[Solved] How to Fix InDesign Failed to Export PDF File Error?

indesign failed to export pdf

While trying to export an InDesign document to PDF many users reported they are getting the “InDesign failed to export PDF” error message. And wondering how to fix this irritating failed to export PDF InDesign error.

Well, today in this article I am going to describe the complete information related to the Adobe InDesign Failed to Export PDF error as well as the complete fixes to resolve it.

Time to time the InDesign users may face different types of error messages while working on it or trying to do some other tasks. Well, some of the InDesign errors are easily fixed whereas some of them require technical knowledge to fix it.

And the InDesign failed to export PDF error is one of them. Many users are found reporting on the forum thread about the error

Working on a file in InDesign (13.1) and when I try to print it fails, and when I try to export it as a pdf it says “Failed to Export to pdf” with no explanation. I tried turning off downsampling, but that didn’t help. Even deleted all of the photos to test doing it that way, but still no luck.

It seems to be a problem with this particular file, not with memory, because when I tested the issue by opening a different, much larger and more complex file, it exported just fine.

Tried packaging it as well, and also got the failed to create pdf error, which seems to make it not package the file, either.

Appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

Originally Posted on Adobe Support Community

So below check out the common reasons responsible for the InDesign failed to export PDF background task and then follow the fixes given one by one.

Why I am getting Failed to Export PDF InDesign Error?

Well, the error is generally caused by placing images or the graphics which include images and considerable scaling them down. Doing this will successfully increase the resolution, for instance, 600 DPI image scaled to 50% has a resolution of 1200 DPI.

However, placing a large, high-resolution image without the scaling may also need more than the offered memory and it depends on the configuration of your system as well as the state and downsampling settings.

Moreover, the error is generally caused due to the corrupted pages or the links and other factors.

How to Fix Failed To Export The PDF InDesign Error?

Solution 1 – Close and Restart InDesign

  • You can try to close and restart your InDesign and then start to export PDF files. For example – a user found that InDesign failed to export PDF” when he tried to export in a smaller section (40 pages per time), but when the error occurred again and again then all you need to do is close InDesign and restart it. After this, the PDF file was exported successfully.
  • But, if it fails then you can try to reboot your computer as this sometimes fixes the problem. It is also suggested that when you use InDesign then close other applications on your Mac system.

Now check if the “failed to export the PDF file InDesign” error is resolved or not, or else head to the next solution.

Solution 2 – Create a Copy of the Document and Remove Unwanted Elements

Well, you can also try to create a copy of the document and remove some unwanted element as this solution can fix the above error message:

  • Reduce the font size.
  • Merge all the layers
  • Remove the items from the hidden layers or from the pasteboard
  • Instead of using Multi-line and Paragraph Composer, make use of Single-line Composer

Solution 3 – Avoid Overlapping / Grouping / Cropping / Crossing the fold

If you have grouped the images then it is suggested that you must ungroup them. One of the users found this error due to this image grouping. Other than this you can get the above error when:

  • A stray image is hiding behind another one
  • A text box going over the spread
  • Two images overlap each other on the same layer
  • When two png images or tiff images with transparent backgrounds overlapping

So, try the ungroup the images and other things suggested and check if the error InDesign failed to export PDF is fixed or not

Solution 4 – Change InDesign Options

  • Adobe TechNote recommends that the InDesign preferences file which saves all settings to their defaults. If preference files get corrupted then it can throw unexpected errors and behavior when exporting PDF files. So, in order to fix this issue, you have to recreate the preferences files
  • Try to turn off the option “Optimize for Fast Web View”. This problem has been solved by one of the users when you upgrade from CS2 to CS3.
  • You may switch export compatibility from Adobe 5 to Adobe 6 to fix the InDesign failed to export PDF error.

Solution 5 – Downsample the Images After Export using Acrobat

This tricked worked for many users to fix the InDesign failed to export PDF error, so follow the steps to downsample the images after export using the Acrobat.

Follow the steps to do so:

  • Select File and then Export > choose PDF as your format, select a location > click Save
  • Now in the Export PDF dialog box > disable the image downsampling
  • Then open the effected PDF in Acrobat.
  • And select Advanced > PDF Optimizer.
  • Next set the downsampling options you want in the Image Settings panel.
  • And disable other options that are not required
  • Now click OK and select the name and location for saving the file.

It is estimated this works for you to resolve the “failed to export the PDF file InDesign” error.

Solution 6 – Move the Document into a New File

If none of the above-given solutions works for you then here it is suggested to move the document into the new file.

Follow the steps to do so:

  • Here you need to move pages using Move Pages command:
  • Then select Layout > Pages > Move Pages or select Move Pages from the Pages panel menu.
  • Now identify the page or pages you desire to move
  • Next for Destination > select the location where you want to move the pages and identify a page if required
  • Lastly, click OK

Now try to export to PDF and check if the InDesign failed to export PDF error is resolved or not.

Solution 7 – Save the file as an IDML

This is the last solution you need to try to save the file as an IDML and hopefully failed to export the PDF file InDesign error is resolved.

  • First go to File > Save As > IDML > Save
  • Then export the IDML file. 
  • And verify if the Export functions work without any error.

Conclusion

Well, the failed to export PDF InDesign error is very irritating and it is estimated the solutions given works for you. I tried my best to list down the complete fixes to resolve InDesign failed to export PDF error.

Make sure to follow the fixes given one by one carefully and check which one works for you.

It is expected the article works for you, but if in case there is anything that I missed out then feel-free to share with us.

Good Luck..!

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