Question

CS6 upgrade from CS5

Forum|Forum|6 months ago
December 27, 2025
3 replies
881 views

Hi. I have valid serial numbers for CS5 and CS6. I purchased both, and both have run without issue. However, I recently switched to a new computer, and while my CS5 installs just fine, my CS6 will not install because the registration site now appears to support only CS5.5 as an upgrade option to CS6. Since I upgraded from CS5, the system will not allow me to install CS6.

This is NOT an issue of compatibility with the new machine, since CS5 installed successfully and operates just fine on it. The problem is simply that the registration server will no longer accept a CS5 serial number when installing CS6. As I upgraded from CS5 and did not purchase CS5.5, I do not have a CS5.5 serial number, so it seems I need Adobe to provide me with a clean CS5.5 serial number that can be used to install my CS6 software, or else I need someone to provide me with a workaround that will allow me to install CS6. Please help!

Windows

D Fosse

Community Expert

@heyjohnboy

You do not need to install CS5.

Creative Suite upgrades did not require the previous qualifying version to be physically installed. What you need to do is enter the CS5 serial number when prompted, during the CS6 install.

That said, you might not be able to activate it, if you did not deactivate the old installation first. Adobe will no longer extend activations beyond the two allowed.

H

heyjohnboyAuthor

I have already attempted to use my CS5 serial number when installing CS6, but the Adobe licensing server just says it is not a qualifying product. It only accepts CS5.5 now, which is bogus, since I upgraded from CS5 initially.

John Duncan

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Digital Marketing & Web Optimization
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A

AxelMatt

Community Expert

I have already attempted to use my CS5 serial number when installing CS6,...

By @heyjohnboy

You can't use the serial number for CS5 for a CS6 installation.

If you buyed CS6 (whether as a full version or as an update) you got an appropriate serial number for CS6.

After installing CS6 enter the serial number for CS6!! If it's a update version and no appropriate version is found on your machine you'll aks to enter a serial number of the pre-version.

As mentioned before, if the normal activation doesn't work you should try the offline activation as described as Solution 2 in the linked document.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/serial-number-validation-launching-cs6.html

My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI

John Waller

Community Expert

because the registration site now appears to support only CS5.5 as an upgrade option to CS6.

What is the exact error message?

A

AxelMatt

Community Expert

Try the offline activation as described as Solution 2 in the linked document.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/serial-number-validation-launching-cs6.html

But be aware: if you have reached your activation limit and you don't have any chance to deactivate an older installation you're out of luck. Adobe has stopped the support of Lightroom 6 and the resetting of the actiovation counter isn't possible anymore.

My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI

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