Overset text is one of the most common—and frustrating—layout issues in Adobe InDesign. It happens when there’s more text than a text frame can display, and it often sneaks by unnoticed until you export your document.
If you’ve ever seen a little red plus sign in the corner of your text box, you’ve encountered overset text. But don’t worry—fixing it is easy once you know what to look for.
What Is Overset Text?
Overset text means that the content doesn’t fit within its current text frame. Instead of flowing into view, the extra content remains hidden.
You’ll know a text box has overset text if:
- A red + icon appears in the bottom-right handle of the text frame
- Text is cut off or missing in your document
- You get an alert during export or preflight
🛠️ 5 Ways to Fix Overset Text in InDesign
1. Resize the Text Frame
The easiest fix is to make the text box bigger so it can show all the content.
- Click the text frame
- Drag the bottom or corner handles outward
- Watch for the red + icon to disappear
Tip: Hold Shift while dragging to keep proportions.
2. Link to Another Text Frame (Threading)
If you want the text to continue elsewhere (like in a magazine layout):
- Click the red + icon on the overset frame
- Your cursor will change to a loaded text icon
- Click on an empty area or existing text frame
- InDesign will thread the text, flowing the remaining content into the next frame
This is ideal for multi-column or multi-page documents.
3. Shrink the Text Size or Adjust Leading
If layout space is limited, consider reducing the font size or adjusting leading (line spacing):
- Select the overset text
- Reduce font size, leading, or spacing using the Character panel
- Keep readability in mind!
Caution: Don’t make text so small that it compromises accessibility or visual balance.
4. Edit or Trim the Text
Sometimes there’s just too much content. In that case:
- Switch to the Type tool (T)
- Edit, shorten, or summarize the text
- Check that the red + icon disappears
This method is best when you have editorial freedom.
5. Use Auto-Size Text Frames (Dynamic Layouts)
You can make the text box expand automatically:
- Select the text frame
- Go to Object > Text Frame Options
- Under Auto-Size, choose a direction (e.g., Height Only)
- Enable No Line Breaks if needed
This feature works well for pull quotes, labels, or captions.
Bonus: Use Preflight to Catch Overset Text
InDesign’s Preflight panel can help catch overset text before printing:
- Go to Window > Output > Preflight
- Enable On Document Open
- It will flag all overset text issues under Text > Overset Text
Use this as part of your final quality check!
Summary
Overset text can disrupt your layout, but it’s easy to spot and fix with the right tools. Whether you resize a frame, thread text, adjust formatting, or trim content, InDesign gives you full control over how text flows on the page.
👉 Try Adobe InDesign free for 7 days — Start your trial today.
