Install previous versions of Illustrator

I think Adobe should relax its policy on prior versions of Creative Cloud. It's not good for some users to get their work flow impacted because they can't use a build of Illustrator two or more versions back from the current build.

People make mistakes and accidentally remove prior versions of Illustrator when installing a newly released version. There is no undo button when making that mistake.

The original poster of this thread is using expensive industry specific plugins for Illustrator. It is very common for the makers of such plugins to take a long time to update those plugins to make them compatible with the current version of the host application. In the sign industry there are people using third party Illustrator plugins to control vinyl cutter/plotter machines. Depending on the brand of plugin it may go a long time between updates. Those users are taking a serious gamble if they update to a new version of Illustrator and remove the previously installed version. There is no guarantee the plugin is going to be forward compatible with the new version of Illustrator.

I still have Illustrator 28 installed alongside version 30 due to a different work flow issue. At my work place I move a lot of artwork between CorelDRAW and Adobe Illustrator. There were already existing pain points with taking .AI files exported by CorelDRAW and opening them in Illustrator. With versions 29 and 30 of Illustrator, if I try to open an .AI file exported by CorelDRAW and that file contains any live text objects the file won't open. I'll see the good old "Illustrator could partially read this file" error box. The file opens with a blank page and no content. I have to open the .AI file in Illustrator 28 and then re-save it so it will open in Illustrator 30.

It's good that Adobe offers all the previous builds of the previous version of Illustrator. If they would offer older versions to download/install in the CC app it might be good enough for them to just offer the last final build of that version. In the case of Illustrator 28 that would be version 28.7.10. They could do the same for version 27, 26 and how far back they would be willing to go. I think offering Illustrator builds back as far as version 25 would be good enough.

Also, I think users needing those older versions would probably accept the fact those versions are no longer getting any sort of updates; they would have to accept any remaining technical issues that might exist with those builds.

​@Bobby Henderson ditto, I am using a MacBook that has Illustrator 28.0 and was undecided if I wanted to use the OpenCore Legacy Patcher for my Macbook so that it can run Tahoe and the other latest versions… than thought, I can just add the newer apps on my wife’s PC instead. Problem solved. Except, I am not a big fans of PC! This is one of the reasons why I have ‘Auto-update’ turned off on my MAC and her PC as well because of all these weird bugs. 

I do see the app on my MAC, but I don’t think the 3 gig app would actually work that way by dragging it to the Cloud and letting someone else use it—even if they legitimately purchased it. Adobe Support should be able to provide you the legit downloadable link. 

If not, you could use Wayback Machine? Maybe not as secured...

I would try contacting Adobe’s customer support and see if they could help and give you a download link to a version 28 installer. The installers in the Creative Cloud app go back only one version. I’m trying to protect an Illustrator 28 installation on my setup due to a different issue with versions 29 and 30.

Hello, We have $7k worth of plugins from a third party, which never expire; however, they only work with Illustrator 28.  Adobe Creative Cloud no longer offers versions prior 29.  How can we get this older version? Thanks, Vincent

Hello there. Have to use an old mac while mine is getting repaired. (OS catalina 10.15.7)

no previous versions on this so i need an old Illustrator version download please. Thanx

This link just leads to the Download & Install forum.

I need a version of Illustrator that works with MacOS Cataliona. My originally CS6 software was downloaded from a disc, not the app so I'm running into some issues. 

Thanks in advance, 

Missy

Hello,

I have an issue with installing Adobe Illustrator. I recently bought a key for the windows 11 pro for the app, but it still says that i have to update the system. I looked at the requirements for the app and it's all good. What do I have to do to download that app? I tried to install it by Creative Cloud but it still said that I have to update the system. What do i do in that situation please help me I need that Illustrator for my exams. So sorry that the images are in the other language I hope it's not a problem. Thank you and have a nice day.