Participant

Question

PS CS6 activation help on new laptop

Forum|Forum|1 day ago
June 29, 2026
4 replies
23 views

I have an old Photoshop license (CS6). I recently changed laptops. I deactivated and removed on the old one but I cannot install on the new one. It is not accepting the serial number. The customer service is not able to help because they are trained to only handle subscription products. I have bought a perpetual license and I should be able to use it however many years I want. Please help!.

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

There is a new sign-in method for installing legacy apps on newer devices. See the link below for more details.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/apps/troubleshoot/licensing-activation-issues/cant-activate-reinstall-legacy-apps.html#new-method

Hope that helps.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

Nancy OShea

Community Expert

In the event that your activations are exceeded, and you can’t deactivate from previously installed devices, replace CS6 with a supported product.

Photoshop Express mobile app
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-express.html
Photoshop Elements for desktop
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html
CC Photography Plan (Photoshop & Lightroom) for mobile, web & desktop)
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography/compare-plans.html

Good luck.

Nancy O'Shea— Product User & Community Expert

John T Smith

Community Expert

1 - do NOT post a serial number in a public forum

2 - is your serial number 6 groups of 4 numbers? (no letters, only numbers)

3 - what is the EXACT error message?

K

Kanashawnee

Participating Frequently

Surprise, surprise. Try googling Adobe class action lawsuits. They just settled one.

kglad

Community Expert

@Kanashawnee

the lawsuit was unrelated to legacy software. and “My understanding is that Adobe has stopped supporting ALL non-subscription versions and blocking ALL paid perpetual license users from being able to access their products, trying to FORCE them into subscribing to their Cloud format.” is incorrect.

K

Kanashawnee

Participating Frequently

Welcome to the club that nobody wants to be a part of. I didn’t even de-activate and try to re-activate. I just went to use my CS4 that has been on my desktop for years and am now being blocked from doing so. My understanding is that Adobe has stopped supporting ALL non-subscription versions and blocking ALL paid perpetual license users from being able to access their products, trying to FORCE them into subscribing to their Cloud format.

Even Photoshop Elements is only good for 3 years now (I’ve never used). I’m seeing lots of complaints about Topaz doing the same thing, and I believe Adobe just bought Topaz?

If this is the case, neither Adobe or Topaz will get any of my business from now on. I’ve been using (and loving) both products for at least 17 years now.

Way to treat your customers, Adobe!

T

ToratoratoraAuthor

Participant

Is this even legal? I suspect they’ll have a case on their hands if they are stopping people from using this way. If I buy a jeans, whether I wear it for 10 months or 10 years is not Levi’s concern. Why is Adobe trying to force people to retire the use?

kglad

Community Expert

@Toratoratora

it’s been more than 10 years since adobe’s activation servers have been shut down for cs2 while cs3 and cs4 servers were subsequently shut down.

cs5, cs5.5 and cs6 can still be activated, https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/activation-limit-reached-for-non-subscription-adobe-desktop-applications/td-p/14804413?linkId=100000376554410

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