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jackk16364587
Participant
Oct 28, 2026 10:21 PM UTC
Answered

Creative cloud suddenly stopped working on Windows 11, all methods to fix have not worked, what else can I try?

So one day I boot up my computer and none of my CC apps are working anymore. I try to access the CC app to no avail. I spend a while troubleshooting and land on this page:
 


I followed every step. I’ve even resintalled windows 11 on my system and followed the steps again. The best I’ve got is installing the older version of the CC app. It opens, but it immeditaley updates and then stops working again. Sometimes when I boot up the CC app asks if it can “make changes to the device” I give it permission and it immediately crashes.

 

I’m at a total loss at this point. What else can I try?

    leo.r
    leo.rCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Oct 28, 2026 10:29 PM UTC

    Did you try repairing Visual C++ Redistributables (just google it if you need instructions)? I’m on Mac, but I see this troubleshooting step being often recommended to Windows users who experience issues with various  CC apps. I don’t know if it helps in your particular case.

    Also, what’s your exact Windows version, computer model, and how much RAM do you have?

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    8 replies

    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 28, 2026 11:12 PM UTC

    try a clean install.

     

    uninstall everything cc including preferences, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-remove-app.html 

    then uninstall the cc desktop app, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html 

    clean your computer of cc files per http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html 

    restart your computer (don't skip this)

    reinstall the cc desktop app, https://creative.adobe.com/products/creative-cloud 

    if you're unable to install the cc desktop app at this stage, use an administrator account (solution 4 here, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-missing-damaged.html)

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    jackk16364587Author
    Participant
    Oct 28, 2026 11:17 PM UTC

    Already followed your steps as laid out in the post I linked to. No luck.

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    kglad
    Community Expert
    kgladCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    Oct 30, 2026 12:40 PM UTC

    ​@jackk16364587 

     

    sorry about that, but glad you got the problem resolved with the help of ​@leo.r 

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    leo.r
    Community Expert
    leo.rCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    Oct 28, 2026 10:29 PM UTC

    Did you try repairing Visual C++ Redistributables (just google it if you need instructions)? I’m on Mac, but I see this troubleshooting step being often recommended to Windows users who experience issues with various  CC apps. I don’t know if it helps in your particular case.

    Also, what’s your exact Windows version, computer model, and how much RAM do you have?

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    jackk16364587Author
    Participant
    Oct 28, 2026 11:18 PM UTC

    That seems to have done it! Even after a reboot it’s working smoothly and I can use my apps again. Thank you for the suggestion. 

    And for posterity, my windows version is: 26H2 build 26300.9711
    It’s a custom built PC. Asus Mobo, AM3960X processor.
    And it has 128gb of ram

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      leo.r
      Community Expert
      leo.rCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      Oct 30, 2026 7:57 AM UTC

      Ok that’s great to know. It’s unfortunate that users have to go through so much trouble to figure this out.

      If you ask me, regular users should never be exposed to the cryptic developer terminology like “Visual C++ Redistributables”. It only means that the developers who are responsible for these “redistibutables”, whatever they are, didn’t make sufficient effort to implement them properly. They also didn’t care about the users and the basics of acceptable user experience. (Saying all this because I’m also a developer.)

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