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Can I still activate Creaitve Suite 5 in 2026

Forum|Forum|10 days ago
June 30, 2026
4 replies
83 views

Hey

By any chanche, have anyone made like official claime or?

Anyway, I was kind of thinking, how its possible, that You as customer is buying a full licence, and in some point some corporation thinks, naaah, we dont care You have it.

I mean, I run into same issue, and helpdesk gave me a e-mail where I should contact. But its not evaen working :)

So I would say I am bit dissapointed enough to find out.

Correct answer Jeff_A_Wright

@Tim003213201 and @Aigars99 thank you both for posting to this public discussion forum. I branched your responses to address you both directly.

I appreciate your long-term use of our software, @Aigars99 and @Tim003213201. I can confirm that you have both used the maximum number of allowable activations for Creative Suite 5 that was included with your purchase.

You can find information on how to reclaim those activations, by deactivating the software at

. As was discussed by @Peru Bob in

those computers must be able to successfully contact Adobe servers for the deactivation request to be received. @Tim003213201 this is why you may have tried deactivating previously and were unsuccessful.

For additional information about activating Creative Suite 5, 5.5, and 6 in 2026, see

.

@Aigars99 you are several activations over you limit, so you will need to deactivate multiple times to reduce the number of activations to an allowable level.

I know this can be frustrating to keep using Creative Suite 5 in 2026, @Tim003213201 and @Aigars99, and I appreciate your efforts to continue using the software.

No one can increase the activation count or manage the number of allowable activations in 2026. You will need to complete the steps listed at

successfully to activate the software on a new computer.

kglad

Community Expert

@Aigars99

yes, you can but the process demands attention to detail. see

https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/signing-into-and-activating-legacy-adobe-applications/td-p/14372541?linkId=100000353607574

Jeff_A_Wright

Community Manager

Branched from

T

Tim003213201

Known Participant

As soon as I get a bit of time in my schedule, I fully intend to pursue this. Likely in the next couple months. Not via class action, though. A class action win would get the lawyers millions of dollars, while users that had their perpetual licenses deactivated would probably get at $5 coupon toward a new one-month subscription! 🙄

As mentioned earlier, I recently upgraded to a new desktop and new laptop. Successfully deactivated on both older systems (the Adobe CS5 applications now no longer work on them). Adobe barred me from activating on my new desktop and laptop.

A

Aigars99Author

Participating Frequently

Hey.

Sure, class action is not the end meaning anyhow.
In my particular case, and You can only imagin ehow hard was to buy back old desktop, luckily harddrive was not yet formatted, so I was able to use instructions sent by Adobe, to make the deactivation. But, suppize supprize, on the new on it still does not allow me to activate.
Subscription, well, If I would use it like often, I would not blink a eye and would take it. But, Its so rare when I want to make some very simple layers work or so, then it just dont make any sense. Specially, since I do have the retail box.
Yes, there is plenty new softwares, eaven AI and all that. But, it rises again question, that how its fair that I have bought it, and now somone says “thank You for it”, and now see you later, or buy some subscription.
Just, I dont see thats nice. If Adobe wants to keep customers, then that kind of thing should not happen. If customers get ready, they will hold on Adobe, not moving other brands. Sure this brave new world with AI stealing lots of customers, but, loyal customers will stay.

Yes, I will power up again the old desktop, just to see is it still working there. Eaven I made picture how it happily announce that deactivation was successful. So now its funny, if it does not work there, that Adobe is leading people to make deactivation, and then smile cunningly and saying again - buy subsciption. So thats not a OK in my books.

T

Tim003213201

Known Participant

Hi D Fosse,

Can you please clarify what your comment means?

“Adobe will no longer reset activation counts. This means that if you can't deactivate on the old machines yourself, there's nothing you can do, and the license is for all intents and purposes expired.”

I recently attempted to move Photoshop CS5 from an old computer and old laptop to a new computer and new laptop. All software installed on the new devices succesfully.

I was able to successfully deactivate both old computers. They no longer work for Photoshop.

Next step: Activation on the new desktop and new laptop.

What does “if you can’t deactivate on the old machines yourself...” mean? I was able to deactivate, but now Adobe has apparently disabled my ability to activate.

Is it correct that Adobe allows deactivations, but does not permit activations?

A

Aigars99Author

Participating Frequently

Well that is what happend with me. Deactivation was sucessful, but when trying to activate it on new computer still says I have over my activated device limit.

After deactivation it did not work on that computer either any more.

So I can assume it does not work.

Tryed with Photoshop CS5.

Arcobat X still not brave enough to do so.

Have bought 3 different products from Adobe.

Jeff_A_Wright

Community Manager

@Aigars99 thanks for the update. All three of your licenses are showing more activations than the allowed limit.

You will need to successfully complete the deactivation process at least three times for Lightroom to regain a usable activation.

For Creative Suite 5 and Acrobat 9, you have activated the software nine times, @Aigars99 , so you will need to successfully deactivate eight previously installed copies of the software.

I do appreciate your usage of our software. If you are unable to successfully deactivate the existing installations, then you will need to find a new solution for your creativity needs in 2026.

For more information on the number of included activations, please review and bookmark

.

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