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artistsanonymous
Participant
November 15, 2025
Question

Indesign CS4 + Photoshop CS5 install drivers and osx compatibility

  • November 15, 2025
  • 1 reply
  • 47 views

I need to reinstall a purchased InDesign CS4 

On an operating system 10.15 Catalina (Mac)

 

I need to know where to access the older driver for this and also if I can run this on Catalina

And if I cannot run this on Catalina what are my options aside from downgrading my computer?

 

I also have lost access to my Photoshop CS5 program and license key - how can I regain this back?

1 reply

Community Expert
November 16, 2025

InDesign CS4 on macOS Catalina (10.15)
Unfortunately, InDesign CS4 will not run on Catalina.
Catalina removed all support for 32-bit applications, and as far as I know - every Creative Suite installer (CS3–CS5.5) depends on 32-bit components. Even if you somehow copied the app over manually, it will fail to launch.


I don't really know of any drivers, compatibility, official workarounds.

 

Options (without downgrading your current macOS install)
You’ve got a few:

A. Run an older macOS in a virtual machine

  • Install macOS 10.11, 10.12, or 10.13 in Parallels/VMWare.

  • Then install CS4/CS5 inside that VM.
    This works reasonably well for light use.

B. Use a second Mac or external drive with an older macOS
If you have an older Mac available, or can boot an older OS from an external SSD, CS4/CS5 will still run normally there.

 

Recovering your Photoshop CS5 license key
If you bought it from Adobe and registered the serial at the time, you may find it:

  • Log in at Adobe Account > Plans > View your products

 

If it’s not listed there, Adobe support probably will not reissue CS5 serial numbers anymore. Activation servers are partially shut down, so recovery may not be possible.