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Missing user dictionaries
Last updated on
Jun 2, 2026
Resolve missing dictionary alerts by relinking user dictionaries or updating path configurations in Adobe InDesign.
The issue occurs because InDesign 20.0 introduced a new file path format for dictionary files on macOS. Dictionaries created in earlier versions still exist on your system, but InDesign can no longer locate them correctly. InDesign 20.0 and later use POSIX-style file paths. Dictionaries created in InDesign 19.3 or earlier may still reference the older HFS path format.
Add dictionary files using the updated file path format
Locate your old user dictionary files. These are typically stored in your user Library folder.
Rename or re-add the dictionary files using the updated file path format supported by the latest version of InDesign.
Launch InDesign.
Select Preferences > Dictionary.
In the User Dictionary section, remove entries marked with a question mark.
Select Add User Dictionary, browse the existing dictionary file, and add it again.
Select OK and then restart InDesign if needed.
After you re-add the dictionary's files, your custom spell-check words should appear again, and the question mark indicators should disappear. Use macOS when referring to the operating system generally, and use select for UI actions in instructions.
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