Screen Flickering & Menu not opening Issue on macOS Sonoma

[John Beeckaert]

Hello,

I am fieldtesting macOS Sonoma and I encounter a few (very) annoying bugs with the latest Adobe CC apps (all up to date). For Photoshop I have the 2024 version, for all other apps mentioned it's the latest 2023 version of the app.

Bug 1: Adobe Indesign. The page is "flickering" when moving an object with the selection tool. This flickering can be avoided when hiding the "rulers" in Adobe Indesign with  CMD + R

Bug 2: Adobe Indesign, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop (2024 release): When moving a panel to a secondary computerscreen the submenu can no longer be accessed. When moving that panel to the primary computerscreen it works just fine.

Adobe (and I do hope Adobe reads this) … are these Adobe CC related issues, or something Apple has to fix?  For many professionals this will be extremely annoying if this doesn't get fixed. As I mentioned, I am only field testing this at home, … not in a production environment, as I have the policy NOT to upgrade right away. That's why I'm field testing.

Thanks in advance! 

{Renamed By MOD}

[Barb Binder]

Hi McJohn:

Yes, this has been reported already on this user-to-user forum and certainly Adobe is aware of the flickering. 

Sonoma was just officially released 4 days ago, on September 26, 2023 and it is not yet supported on InDesign. While there is no doubt Adobe is working on it, patience is key.

The table below shows the system requirements for InDesign 18. Sonoma is not yet supported so oddities are to be expected until an InDesign update is released that states that it does support Sonoma. 

—https://helpx.adobe.com/indesign/system-requirements.html

~Barb

[John Beeckaert]

Hello Barb,

Thanks for the reply! I figured this would be the case, so patience is what I will have! Hopefully a fix quickly (for both bugs), but as I mentioned, in my case, no harm, as I simply keep production machines away from new versions (OS) and Adobe CC apps, until the first series of bugfixes past the review.

[Barb Binder]

Hi McJohn:

You are truly one of the few who waits and tests. Most of the questions we field are from those who upgrade immediately without considering the consequences. Check the link I sent in a few weeks to see if it is updated. 

~Barb

[John Beeckaert]

Hi Barb,

That would be very nice to keep me updated! Thank you! 

Well, after 20+ years in the field, I learned to be cautious. However, having said that, upgrading will be required at some point as the software industry moves so rapidly. The agency I work for, has over 60 designers in all kind off design fields, but I seem to be the only one to be cautious. So after time I became the "benchmark", if it is safe to upgrade. I do dislike that word "benchmark", as I only act by experience really. Nothing special about that. That's why I fieldtest at home and I inform collegues when it is safe to upgrade.

Mind you, this is not bulletproof … bugs will always pop up even after patch fixes. 

[days_of_speed]

This is a vlaid standpoint for previous iterations of software where updates are slower. Runnin ga business model on subscription models ought to include Adobe using OS beta programs to check obvious issues that have been experienced for sometime. "Be patient" suits Adobe only. Talking like updating an OS when prompted is a fools pathway feels a little too close to "let Adobe rule your ecosystem" when it has evidently sat and waited before allowing a swave of professionals to use an old OS.

I understand it well having been an Apple/Adobe user for over two decades - I just find it frustrating Adobe has decided to react slower than a heap of other software developers who do utilase beta programs to be "match fit" when needed.

[sandor kleinsma]

Thnx McJohn for your solution of Bug1. This malfunction was very, very irritating.

[mick191]

M1 MBP 14  2021

InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, and Acrobat running fine with Sonoma so far.

Please note which may be a factor:

After updating to the latest version of Ventura (on 3 October 2023) I got the black screen of death. 

Apple store genius used DFU mode to RESTORE which means they wiped my MacBook clean and installed OSX Sonoma.

I then installed NEW Adobe apps - I did NOT migrate the old apps from my backup.

[AngelikiJackson]

Tank you! CMD+R solved the flickering issue in InDesign for me!

[John Beeckaert]

I installed version 2024 for Adobe Indesign … and on a secondary screen, the submenus from panels can still not be accessed. The flickering can be resolved to enable the "GPU-performance". Still … I know it is still not supported for Sonoma according to the Adobe system requirments … but when launching brand new software … it should. Sonoma has been in beta long time  … so 🙂

[Barb Binder]

Hi @John Beeckaert:

There's clearly an incompatibility that is a challenge to overcome. The system requirmens page was updated today and InDesign 19 is still not supported on Sonoma. Best to hold tight on the upgrade until this is resolved. 

~Barb

[John Beeckaert]

hi Barb,

Yes, I just wanted to mention it … like you know … I'm only fieldtesting, so no worries from my side. 🙂
I only hope my collegues follow my advice 🙂

[Barb Binder]

I hope the whole InDesign community follows that advice!

~Barb

[John Beeckaert]

Adobe was not aware from that bug according to the chat I just had … but I reported it now … so now they should be aware now. Right? 🙂

[Barb Binder]

Hi @John Beeckaert:

The InDesign engineering team—the ones who fix this—definitely know. Were you chatting with general Adobe support on the customer care page?

Here is one of the bug reports. 

https://indesign.uservoice.com/forums/601180-adobe-indesign-bugs/suggestions/47289806-white-screen-o...

Again, they are working on it. 

~Barb

[John Beeckaert]

I think it was general support. first time really, I reported a bug.

[Rishabh_Tiwari]

Hi,

We're currently in the process of testing and optimizing our latest apps to run on macOS 14 Sonoma, more details here. You can check the system requirement page for InDesign to check the list of compatible operating systems. For information on known issues in InDesign, please check this article. 

Thanks

Rishabh

[TH&CO]

Sorry, this is not good enough. I am paying handsomely for a product I cannot use. To meet client security requirements & my business insurance I am obliged to run the latest versions of operating systems. I do not believe that this is a situation unique to me. 

Currently I am working on a project and cannot process the images due to this indifference to customer needs. 

[John Beeckaert]

@Rishabh_Tiwari … i just send an email with a videolink to illustrate the problem with the submenu's not opening when dragged to a secondary monitor. Due to time differences I was only able to send this mail now. Adobe was not aware of the problem as nobody else reported it already. So now I did … with a video 🙂 … hopefully Adobe or Apple (cause it may be an Apple issue, who know) can find a solution. I'm only offering fieldtesting feedback to make your software better.

[days_of_speed]

The idea that a company the size of Adobe wouldn't test with an extrnal monitor is some indicator of how they're allowing paying customers to test their. products in the wild.

[John Beeckaert]

Sigh … I know … however it can be a Sonoma bug really. Adobe has my video now. I shared it with chat support … but I sense they are a bit stubborn/unaware about this. I simply report a potential, let me repeat that, potential Adobe CC bug which may also be an early Sonoma bug … a conflict between those 2 … They wonder if it is due to VPN, Proxy or Antivirus settings … seriously Adobe … no it's not. 🙂 Anyway … I'll keep you people posted.

[Rishabh_Tiwari · Accepted solution]

Hi @John Beeckaert ,

Thank you for sharing the file. We have already logged a bug for the two known issues on macOS Sonoma. We do have workarounds for both issues, so for the first issue wherein the screen is flickering, you can try hiding the rulers, or you can enable GPU from preferences. For the second issue, in which the sub-menu is not opening on an external monitor, you can create a new user account. I will update the discussion as soon as I hear from the team.

Thanks

Rishabh

[John Beeckaert]

Hi users, I just had a remote session with a technical supervisor. The problem exists into the Sonoma upgrade. It "damages" the user account. When making a new user account …the submenu's work again!

[Revline Media]

What do you mean by creating a new user account? As I am having the same issues with illustrator's  submenu's not being able to be clicked on when dragged to a secondary monitor.

[Julie23151097ebwd]

Good morning,
Unfortunately "Hide the rules" or "enable the GPU" does not correct the problem every time, the result is random. I am a trainer and I project my screen to my students, but I often have to exit InDesign (because the screen is neon pink or gray) and restart it to correct the problem when hiding the rules is not enough, it It's very annoying!
Thanks for your help