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Illustrator Update not compatible Win 10

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I can not update Illustrator and Illustrator beta. It says Windows 10 has to be 21Hs LTSC. Mine is a later version 22H2. So why won`t it update.

If I can`t update, I should have a discount.

My PC is not old, but it won`t work with Windows 11.

I hope you have an answer.

Niels

jane-e

Community Expert

@NielsB59 wrote: “Mine is a later version 22H2.”

V22H2 is not supported, according to Adobe’s help page:
https://helpx.adobe.com/illustrator/desktop/get-started/learn-the-basics/technical-requirements.html

Note: Not supported on Windows 10 versions 1507, 1511, 1607, 1703, 1709, 1803, 1809, 1903, 1909, 2004, 20H2, 21H1, v22H2, 23H2
Jane

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NielsB59Author

Participant

I seems that Adobe is willing to lose a lot of subscribers. Subscription Is way to expensive, especially when you can't get the full value and there is alternatives. Linux and Affinity.

I hope Adobe will reconsider. Adobe should not be glued to Microsoft.

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Bobby Henderson

Community Expert

Here's the thing: Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on Oct 14, 2025. That means no new features or bug fixes for that OS. The only remaining updates Win10 will get are critical security updates; those end on October of 2027. The fact Win 10 won't get any more bug fix updates would put Adobe's developers in a difficult position by trying to make new versions of their apps run on that deprecated OS.

App crashes or misbehavior can be caused by culprits outside of the app's own code. That includes the code of the operating system. If a bug in the OS is causing a crash or other problem, but the OS vendor (Microsoft) won't fix it why continue developing apps to run on that dying platform?

Regarding Linux: I've been hearing people try to pitch that OS for professional graphics use since the 1990's. Very little has happened in that direction. I think Adobe has enough on their plate developing apps for MacOSX, Windows and iOS. A bunch of Android device users want Adobe apps on that platform. Even if Adobe wanted to make a serious effort at porting its apps to Linux which distro would they support? That choice is its own can of worms.

Many of us are locked into our Mac-based or Windows-based work flows based on our specific industry. I'm in the sign industry and that's very Windows-dominated, due to all the industry-specific apps and industry-specific devices that require Windows PCs. Many publishing outfits are locked in with MacOSX for similar reasons. Let’s not forget troves of archived files, fonts and other assets which may have difficulty jumping OS platforms.

Regarding Affinity: it's hardly a worthy replacement for Adobe apps like Illustrator. I'll recommend it to casual, non-professional users since it's cheap/free. But Affinity Designer doesn't do so great in a professional graphics workflow environment where you're having to handle corporate brand assets that require Adobe apps to open, edit and output accurately.

The computing software and hardware we use has to get replaced periodically. Unfortunately it's not cheap. Yet it's a cost of doing business.

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Kurt Gold

Community Expert

Bobby, have you received some kind of prior notice from Adobe about discontinuing the support for almost all Windows 10 builds?

I do not remember some accurately timed announcements and in case Adobe failed to properly announce it for all Windows users, it is (also) at least a serious communication problem on the part of Adobe.

It will certainly cause some discontent.

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Daniel Bevis

Known Participant

I knew there was something [further] up with why I couldn’t update on W10 too - the support guys in social chats were just fobbing me off about computer compatibility lists [hello, my PC was the day before dearies]!

So Illustrator updates going forward are Windows 11 exclusive then?

[My W10 is also only about 6 years old, but was cut off for W11 support as well]

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Bobby Henderson

Community Expert

It does seem like bad timing to make Windows 11 a requirement for PCs to run the latest versions of Illustrator, Photoshop, etc. Prices are ridiculous for computers that are reasonably well-equipped. This is all thanks to the AI bubble and rush to build data centers. I would hate to have to buy a new computer system now.

The situation reminds me a little of the situation when Creative Suite first launched over 20 years ago; it wouldn't install on PCs using Windows 98 or WinME. It required Win2000; it might have been possible to install it on a PC running Windows NT.

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Charles_Vane

Known Participant

Exactly, I think that is what I find particularly egregious. It is so expensive to upgrade components and we are already paying a small fortune to Adobe every month to rent out software. No warning either. Just cut out all Win 10 users like that. Keep on truckin’ Adobe.

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Charles_Vane

Known Participant

I have the same issue, it affects InDesign too.

If we can’t access the latest features we are paying for, then we should be at least entitled to a discount. It’s also not particularly fair to force people to upgrade when the cost of components is sky high.

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CrisTDesign

Inspiring

As already wrote in the InDesign section, as of 2026, nearly 1 billion PCs worldwide are still running Windows 10, representing roughly 25% to 30% of all active Windows desktop computers. Adobe’s behavior is totally unacceptable, especially considering the current PC crisis involving RAM and GPUs…

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