InDesign slow or non-responsive when searching for missing fonts on file open.

[hopkinsprinting]

Just as the subject says, when opening an InDesign file that has missing fonts, I get a beachball cursor. After many seconds, InDesign will either report the missing fonts or it will go non-responsive and stay that way until a force quit is initiated.

Running an Intel iMac with Big Sur (11.6.7) and InDesign CC 2022 (17.3). I have seen another thread or two on here about this but so far I have not found anything that suggests a solution.

Anyone else find a solution?

TIA,

hp

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi @hopkinsprinting ,

Sorry to hear about the trouble. Could you please try the suggestions shared here https://helpx.adobe.com/fonts/kb/troubleshoot-fonts-illustrator-indesign.html and let us know if this helps or if you need any further assistance.

Regards

Rishabh

[hopkinsprinting]

Hi Rishabh,

I don't have any plugins installed, clearing the system cache made no difference and, this issue is not related to any particular font. This is happening on multiple computers. Something has changed with InDesign.

Jon

[Bill Silbert]

Since there are not massive reports of this kind of font issue happening with your version of InDesign it seem far more likely that the problem is related to how your fonts are installed. First of all are you using fonts from a server or are they installed directly on the hard drives of the machines involved? If on a server then loading the fonts locally may be the answer. Using fonts directly from a server always works best if the server software is kept up to date. If you are loading fonts from a server then when you decided to update to the latest InDesign the server software should have been checked for compatibility with the new InDesign. If you are not working from a server please report as to how your fonts are loaded. Are they done through a font utility such as Suitcase or Font Book or loaded directly into the User font folder? I don't suggest loading fonts into the Font folder in the InDesign Application folder.

[hopkinsprinting]

Hi Bill. Thank you for the reply. Unfortunately, you're not understanding what I am saying. InDesign is not slow or non-responsive when fonts ARE loaded. It becomes slow or non-responsive when opening an InDesign file that has one or more fonts MISSING.

[sqpeg]

InDesign CC 2022 (17.3) – Indesign files that have missing fonts very slow to open.

Hi, just a response in support. 

Yes, we are experiencing the same issue 

Beachballing for ages ( make a cup of tea) when opening Indesign files that have missing fonts.

iMac 2019 with Monterey (12.4) and InDesign CC 2022 (17.3) with Typeface (3.60)-Type co-ordinator

NOTE: I have Indesign 2021 (16.4.2) and the font missing dialogue pops up straight away no lag

Hopefully and bug fix update on the horizon.

[sqpeg · Accepted solution]

Resolved – InDesign CC 2022 (17.3) – Indesign files that have missing fonts very slow to open.

I ran the 'unistall option', and re-installed fresh version, – this solved slow opening issue

[hopkinsprinting]

Uninstalling and reinstalling InDesign (along with a couple reboots) did NOT fix the issue for me. InDesign is still slow (beachball cursor for about 20 seconds) opening a file with a missing font.

[hopkinsprinting]

So far, it appears that the 17.4 update seems to resolve this issue.

[Bpossum]

the 17.4 update doesn't resolve ffor me 😞