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M
marta_0653
Participant
October 7, 2025
Question

Activation limit reached

  • October 7, 2025
  • 3 replies
  • 214 views

I was using Adobe Creative Suite CS5 Design Standard Production for a few years, and on one of my computers it suddenty stopped working with popup window claiming that "Activation limit reached".

It still works on another machine.

 

I did't install in on any new machine for ~4 years, recently no formatting or reinstalling either. Tried to deatviate some old instance on an old laptop (dusted it off, started - but deactivation failed).

 

I tried to contact Adobe support - but they weren't helpful at all. 

 

What do I do?

3 replies

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 7, 2025

Adobe can't help you with 15-year-old, unsupported software.  That ship has sailed. 

Best advice:

  • Keep what you have on your other device and use for as long as you can.
  • Start budgeting for replacement software.

 

MODERN OPTIONS:
==============
FREE Acrobat Reader
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

FREE Online PDF Editor
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/online/pdf-editor.html\

Paid Acrobat (Standard, Pro or Studio)
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pricing/compare-versions.html

Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements (3 year license, no subscription needed).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Annual Photography plan. Includes the following:
Photoshop CC and Photoshop on iPad
Camera Raw
Lightroom on desktop, mobile and the web
Lightroom Classic
Portfolio website + hosting
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

FREE or Paid Adobe Express
https://helpx.adobe.com/express/using/express-overview.html

Creative Cloud Bundles & Single Apps for mobile, web & desktops
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Hope that helps.

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
M
marta_0653Author
Participant
October 7, 2025

If I would look for alternatives, thet it probably wouldn't be Adobe software. Problem is that I didn't install or acivate anything in a few years - it was just working, and suddenly stopped, out of blue... 

Nancy OShea
Community Expert
Nancy OSheaCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 7, 2025

It happens. Probably the result of a Windows update. 

Unfortunately, computers are not the same today as when we bought them. They're constantly receiving new OS updates. Over time, the disconnect between new and old software becomes too great, and the old products stop working.

 

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert
Jeffrey_A_Wright
Community Manager
Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
Community Manager
October 7, 2025

Thanks for posting your question, Marta. You will need to try to successfully deactivate one of your existing installations of Creative Suite 5. Once the software has successfully deactivated, then you can activate it on a new computer. Please see https://adobe.ly/4havcZB , where the process of managing any remaining activations for Creative Suite 5 is discussed. ^JW

M
marta_0653Author
Participant
October 7, 2025

Thanks for reply.

Problem is, that I am unable to deacivate it on an old computer.

I have:

  1. desktop: Win 10 - CS5 worked for years until last month
  2. laptop: Win 10 - CS5 works - I can't deactivate here
  3. old laptop: Win 7 - started it today after ~6 years on the attic. CS5 runs, but refuses to deactivate.

 

Is there any way to deactivate those old instances from Your side?

John T Smith
Community Expert
John T SmithCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 7, 2025

>old laptop: Win 7 - started it today after ~6 years on the attic. CS5 runs, but refuses to deactivate.

 

TLS 1.2 is now required to connect https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/eol-tls-support.html
-If you have Windows 7 be sure to do the EASYFIX.MSI in step 2 of the above link
-test your browser https://clienttest.ssllabs.com:8443/ssltest/viewMyClient.html
-http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/activation-network-issues.html
-https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/unable-to-reach-adobe-servers.html
-https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/troubleshoot-download-install-logs.html#error113
-https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/mem/configmgr/core/plan-design/security/enable-tls-1-2

kglad
Community Expert
kgladCommunity Expert
Community Expert
October 7, 2025

you can only restore an activation count by using a computer that has an activation.  there's no other way.

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