Question

CS5 activation

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
December 14, 2025
2 replies
183 views

So, this is a long explanation: I have an original purchased download of CS5. It's installed on a desktop and was on a laptop. Got a new laptop BUT the product wouldn't activate, so I uninstalled it from the 1st laptop, but still wouldn't work on the new one. So, I tried to put it back on the 1st laptop & same issue - too many devices. YET, my Adobe account shows NO activated devices. Any suggestions at all? It is MY purchased product.

Activation

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

Your Adobe account doesn't show legacy Creative Suite installations. That feature only works with supported Creative Cloud products.

CS5 is an unsupported legacyware from 2010. It's almost 16 years old and time to replace.

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).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Annual Photography plan.
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

D

dkchi2010Author

If it didn't work wonderfully I would replace but why spend $$ if not necessary?

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

If it didn't work wonderfully I would replace but why spend $$ if not necessary?
By @dkchi2010

===========

You already know the answer to that. You can no longer activate CS5. That's why you're here.

It's time to find replacements (free or paid). Your choice.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

kglad

Community Expert

your account info isn't for legacy apps like cs5.

you need to deactivate cs5 using a computer where it's currently activated. that's the only way to gain an activation.

if you uninstalled it from a computer on which it was activated, you should be able to reinstall it and use that activation.

D

dkchi2010Author

1st, thank you for the quick reply.

The laptop I uninstalled it from WAS activated, but it won't take it now. I don't want to fool around with the desktop product coz I need it working somewhere. I guess I could try again but if it doesn't work, then what?

kglad

Community Expert

then you won't be able to easily use cs5 for longer than the 30 say trial on any one computer.

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