Missing font error

Last updated on Jun 2, 2026

Resolve missing font errors using activation, replacement, and font management techniques in Adobe InDesign.

Missing fonts prevent text from displaying correctly and disrupt your workflow. InDesign highlights the issue by displaying an alert, adding unavailable fonts to the Missing section in the Font menu, and marking affected text in pink.

Fonts are unavailable or no longer supported

Select Type > Font drop-down menu, then review the Missing fonts option.

Open the Creative Cloud Desktop app.

In the Creative Cloud Desktop app, select the Home tab, and then select Adobe Fonts.

Search for each missing font by name.

Select Activate for the fonts you need. The fonts appear in your InDesign font menu.

Deactivated fonts in the font management utility

The fonts may be deactivated in a font management utility such as Suitcase Fusion or Universal Type Client. Activate the fonts in the font management utility or install them locally on your system.

Open your font management application.

Search for the missing font names from the InDesign alert.

Select each font and activate it according to your utility's workflow.

Return to InDesign and reopen the document.

Font files are damaged or installed incorrectly

Open another Adobe application, such as Photoshop or Illustrator.

Check whether the missing font appears in the font menu.

If the font is unavailable in multiple applications, uninstall it through your operating system.

Restart your computer.

Reinstall the font from the original source. After reinstalling the font, confirm that it appears in the system font folder C:\Windows\Fonts (Windows) or /Library/Fonts (macOS).

Highlight missing fonts

Select Edit > Preferences > Composition (Windows) or InDesign > Preferences > Composition (macOS).

Deselect the Substituted Fonts option.

Before sharing a document, select File > Package to collect fonts and linked assets.

Note
  • The Find/Replace Font dialog box doesn't replace fonts contained in imported graphics. If the missing font is in a placed EPS or PDF file, install it. Or, re-create the EPS or PDF file and embed the font.
  • Replacing a font can change the appearance of the document if the installed font is larger than the monospace font.