Text disappears when typing in text box

[Elaine5E3A]

I'm getting this issue where when I make any changes to text within a text box, like typing within it, cutting/pasteing, editing, etc. the text disappears. Sometimes it'll come back if I click out of the text box. Sometimes it comes back if I switch between normal and preview mode.

It doesn't happen every time, but often enough to be incredibly annoying.

I'm running:

• Mac OS 11.4
• Macbook Air M1 2020
• InDesign 16.2.1

[Marc5CCB]

Not for me I'm afraid. Adobe suggested I go back to 16.4 from the 17.7 PreRelease, which I tried, but it was much worse for me. I'm now back on 17.7. It's far from perfect, but its slightly better than the nightmares of the previous versions. Crazy how a multi-million dollar international corporation can't provide the basic software for which they're charging. Bet you'd never see a glitch like this affect their payment collection systems.

[Laubender]

John said:

"5. Sorry, I'm having difficulty locating the ID pref files.

None are located in Library > Preferences for both overall, system or user."

Hi John,

well, you could navigate to the preferences in several ways.

One is to use InDesign's Scripts panel where you have the User folder stored inside.

Out of my head:

There is a "Show in Finder" command on that folder that brings you a few steps deep inside your InDesign's preferences folder with the name Version 16.0 for InDesign 2021. Go up into the hierarchie of folders until you reach the folder that contains the Version 16.0 folder. Store the folder that contains the Version 16.0 folder in your Favorites so that you have always access.

Be super careful when you do the following steps:

[1] Quit the running InDesign 2021

[2] Backup that Version 16.0 folder, that contains all the preferences.

[3] Remove or rename that Version 16.0 folder

[4] Finally restart InDesign 2021.

A new Version 16.0 folder will be created while InDesign is starting up. All your personal settings of menus and workspaces will be set anew to default. Also your Color Management Settings will be set to default. So change them back to your old custom ones if necessary before you procede, especially before you create new documents.

Regards,
Uwe Laubender

( ACP )

[Joel MaHarry]

This is RIDICULOUS. 

My Mac M1 pro is 2 years old. 

AND YOU CANNOT GET INDESIGN TO WORK CORRECTLY. 

I need a refund for the past four months that I've been suffereing with this. My productivity is downa and deadlines loom. 

[Besnardm]

You should read the correct answers as the solution is there, no need to have suffer any longer lol 🙂

[Jumpenjax]

This is an issue that Adobe is aware of and is working on. A work around for now is to zoom in zoom out.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign-discussions/text-disappears-when-typing-in-text-box/m-p/1212...

[jesseingham]

Hi, I've just upgraded to a MacBook Air and reinstalled CC. Now I'm experiencing an issue with text editing, where the text disappears completely or partially, and only reappears when I zoom in or out via the shortcuts cmd- and cmd+

This isn't a text wrap issue, it's definitely a bug of some kind that I didn't have previously. Help!

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

Jesseingham, which Adobe application or service are you encountering the disappearing text in?  What process did you use to transfer your files to the new MacBook Air?

[jesseingham]

Sorry, should have said – InDesign. I migrated from an external hard-drive back up of my previous MacBook Pro using the migration assistant... 

[Bill Silbert]

If you are using a brand new MacBook Air which has Apple's new M1 chip rather than the older Intel chip then make sure that you have updated your InDesign to version 16.3 which is the first version of InDesign that runs natively on the M1. Any earlier version of InDesign would be running on emulation software called Rosetta 2. Many users have reported problems running InDesign through Rosetta 2. Hopefully updating to the new version will solve your problem.

[jesseingham]

Thanks Bill - my version of InDesign is 16.2.1, but the Adobe CC desktop app is telling me that's the most recent version, not offering an update to 16.3. However I've followed advice on another thread to delete my Adobe Preferences and SavedData files, and – fingers crossed – that seems to have fixed the issue. I'll make sure I update to 16.3 as soon as it's available though. Thanks for your help.

[Bill Silbert]

Apparently not all users are being offered 16.3 at this time. You may still be able to install the beta version that runs native on the M1. Look under the beta apps in your Creative Cloud desktop app and see if it is available for you to install.

[jesseingham]

Tried installing the beta version – it installs, but when I open it, I just get 'Your InDesign (Beta) build has expired.' So no joy there :o) Starting to wish I'd stuck with my old Pro.

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

Jesseingham, with the variety of errors you are encountering, you may want to start over with setting up the MacBook Air.  

You will have much better success if you choose to move your documents and settings to the new computer, instead of transferring everything.  Adobe applications, in particular, are not designed to be copied from one computer to another, which is what the migration assistant does.

[Bill Silbert]

Just a bit more info about getting InDesign 16.3. Apparently, it is being done as a phased roll-out by country. The initial list of countries which got it last week were Australia, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. There doesn't seem to be any fixed dates as to when others will get it. For more info check out: https://community.adobe.com/t5/indesign/indesign-16-3-are-now-live/td-p/12116900.

[julies50418894]

Hi Jess, having the same issue. Can you please post the thread you were referring to where you deleted your Adobe preferences and Saved Data files? Did this solve the issue? Thanks, Julie

[jesseingham]

Hi Julie - I can't find the thread again, but it only solved the issue temporarily, so I don't think it's a fix. Sorry you're having the same issue but glad it's not just me. The 16.3.2 update has just become available to me (UK based), and I'm cautiously optimistic that that's solved it.

[defaultoi4eqocd2hzz]

Hi Bill, 

Thanks for the input on the dissappearing text issue. Problem is, I can't run native on my M1 chip because my font app doesn't support it and I have yet to find one that does. Very frustrating. 

[jeffhalmos]

I use Typeface. Best one I’ve used. M1 native. 

[A John Prine Fan]

This was happening to me as well - M1 iMac. I called Adobe and the InDesign specialist was amazing - it's in the InDesign Preferences - GPU Performance - toggle that either on or off. It fixed mine immediately!

[julies50418894]

I tried this, doesn't work for me sadly.

I have the same issue as above post too. When editing text it disappears in the text box unless I zoom in and out. I am constantly having to do this to read what I've written. It is absolutely doing my head in! And then randomly when I copy and paste text from another InDesign document. I am running 16.3.2 M1 Chip Adobe CC InDesign.

[A John Prine Fan]

Good morning. I would just call Adobe. They were so helpful. I can say the fix I posted works like 95% of the time - but calling Adobe - worth a try. Good luck.

[daniel_viberg]

Thank you!
Insane that this is not the first and only answer to this. But then, there are several configurations so it's hard to find something that works for everyone. This worked for me at least.
M1 Mac Book Air 2020, 16 GB, Big Sur 11.6

/Daniel

[hoffmangrace]

Doesn't work for me either 😕 So frustrating.. text dissapears every time I do ANYTHING 😞

[gregp29940391]

I can confirm this worked for me too. iMac 24. 

[hannahj73785372]

It works for me too... at least so far...