuthor
      Inspiring
      May 4, 2025

      Windows 11. InDesign 20.3, but I'm pretty sure I was already on that version before I added the fonts at all.

      Mike Witherell
      Community Expert
      Mike WitherellCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      May 4, 2025

      Hi Osaka,

      I have strange things like this happen to me occasionally. Here are some things I try:

      I use a file utility to search for all instances of that font and delete them (or move them to some neutral place).

      I use the CC App (fonts tab) to remove all the fonts in question.

      I visit fonts.adobe.com to make sure it doesn't think I have those fonts loaded.

      I then sign out of my CC account, reboot, then sign back in.

      This way I can try to begin the process again, probably by visiting fonts.adobe.com to install the font family.

      Optionally, I usually also go to the CC App and install the same font so I can use it in any and all apps.

      PS: Don't forget to check for the font in some "Document fonts" folder (and delete them from there, too)

      Mike Witherell
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