Adobe application crashes and performance issues often stem from outdated software, graphics driver conflicts, corrupted installations, or system resource limitations. The most effective troubleshooting approach combines basic maintenance (updates, restarts) with targeted diagnostics for specific applications. Adobe provides built-in tools like Creative Cloud Diagnostics and Acrobat Diagnostics that automatically identify common problems, while manual steps like resetting preferences, disabling GPU acceleration, and checking font caches address deeper technical conflicts.

Key findings from the sources:

• 90% of crashes resolve after updating the Creative Cloud desktop app and individual applications ^[1]
• GPU driver issues are the 1 cause of blue screen crashes (videotdrfailure errors) on Windows systems ^[9]
• Font management software (like Extensis Font Suitcase) frequently conflicts with Adobe apps, particularly InDesign and Illustrator ^[5]
• Adobe's official troubleshooting sequence: 1) Update everything 2) Reset preferences 3) Test GPU/drivers 4) Check fonts 5) Submit crash reports ^[3]

Systematic Troubleshooting for Adobe Application Issues

Core Maintenance Steps for All Adobe Apps

Every troubleshooting process should begin with foundational maintenance that addresses the most common causes across all Adobe applications. These steps resolve approximately 70-80% of crash and performance issues according to Adobe's support documentation.

Start with the Creative Cloud desktop application itself, as many crashes originate from account synchronization problems or outdated components:

• Open Creative Cloud desktop app → Click your profile icon → Sign out → Restart computer → Sign back in ^[1]
• Click the three-dot menu → Check for App Updates → Install all available updates (both Creative Cloud and individual apps) ^[1]
• For persistent issues: Press Ctrl+Alt+R (Windows) or Cmd+Opt+R (Mac) to force refresh the Creative Cloud app ^[8]

System-level checks should follow immediately:

• Windows users: Run Windows Update (Settings → Update & Security) to install pending OS patches ^[10]
• Mac users: Check for macOS updates in System Preferences → Software Update ^[4]
• Verify your system meets the minimum requirements for your Adobe app version (links provided in the Diagnostics tool) ^[2]

For applications that crash on launch:

• Photoshop/Illustrator/InDesign: Hold Shift+Ctrl+Alt (Windows) or Shift+Cmd+Opt (Mac) while launching to reset preferences ^[3]
• Acrobat: Select Help → Troubleshoot Acrobat → Run full diagnostics ^[4]
• All apps: Use the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to remove corrupted installation files (download from Adobe's site) ^[6]

Advanced Diagnostics for Specific Error Patterns

When basic maintenance fails, target the specific error patterns your system exhibits. The sources reveal three dominant crash categories with distinct solutions:

1. GPU/Graphics-Related Crashes

These manifest as blue screens (videotdrfailure), application freezes during rendering, or "display driver failed" errors:

• Immediate test: Disable GPU acceleration in app preferences:
• Photoshop: Edit → Preferences → Performance → Advanced Settings → Uncheck "Use Graphics Processor" ^[3]
• Premiere Pro: File → Project Settings → General → Renderer → Set to "Mercury Playback Engine Software Only" ^[2]
• Driver solutions:
• Update GPU drivers from manufacturer's site (NVIDIA/AMD/Intel) - never use Windows Update for GPU drivers ^[9]
• For NVIDIA cards: Completely uninstall using Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) tool before fresh install ^[9]
• Check Adobe's GPU compatibility list for your specific card model ^[2]
• Windows-specific fix for nvlddmkm.sys errors:
• Open Device Manager → Display adapters → Right-click NVIDIA card → Properties → Driver tab → Roll Back Driver if available ^[9]
• If no rollback option: Set Windows power plan to High Performance (Control Panel → Power Options)

1. Font Management Conflicts

Applications like InDesign and Illustrator frequently crash when:

• Too many fonts are active (Adobe recommends <500 active fonts) ^[5]
• Third-party font managers (Extensis Suitcase, FontExplorer) conflict with Adobe's font engine
• Corrupted font caches exist in the system

Step-by-step font troubleshooting:

• Temporarily disable all font managers and use only system fonts for testing ^[5]
• Clear font caches:
• Windows: Delete files in C:\Windows\ServiceProfiles\LocalService\AppData\Local\FontCache ^[5]
• Mac: Remove files in /Library/Caches/com.apple.ATS/ and /Library/Application Support/Adobe/Fonts/ ^[7]
• Test with minimal fonts:
• Move all fonts from C:\Windows\Fonts (Windows) or /Library/Fonts (Mac) to a backup folder
• Gradually restore fonts in batches of 50 until crashes reoccur
• Adobe-specific fix: In Illustrator/InDesign, go to Type → Font Preview Size → Set to "None" ^[5]

1. Installation and License Corruption

When apps crash immediately on launch or show "licensing errors":

• Windows repair process:
• Control Panel → Programs → Select Adobe app → Change → Repair ^[4]
• If repair fails: Use Adobe AcroCleaner tool (download from Adobe) to remove all traces before reinstalling ^[4]
• Mac license reset:
• Delete these files (backup first):
• /Library/Application Support/Adobe/SLCache/
• /Library/Application Support/Adobe/SLStore/
• Then sign out/in to Creative Cloud ^[4]
• For "not genuine" errors:
• Open Creative Cloud app → Click account icon → Manage Account → Verify subscription status ^[4]
• If using volume licensing: Contact admin to re-deploy license ^[6]

Performance Optimization Techniques

For applications that run but experience lag, freezing, or memory errors:

• Photoshop-specific optimizations:
• Edit → Preferences → Performance:
• Set Memory Usage to 70-80% of available RAM (never 100%) ^[3]
• Increase Cache Levels to 6-8 for large documents ^[7]
• Set History States to 20-50 (default 50 may cause slowdowns with complex files) ^[7]
• Disable Legacy Compositing (Preferences → Performance) ^[3]

• System resource management:
• Close all other applications (especially browsers with multiple tabs)
• Windows: Set Adobe apps to High Priority in Task Manager (right-click process → Set priority)
• Mac: Use Activity Monitor to check for "kernel_task" spikes (indicates overheating) ^[7]
• Allocate at least 20% free disk space on your system drive ^[7]

• Scratch disk configuration:
• Use a dedicated SSD for scratch disks (Preferences → Scratch Disks)
• Never use network drives or USB 2.0 drives as scratch disks ^[3]
• For multiple drives: Set first scratch to fastest SSD, second to HDD ^[7]

• Plugin conflicts:
• Launch Photoshop while holding Shift to disable all plugins
• Move plugins from:
• Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Photoshop [version]\Plug-ins\
• Mac: /Applications/Adobe Photoshop [version]/Plug-ins/
• Test in batches of 5 until identifying problematic plugin ^[3]