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MasterCollection CS6 License activation problem

Forum|Forum|2 days ago
September 7, 2026
27 replies
117 views

Moving MasterCollection CS6 from a laptop that has Windows 11 Home to a laptop that has Windows 11 Pro; CS6 was properly deactivated on the former. Windows 11 Pro does not allow the installation to complete; after a restart, the laptop enters a deadlock repair loop and, as a result, has to be completely reset. Any attempt to reactivate CS6 on the previous laptop running Windows 11 Home using a valid serial number was unsuccessful, as the system claims that the maximum number of computers allowed has already been exceeded. How can I reactivate CS6?

Correct answer kglad

you can only restore an activation by using a computer that has a current activation AND that meets adobe’s security requirements per https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/activation-limit-reached-for-non-subscription-adobe-desktop-applications/td-p/14804413?linkId=100000376554410

also, there’s no way that i know that you can determine if deactivation was successfully registered at adobe’s deactivation servers. eg, there’s nothing local that shows this.

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Brave_Gemstonec3e6Author

Participating Frequently

Hi everyone!

Just got back from my chat with Adobe’s human support presenting the serial number issue with CS6.

She wrote: „I do understand, but activation server are closed for older version we cannot increase the count for the same , so you will not be able to activate the same“

When I specifically asked: „For my understanding: The server on which my serial number is stored and which checks whether or not my serial number is valid/used with too many devices cannot be accessed by your technical staff?“ her reply was: „Yes, those servers are closed and activation cannot be done“.

So my MC CS6 remains out of order, because of an installation related technical mishap . . . :-/

Thank you very much once again for your swift support and the information provided – highly appreciated! Best wishes

kglad

Community Expert

adobe support isn’t updated on legacy products so you’re apt to (and in this case, you did) receive inaccurate information.

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Brave_Gemstonec3e6Author

Participating Frequently

Inaccurate in what way?

jane-e

Community Expert

@Brave_Gemstonec3e6 wrote: “Is there any solution how to contact Adobe to reset those alleged activation?”

Adobe does not reset activations.

They do support by Chat and X. You can use this link to auto-open the Chat box for Adobe Customer Care if you want to get the answer from them directly:

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen

Jane

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Brave_Gemstonec3e6Author

Participating Frequently

Hello Jane,

Thank you again for your reply and the contact referral. Am gonna try it.

Best wishes

jane-e

Community Expert

@Brave_Gemstonec3e6

I forgot to say: type “agent” in the chat box to get a human and not the bot.
Get a case number at the start of the chat.

Jane

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

Best advice: Keep legacy CS6 on your old machine and use it for as long as you can.

Get new software for your new Win11 machine.

There’s no way to predict if CS6 will work on newer machines it was never built for.

Computers have changed a lot in 15 years.

Post back if you would like replacement recommendations.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

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Brave_Gemstonec3e6Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Nancy,

Thank you for your reply and advice.

I agree, this would be the most sensible way (which I’d like to pursue). As I have been using MC CS6 since 2015 under various Windows OS (also Win11 Home) I (again) didn’t expect any trouble by moving it to a laptop with Win11 Pro . . . Fortunately, on the Win11 Home laptop I „merely“ deactivated the licence but did not uninstall MC CS6. So it still would work there IF the serial number volume currently „occupied“ by the two failed installations attempts on the Win11 Pro laptop could be reset.

kglad

Correct answer

Community Expert

you can only restore an activation by using a computer that has a current activation AND that meets adobe’s security requirements per https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/activation-limit-reached-for-non-subscription-adobe-desktop-applications/td-p/14804413?linkId=100000376554410

also, there’s no way that i know that you can determine if deactivation was successfully registered at adobe’s deactivation servers. eg, there’s nothing local that shows this.

B

Brave_Gemstonec3e6Author

Participating Frequently

Hi kglad,

Thank you for response and the information provided.

Fortunately, on the Win11 Home laptop I „merely“ deactivated the licence but did not uninstall the MC CS6. So CS6 could still work there, but because of the forced resets of the Win11 Pro laptop no deactivations of the incomplete CS6 installation attemps there were possible. And here lies/seems to lie the problem for a successful reactivation of MC CS6 on the Win11 Home laptop as those failed installations are being considered valid usages of the serial number. Is there any way to delete/let Adobe delete the serial number registrations from those failed installation attempts on the Win11 Pro laptop? Thank you.

kglad

Community Expert

@Brave_Gemstonec3e6

no, there’s no way other than a deactivation conveyed to adobe’s servers.

A

AxelMatt

Community Expert

Moderators, @Sameer K , @Jeff_A_Wright please move this thread to: Download & Install | Adobe DME

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

Peru Bob

Community Expert

@AxelMatt

You can use the Report button:

Chris 486

Community Expert

Throwing in these links as well to see if it helps with your issue on activation.

Activate or reinstall legacy Adobe apps | Download and Install

Creative Cloud "Activation limit reached" or "Sign-in failed" error | Creative Cloud

How to download and install Adobe Creative Suite 6

For installing on the new windows 11 pro, you also try to right click on the install and specifically select “run as administrator” That may help the install.

Let us know if any of these help or if you get new errors.

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Brave_Gemstonec3e6Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Chris,

Thank you for your reply and the links provided. The installation process on the Win11 Pro laptop was implemented as described there. What came up during the installation routine was the message that certain drivers could not be installed (I used both the installation DVDs once and then a downloaded installer from Adobe’s website). After I restarted the laptop (as demanded by Adobe Reader) the laptop got into an indefinite repair loop. So I had to perform a complete reset of the computer each time.

Because of those two forced resets of the computer no deactivation of the incomplete installation attemps were possible. Hence, the failed installation attempts on the Windows 11 Pro laptop under successful usage of the serial number at the beginning of the installation routine obviously have been considered as two additional activations by Adobe. On the Win11 Home laptop, where MS CS6 is still completely installed and actually ready-to-work, the reactivation is now refused.

Is there any solution how to contact Adobe to reset those alleged activation? In my Adobe online account there’s no such option available (for MC CS6). Thank you.

Chris 486

Community Expert

Shoot! Sorry to hear that. It looks like we’re seeing the end of OS compatibility. Nancy has the best advice that you’ll want to keep CS6 on your old computer once you are able to reactivate it.

Jane posted the contact link for support (reposting here): https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen

In the bottom right you’ll see the chat bubble to open support and ask to speak to an agent to chat about options.

No Promises on what support can help with as Adobe states they no longer support CS6. :( Product support officially ended in 2014. Do let us know if adobe support is able to help!

jane-e

Community Expert

@Brave_Gemstonec3e6 wrote: “CS6 was properly deactivated”

Give these steps a try to see if they help:

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/troubleshoot/licensing-activation-issues/unable-to-reach-adobe-servers.html

Jane

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Brave_Gemstonec3e6Author

Participating Frequently

Hi Jane,

Thank you for your response and the link provided. The only option there, that could have been a potential solution, would be the use of the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner tool for the new laptop that failed to install MC CS6. I did apply it, but still can’t use MS CS6 on my old laptop.

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