Select Window > Output > Preflight (Ctrl + Alt + Shift + F) (Windows) or Cmd + Option + Shift + F (macOS).
Last updated on
7 August 2026
Resolve hung PDF export tasks using preference resets, preflight controls, and background export settings in Adobe InDesign.
When exporting to PDF (Print), InDesign displays a background task that doesn't complete and cannot be canceled. When you attempt to quit InDesign, you see the message: InDesign cannot quit because one or more tasks are running in the background.
Live Preflight is selected, affecting document performance
In the Preflight panel, deselect the On option.
Quit InDesign.
Launch InDesign.
Open the document and export it to PDF.
Your PDF should export successfully without hanging. If the export completes and you can open the PDF, the issue is resolved.
Outdated InDesign versions
If deselecting Live Preflight doesn't resolve the issue, outdated software may be the cause
An outdated version of InDesign may contain bugs that cause PDF export to hang. Updates include fixes for known export issues.
Select Help > Updates in InDesign.
If updates are available, select Update.
InDesign launches automatically after updating.
Open your document and select File > Export, or press Ctrl + E (Windows) or Cmd + E (macOS). If your PDF exports without hanging, the update resolved the issue.
Documents with complex elements may trigger export conflicts
Select File > New > Book.
Choose a location and name for your book file, then select Save.
In the Book panel, select the Add Documents icon.
Navigate to your document and select Open.
Select the Book panel menu icon, and then select Export Book to PDF.
Configure your PDF settings, and then select File > Export (Ctrl + E).
Background exporting
Background exporting allows you to continue working while PDFs generate, but this feature can sometimes cause export processes to hang or fail to complete.
Close InDesign completely.
Open a plain text editor like Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (macOS).
Create a new blank file (don't type anything in it).
Select File > Save As.
Name the file DisableAsyncExports.txt.
Save your file in C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe InDesign <version> (Windows) or /Applications/Adobe InDesign <version>/Adobe InDesign <version>.app/Contents/MacOS (macOS).
Launch InDesign, open your document, and export to PDF.
Your PDF export should now run in the foreground and complete successfully. You won't be able to work in InDesign during export, but the export won't hang.
Create print and digital materials with InDesign
Design impactful ads, magazine and book layouts, and more.
