Fix Adobe Fonts Loading Bug on macOS Monterey

If you’re seeing missing fonts or endless loading spinners in Adobe apps on macOS Monterey, the fix is usually to reset the Adobe Fonts cache and re-sync your fonts. This article explains why the bug happens and walks you through the most reliable solutions, from simple restarts to terminal commands.

What Causes the Adobe Fonts Loading Bug on Monterey

The bug typically appears after a macOS update, a change in your Adobe Creative Cloud login, or a conflict with the system font cache. Adobe Fonts (formerly Typekit) relies on a background service that syncs font files to your Mac. On Monterey, this service can get stuck in a state where it thinks fonts are still downloading, even though they’re already installed. The result is that apps like Photoshop, Illustrator, or InDesign show a “loading” indicator next to the font name and never let you use it.

Another common trigger is having too many fonts activated at once, or having a font file that is corrupted. The issue is not specific to one Adobe app—it affects all apps that use the Creative Cloud desktop app’s font sync.

Quick Fixes to Try First

Before diving into deeper troubleshooting, try these simple steps. They resolve the issue for many users:

• Restart the Creative Cloud app: Quit it completely (right-click the menu bar icon and choose Quit), then reopen it. This often re-establishes the connection to Adobe’s servers.
• Sign out and back in: In the Creative Cloud desktop app, go to your account icon (top right) and choose “Sign Out.” Then sign back in. This refreshes your font entitlements.
• Restart your Mac: A simple restart clears temporary system glitches that can interfere with the font sync service.
• Check your internet connection: Adobe Fonts requires a stable connection. If you’re on a VPN or a restricted network, the sync may fail silently.

If none of these work, move on to the cache reset method below.

Reset the Adobe Fonts Cache (The Most Reliable Fix)

Corrupted cache files are the number one cause of the loading bug. Resetting the cache forces Adobe to re-download and re-register all your fonts. Here’s how to do it safely:

1. Quit all Adobe apps, including the Creative Cloud desktop app (right-click the menu bar icon and choose Quit).
2. Open Finder and press Cmd+Shift+G to go to a folder. Enter ~/Library/Application Support/Adobe/CoreSync and press Return.
3. Look for a folder named AdobeFonts or a file named fonts.list. Delete them. (If you don’t see these, look inside the CoreSync folder for a subfolder named AdobeFonts.)
4. Also go to ~/Library/Caches/Adobe and delete any folders related to fonts (e.g., Adobe Fonts or Typekit).
5. Empty the Trash, then restart your Mac.
6. Open the Creative Cloud desktop app and go to the Fonts tab. Your fonts should start re-syncing. Wait a few minutes for the process to complete.

If you’re comfortable with the terminal, you can also run the following command to reset the font cache system-wide (this is safe and doesn’t delete your fonts, just the system’s index):

sudo atsutil databases -remove

Then restart your Mac. This command clears the macOS font database, which can sometimes conflict with Adobe’s own cache.

Reinstall or Update the Creative Cloud Desktop App

If the cache reset doesn’t work, the problem may be with the Creative Cloud app itself. An outdated or corrupted installation can cause the font sync service to fail. To update:

1. Open the Creative Cloud desktop app.
2. Click the three-dot menu (top right) and choose Check for Updates.
3. If an update is available, install it and restart your Mac.

If the app is already up to date, you can reinstall it without losing your fonts or settings. Download the installer from Adobe’s website, run it, and choose “Repair” or “Reinstall.” This replaces the app’s core files while keeping your preferences.

Disable and Re-enable Fonts in the Creative Cloud App

Sometimes the issue is with specific fonts that are stuck in a “syncing” state. You can force a re-sync by toggling the font off and on:

1. Open the Creative Cloud desktop app and go to the Fonts tab.
2. Find the font that’s showing the loading spinner. Click the toggle to turn it off (gray).
3. Wait a few seconds, then click the toggle again to turn it back on (blue).
4. Wait for the sync to complete. If the font still doesn’t load, try toggling all your fonts off and then on again.

This method is especially useful if only a few fonts are affected, rather than all of them.

Common Misconceptions and Additional Tips

One common misconception is that the bug is caused by having too many fonts installed. While performance can degrade with thousands of fonts, the loading bug is usually a sync issue, not a quantity issue. Another misconception is that you need to delete the font files from your system. Do not manually delete font files from /Library/Fonts or ~/Library/Fonts—that can cause other problems. Stick to the cache reset method.

If you’re using a font manager like Font Book or Suitcase Fusion, try disabling it temporarily. Third-party font managers can conflict with Adobe’s sync service. Also, make sure your Mac’s date and time are set correctly—an incorrect clock can break SSL connections that Adobe’s servers rely on.

If you’re on a corporate network, check if your firewall is blocking Adobe’s domains. The required endpoints are listed in Adobe’s official documentation, but a quick test is to temporarily disable your firewall and see if the fonts load. If they do, you’ll need to whitelist Adobe’s servers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do my Adobe Fonts keep showing “loading” in Photoshop on Monterey?

This is usually a sync issue. The Creative Cloud app is trying to download or verify the font, but the process is stuck. Resetting the cache as described above is the most effective fix.

Will resetting the cache delete my fonts?

No. The cache is just a temporary index. Your actual font files are stored in a separate location and will be re-downloaded or re-linked after the reset. You won’t lose any fonts, but you may need to wait a few minutes for them to re-sync.

Does this bug affect all Adobe apps?

Yes, it can affect any app that uses the Creative Cloud font sync, including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and even non-Adobe apps if you’ve enabled the “Adobe Fonts” option in your system font book.

I tried everything and the fonts still won’t load. What else can I do?

If you’ve reset the cache, updated the app, and toggled fonts, the issue may be with your Adobe account. Try signing out of the Creative Cloud app, restarting your Mac, and signing back in. If that fails, contact Adobe support—they can check if your account has a sync issue on their end.

Is there a way to prevent this bug from happening again?

Keep your Creative Cloud app updated, avoid turning off your Mac while fonts are syncing, and periodically clear the cache if you notice slow performance. Also, avoid using VPNs or proxies that might interrupt the connection.

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