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Emanuela_Navone1680
Participant
February 11, 2026
Answered

Installing Creative Cloud: error 81 and how to fix it on MacOs Big Sur

I tried to reinstall Creative Cloud on my iMac Big Sur but it doesn’t work: error 81. I saw that I have to access the Activity Monitoring because there is another installation process for Creative Cloud, but I can’t find it. It seems that there is no active Adobe process on my Mac, but I can’t install the Creative Cloud package. Someone could help me? Thanks!

    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCorrect answer
    Legend
    February 11, 2026

    ​@Emanuela_Navone1680 , thanks for posting. Error 81 occurs because another process or task is conflicting with the installer. Please see https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/troubleshoot/error-codes-1-99/error81.html for information on how to close the conflicting application or service.

     

    I see that you also contacted us directly. Please use the steps listed at https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/customer-support-portal.html if you have additional questions about your support case ADB-43905687-Z0T5.

    3 replies

    leo.r
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 11, 2026

    In addition to all other advice, the current Creative Cloud app doesn’t seem to support Big Sur (macOS 11) anymore:

    https://helpx.adobe.com/ca/download-install/apps/system-requirements/creative-cloud-desktop-app-system-requirements.html#:~:text=macOS%20Monterey%20(version%2012)%20and%20later

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    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCorrect answer
    Legend
    February 11, 2026

    ​@Emanuela_Navone1680 , thanks for posting. Error 81 occurs because another process or task is conflicting with the installer. Please see https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/troubleshoot/error-codes-1-99/error81.html for information on how to close the conflicting application or service.

     

    I see that you also contacted us directly. Please use the steps listed at https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/customer-support-portal.html if you have additional questions about your support case ADB-43905687-Z0T5.

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    kglad
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 11, 2026

    restart your computer and then correct download the cc desktop app by using the links at the bottom of this page, https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/download-install-apps/creative-cloud-apps/download-creative-cloud-desktop-app-from-web.html

     

    install the cc desktop app using an administrator account (solution 4 here, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-missing-damaged.html)

     

    use the desktop app to install your cc programs/trials

     

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