Adobe InDesign has finally entered the world of real-time collaboration with its beta rollout—but it’s not all smooth sailing just yet. If you’ve tested the new co-editing features, you’ve likely noticed a few missing pieces.
Here’s a detailed look at what’s still limited, partially implemented, or completely absent in InDesign’s real-time collaboration beta—and what designers are hoping to see next.
🚧 1. No Built-in Commenting or Review Workflow (Yet)
Unlike Figma or Google Docs, InDesign doesn’t include a native comment panel inside the collaborative workspace. This means:
- Reviewers can’t tag users or leave feedback directly on the layout.
- There’s no thread history or resolution tracking.
- You still need to use PDF exports + Acrobat commenting for feedback loops.
🛠️ Workaround: Export a PDF and share it via Adobe Acrobat’s commenting tools or use third-party proofing platforms.
🚫 2. Limited Control Over User Permissions
Currently, all invited collaborators have equal editing power. There’s no:
- Viewer-only mode
- Editor vs Reviewer roles
- Approval workflows
This makes it risky in high-stakes production environments with multiple contributors.
🛠️ Wish List: Role-based access and content locks for text frames or pages.
🕓 3. No Presence Tracking or Activity Feed
Unlike Figma’s live cursors or Google Docs’ activity sidebar, InDesign doesn’t yet show:
- Who is currently active on the document
- What areas they’re editing
- A history of recent changes
🛠️ What’s Missing: Visual cues that help teams coordinate and avoid conflicts.
🖇️ 4. Lacks Linked Comments or Tasks
Collaboration isn’t just about editing—it’s about coordination. InDesign (Beta) still lacks:
- Assignable tasks linked to objects or text
- To-do markers or “resolve” buttons
- Integration with tools like Jira, Trello, or Slack
🛠️ Next Steps: Build a basic task/comment system into the UI or allow third-party plugin integration.
🧭 5. Navigation Tools Are Still Solo-Oriented
Right now, every user navigates the document independently. There’s no way to:
- “Follow” another user’s view
- Lead a walkthrough or design review
- Sync page view across collaborators
🛠️ Collaboration Dream: A “Follow Mode” for guided design sessions.
🔌 6. Plugin Ecosystem Not Yet Adapted for Multiuser
Many power users rely on plugins for automation, preflight, or creative extensions. But in the collaborative beta:
- Plugin compatibility isn’t guaranteed
- Some scripts may conflict with live editing
- Dynamic updates are not yet fully synchronized
🛠️ Fix Needed: A plugin-safe collaboration mode or cloud-adapted plugin layer.
📁 7. Version Control Is Basic
InDesign Cloud Documents do save versions, but it’s not as robust as Git-style branching or Figma’s timelines. Current drawbacks:
- No “named versions”
- No restore preview
- No change logs for who did what
🛠️ Feature Request: Taggable versions, side-by-side comparisons, and activity logs.
🤖 8. No AI Integration for Collaborative Design (Yet)
With Adobe Firefly rapidly evolving, we expected AI-assisted suggestions or layout recommendations for teams—but nothing is built into the collaboration beta yet.
🛠️ Vision: Smart layout helpers or AI-driven content assistants that enhance teamwork.
🔮 Conclusion: A Strong Start, But Miles to Go
The beta version of real-time collaboration in InDesign is a huge leap forward, but it’s still missing many of the features that make Figma, Notion, and Google Docs beloved by teams.
To truly modernize its workflow, Adobe will need to:
- Add built-in commenting and tasking
- Introduce role-based access
- Enable navigation sync and real-time feedback
- Expand plugin compatibility
- Roll out AI tools for collaborative layout
Until then, it’s a promising but unfinished chapter in InDesign’s future.
