Why is InDesign getting worse and worse

[LauraFig]

I've used InDesign for at least 15 years and until a few years ago it was great. But over the past few years it has gotten worse and worse in regard to crashing and just doing odd things. This has been my experience, first when I got a top of the line 2020 iMac with an M1 chip, and now with a brand new Mac Studio with an M2 Max chip, 64GB memory and Apple Studio monitor.

The main issue is that it crashes on an almost daily basis. Fortunately I haven't lost a file yet, but it's still annoying. I've been on the phone with Adobe tech support a number of times, but despite removing the preferences, updating the OS and app version, etc, etc, any improvement lasts maybe a week.  

It also does weird things like defaults to a different workspace arrangement everytime I leave InDesign to momentarily work in another program. I've reset my preferred workspace (no docs open) numerous times. 

Occasionally things like text color or edits don't view properly. I have to toggle back and forth between "normal" and "preview" views multiple times to get the "real" version to show. Other settings also stop working on a random basis.

It would be really nice if Adobe could get the basics working instead of focusing on "improvements" to justify the monthly fee. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@rickt38612460

InDesign is extremely fusy with network connections from v18 or some minor update to v18.

[Ollie_Watson8834]

I share your frustration!

It's been my go to programme for quick layouts for many many years but it is so unstable at the moment, getting very unreliable. Just this minute I can't select any start and and arrowheads for lines which seems like a small detail but when you're busy it really grates at your patience. Plus the regular crashes which will probably push me over to solely using illustrator which just isn't a fast for what I do.  

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@Ollie_Watson8834

What is your platform, OS and InDesign FULL  versions?

If you're on a Mac - do you have Magnet app installed? Or something similar? 

And when your problem started? 

[mgdibblee]

I have just spent the past HOUR fiddling with RESTORING my workspace. theere was a popup that said i could export settings to file>user settings so i did that. EXTREMELY IRRITATING.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

I don't understand your frustration? What is the problem? Are you implying you lost your workspace from v19.x to v20.x--or from a v20.x update to newer 20.x version?

[LauraFig]

I loose my workspace settings almost evertime I switch out of InDesign. I either have to reset, or set it to a different worspace and the switch back. And yes, I have exported my settings--multiple times. Drives me nuts, but I now realize after spending hours trying well meaning suggestions, that InDesign is permanently glitchy in many ways and that's not going to change.

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

@LauraFig

Unfortunately, the problem might not be at Adobe's side - but something related to your Mac OS. 

Are you sure you've full writing rights to all Adobe installation folders? 

[LauraFig]

Certainly it could be my Mac, but Adobe products should work properly on Macs. Especially after hours of tech support and two different brand-new, relatively high-end computers. 

[Robert at ID-Tasker]

Certainly it could be my Mac, but Adobe products should work properly on Macs. Especially after hours of tech support and two different brand-new, relatively high-end computers. 

By @LauraFig

Not sure how Adobe's software can work properly - if there is a problem with your hardware or OS configuration? 

Have you heard about early problems with 2025 and Magnet app? How was it Adobe's fault? 

Or when they've released 2024 - but there was a problem with Sonoma? 

It's like claiming that it's your car's fault - when you fill up tank with low quality fuel, because gas station added some "additives"?

[Eugene Tyson]

Certainly it could be my Mac, but Adobe products should work properly on Macs. Especially after hours of tech support and two different brand-new, relatively high-end computers. 

By @LauraFig

Not sure how Adobe's software can work properly - if there is a problem with your hardware or OS configuration? 

Have you heard about early problems with 2025 and Magnet app? How was it Adobe's fault? 

Or when they've released 2024 - but there was a problem with Sonoma? 

It's like claiming that it's your car's fault - when you fill up tank with low quality fuel, because gas station added some "additives"?

By @Robert at ID-Tasker

WebRoot preferences messed with my Adobe Shortcuts - I certainly don't blame Adobe. I blame the Apple OS and WebRoot.

[davecourtemanche]

Laura - does it reset every time you quit ID or every time you switch to another app? Does it always switch to the "Essentials" workspace? This bug has been going on (for me) for many, many versions. Save your workspace, rename it "Essentials" and replace the Essentials workspace on your computer. This ensured my workspace is always the correct one.

[LauraFig]

Interesting fix, I'll give it a try! I can't say it's entirely consistant. Mostly it just eliminates some dialogue boxes. Usually the ones I use the most so I'm taking it personally 🙂 

[Joel Cherney]

I would have guessed that the way to resolve this would be to do a full uninstall with the Adobe Clean Tool. That's how I fixed it, after a few years of constant preference setting problems. I honestly think I like your solution better, Dave - it certainly it takes less time & fewer clicks!  

[daniel_1431]

InDesign 20.3.1 is THE WORST VERSION YET. Adobe, what the hell is wrong with you? Are you all completely mental? 

[Eugene Tyson]

Very open ended question - can you elaborate on what's happening for you - perhaps we can help. 

Can you tell us what  your OS version is and also the exact version of InDesign.

And also exact issue you're facing - with steps to reproduce.

Thanks

[unique_mind5D66]

This happens on Windows too. I am actualy trying to find another software, but it will be a huge problem to switch, because of the 17 years of history and large archive of my work! InDesign is getting unusable, I lost few files just before exporting final files... That is unspeakably bad! 

[Eugene Tyson]

It’s really tough to help without a few more details. Try checking and sharing the following:

• What version of InDesign are you using? (e.g. 2025, 2024, 2023, etc.)

  • Specific version number

• Is it crashing during specific actions (e.g. exporting, opening files, etc.) - steps to reproduce?

• Any crash report or error message? Even a screenshot helps.

• Are your files stored locally or on a network/cloud drive?

• What operating system are you on? (e.g. Windows 11, macOS etc)

  • And what version of the opearting system you are running 

• System specs, especially RAM, processor, and available disk space.

• Are your InDesign files large or have many linked assets/fonts?

• Any third-party plugins installed?

• Has it started recently maybe after a system update or software change?

• Have you tried resetting InDesign preferences? (Sometimes helps with weird issues.)

• Have you tried exporting problem files to IDML to see if the issue clears up.

With some of that info, people here can offer more targeted help or workarounds.

All else fails - you don't have to use the latest version of InDesign - you can install and use the previous version. 

I am using 2023, and I have 2024 and 2025 installed. But primarly work in 2023. 

I'll move to 2024 after testing the software and files to ensure no weird issues. But for now I work in 2023 unless otherwise required. 

[unique_mind5D66]

Thank you for your response.

I am using Windows 11, and always latest version of InDesign.

I usually send reports, adding just short message as: trying to export PDF
or closing the program or adding pages etc. Some files are large, such as
300 pages of book or smaller 36 pages of newspaper. Problem to solve my
issues looked promising was to do some CTRL+ something to solve text field
problem – I have now no option to find that comment I found in some chats
online, but the command did not do anything on Windows and I had no idea
what it should actually do.

Anyway. I have in Photoshop issues with graphic card installed (I am
working on notebook, so that is Nvidia, not just Intel) – time to time I am
getting message that graphic card is not compatible (after about 1,5 years
of having thi NB). I tried to actualise everything, setting it right with
YouTube, but I am getting this message anyway.

Other problem is with InDesign, where files crashed often, mostly I can
open them again ang continue working (by loosing few minutes of work only),
but time to time, my file (which I was exporting many times before) crash
and I can not open them anymore. I started to make second file, so I am
saving it tvwice to another file, but you know how it is, when you do
something manualy.

I am not too good in computers, i am unable to fix this. I can use older
version on InDesign to try (your 2023 version), I also was thinking to
install my DVD based CS5 version, to avoid all problems, but this will
cause another issuers with IDML needed from everything I will need to go
back to from many pased years.

I will also need somebody who will go through my computer and have a look
on my settings, graphioc card etc. I also have free slots for adding more
RAM, so there is way to make NB faster...

If any more help You can give, I will appreciate that.

S pozdravom, Andrej Mišina.
<Persona info removed by MOD>

[Abhishek Rao]

Hi @unique_mind5D66,

Thank you for sharing all these details. I completely understand how frustrating it is to work on large projects and run into frequent crashes.

Start by working with your InDesign files locally instead of from an external or cloud-synced folder. While InDesign supports network drives and cloud services like OneDrive, Dropbox, and Google Drive, certain configurations of software, hardware, and permissions can trigger unexpected issues. The safest workflow is to edit the file from a local folder, like your Desktop, and then copy it back to the cloud or network once you're done.

For files that might become inoperable, I recommend regularly exporting an IDML backup after major edits. This can often save the document if the main file gets corrupted.

I wasn't able to locate any crash reports linked to your community email. If the app crashes again, please submit a report using the Adobe Crash Reporter dialog and then send me the email you used via DM, so I can check the logs for you: How to submit crash reports.

Also, please follow the steps in this guide to troubleshoot crashes and see if it improves stability: InDesign crashing on launch.

For the graphics card issue in Photoshop, I recommend posting in the Photoshop Community so our Photoshop experts can guide you further.

Try these steps and let me know how it goes.

I’ll be looking out for your update.

Abhishek

[Yasemin25319221s20s]

One year after your post - and I can feel you! I am looking for an alternative now. InDesign really has become a pain. Using it for about 10 years. Not worth the money anymore. Instead it has become all about money! 

[Anubhav M]

Hello @Yasemin25319221s20s,

I'm sorry to hear about your experience. Could you please share more details, such as the version of the OS/InDesign installed, and your workflow when you encounter this problem, so we can better assist you?

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Anubhav

[kateh73950448]

I'm also looking for an alternative. I do a lot of design for scholarly/academic reports, and the way it handles endnotes is honestly bananas. There's no way to reliably paste text from Word that contains endnotes and retain both endnote style and text styles like italics. I just finished a 100 page report after manually pasting 500 endnotes, and now my client wants each case study to have its own separate file, but in isolating certain parts of the report, there's no way to keep the endnotes and have them start over in the new document at 1 so...it's back to manually pasting them again...Adobe, why did you get rid of the text to endnotes command in 20.5???

Also, yes, endless crashing. Even when I'm doing something simple and straightforward. 

Anyway, once I have more time, I will explore alternatives, because it feels like Adobe has all but abandoned updating the foundational functions of InDesign in favor of pushing more AI nonsense.