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erino10381232
Participant
August 4, 2016
Answered

How can I change my CS5 Windows license to Mac?

  • August 4, 2016
  • 1 reply
  • 916 views

I contacted Adobe customer service back on July 25th to discuss my switch from Windows to Mac.  I inquired about downloads for my CS5 and my Lightroom 2.  I shared that I was switching operating systems and wanted to find out what I should do in advance to ensure that I would be good to go when I got my new computer.  I was sent a link in the chat for my two products.  Today, I went to download and they don't work - they are windows based.  After 22 minutes of slow response time I was told it wasn't possible, that I needed to have the latest version.  Which seems odd since Mac was certainly around back when I purchased these programs.

My questions are:

Why wasn't I told any of this back on July 25th when I had my other computer and initially contacted Adobe?

Why would I need to buy yet another program and I most certainly don't want to go cloud based when I've already purchased my programs?

Thank you.

This topic has been closed for replies.
Correct answer Ned Murphy

These are user to user forums.  No one here can answer for what Adobe might have told you.  Most anyone here can tell you that if you are asking about switching platforms from Windows to Mac for any CS5 products that you are out of luck as far as getting Adobe to support that desire.  The license you purchased is only valid for a Windows installation.  You could download and install a Mac version of the software, but your license/serial number will not work with it.  They only provide platform swaps for the most recent release products, which four years or so ago was CS6 (I suspect they will drop that option in the future at some point as well).  If you want to acquire a license for a Mac version of CS5 then you will have to shop around and find someone who is selling it.  Another option would be to try using a Windows emulator on the Mac so that you can install a Windows version.

As far as Lightroom goes, your license for that should be valid for either platform, though the software itself might have issues with a newer operating system.

Lightroom - all available versions

Windows

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=113&platform=Windows

Mac

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=113&platform=Macintosh

1 reply

Ned Murphy
Ned MurphyCorrect answer
Legend
August 4, 2016

These are user to user forums.  No one here can answer for what Adobe might have told you.  Most anyone here can tell you that if you are asking about switching platforms from Windows to Mac for any CS5 products that you are out of luck as far as getting Adobe to support that desire.  The license you purchased is only valid for a Windows installation.  You could download and install a Mac version of the software, but your license/serial number will not work with it.  They only provide platform swaps for the most recent release products, which four years or so ago was CS6 (I suspect they will drop that option in the future at some point as well).  If you want to acquire a license for a Mac version of CS5 then you will have to shop around and find someone who is selling it.  Another option would be to try using a Windows emulator on the Mac so that you can install a Windows version.

As far as Lightroom goes, your license for that should be valid for either platform, though the software itself might have issues with a newer operating system.

Lightroom - all available versions

Windows

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=113&platform=Windows

Mac

http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=113&platform=Macintosh

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