InDesign too slow to use

[fiedler]

Any solutions to InDesign slow performance? It takes 5 seconds to type one character.

I have tried the current version and other versions back to 19.5.3 and no difference.

I read all the articles and did the things on the lists. (uninstalls, reboots, reset preferences, etc.)

I've spent 2 days on this and am getting nowhere.  I've used InDesign since CS2.

Company-managed computer is 9 years old, but I think it meets specs: 

Windows 10 Pro 64-bit, Dell,  Xeon processor wth AVX2 support , 32GB RAM, NVIDIA Quadro M4000.

Computer passes all self-diagnistics and no memory-hog programs are running. Task Manager looks normal.

All files are on the local SSD drive. Just basic conventional 2 to 4 page docs. 

This started after installing 20.2. Went back to 19.5.3 and it was fine for a week. Now sluggishness happens all the time, even when reinstalling various versions.

Not blaming InDesign since it works fine on my newer home laptop.  I think it's either my old computer or the installation. Is 20.2 OK with Win10?

Should I do a complete uninstall of InDesign and start over?

Anything else to check or try? 

[Eugene Tyson]

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

There's also lots of conversation in similar threads like this one
https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/indesign-18-2-is-extremely-slow-especially-when-...

[Peter Spier]

It sounds like a software conflict of some sort. I run Win10 and don't have any speed problems.

Try running MSCONFIG and turn off whatever you think might be a problem and is not essential, including browser helpers. This is a bit more targeted than starting in Safe Mode, but it wouldn't hurt to try that first to confirm athat InDesign runs correctly with only the basics.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@fiedler

Check recent Windows updates. 

A few weeks ago people reported a lot of problems with some KBxxxxxxx updates. 

On another note - how many fonts do you have installed - by Adobe and in the system? 

[Peter Spier]

@Robert at ID-Tasker ...

@fiedler is using Win 10, not 11, so the KB updates are a red herring, I think.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Peter Spier

They are still releasing updates for Win10 😉 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/topic/march-11-2025-kb5053606-os-builds-19044-5608-and-19045-560... 

[Peter Spier]

But nothing that has been reported to cause a performance problem in InDesign.

As I said, I use Win10 with no issues and fairly similar specs other than the processor, and @fiedler says his laptop is working OK, so I think we're looking at something system specific.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

But nothing that has been reported to cause a performance problem in InDesign.

As I said, I use Win10 with no issues and fairly similar specs other than the processor, and @fiedler says his laptop is working OK, so I think we're looking at something system specific.

By @Peter Spier

Yes, of course. There might be a conflict with a graphic card driver - or even something so crazy like USB driver? 

That's why one of the steps would be to find a tipping point - and if there were any changes to the configuration - hard- or soft-ware.

[Peter Spier]

Another easy thing to try would be to sign out of the Creative Cloud Desktop App and then sign in again onm the possibility it's a prolem with activating Adobe Fonts...

[fiedler]

Thanks for all the suggestions. IT updated my drivers which didn't help.

I uninstalled all versions of InDesign.

The Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool requires Adobe account admin access. Not wanting to do another IT request, I hunted down InDesign files in Adobe folders, Program Files, and Program Data folders and deleted them (after making backup copies).

Reinstalled the current version of ID.

More sluggish than ever.

Copied my latest document to a new blank one. Back to acting normally now.

To answer some questions.

IT department controls Windows updates, so I don't see what is going on. Could be related to that.

About 37 Adobe fonts installed, one purchased set, and a couple of freebies.

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @fiedler,

Thanks for the update! Since moving the content to a new document helped, it does sound like the original file may have had some corruption. Please confirm if this sluggishness only happen with certain files, or do you see it even with brand-new documents?

Let me know how it goes!

^

Abhishek

[fiedler]

I have two identical documents. 

Open the old one alone and the whole program slows down.

Open the newly created copy alone and it runs just fine.

Have both the new and old open at the same timeand the whole program slows down.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@fiedler

How often are you doing Save As with a new name? 

[fiedler]

Quite a bit with this document. It's been updated/converted annually for the past 10 years.

Perhaps you've hit upon something!!

Maybe it's best to copy to a new blank document instead of doing 'Save-As' on real old ones.. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker · Accepted solution]

Quite a bit with this document. It's been updated/converted annually for the past 10 years.

Perhaps you've hit upon something!!

Maybe it's best to copy to a new blank document instead of doing 'Save-As' on real old ones.. 

By @fiedler

Yeah, I've even posted about that not so long ago - moving pages to a new document is much better even than IDMLing - as it cleanups everything better - IDMLing / Save As exports / saves everything anyway - but moving pages transfers only stuff that is really in use - removes everything that is unnecessary - all unused styles. 

[Peter Spier]

Quite a bit with this document. It's been updated/converted annually for the past 10 years.

Perhaps you've hit upon something!!

Maybe it's best to copy to a new blank document instead of doing 'Save-As' on real old ones.. 

By @fiedler

For files that get "reused" on a regular basis you should consider making a template file and use that to create each new version.

[Mike Witherell]

Hi Fiedler,

ICYMI:

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