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caryn_
Participant
August 19, 2025
Answered

Is there a way to download Photoshop v 21?

  • August 19, 2025
  • 2 replies
  • 290 views

I previously had Photoshop v 21 installed on my work laptop, but I upgraded and the option to download it from Creative Cloud is no longer available. I mainly require the older version of Photoshop to generate simple normal maps for 3D models, and I'm currently using v 22.2. This version works fine, but I've encountered a few bugs where the only solution is to uninstall/reinstall which I've never encountered when I was working in v 21.

 

I'm also concerned that since they discontinued the v 21 download that eventually 22.2 might be discontinued, and if I need to reinstall it every so often to solve bugs then there could be a chance I lose access altogether.

 

Long story short, is there a way to download Photoshop v. 21? I talked to support chat and they're telling me they can only provide a direct download to Photoshop v 24.0.

Correct answer Conrad_C
quote

I'm also concerned that since they discontinued the v 21 download that eventually 22.2 might be discontinued

By @caryn_

 

Unfortunately there is little doubt on this subject. Several years ago Adobe announced a policy where only the last two major versions of an application will be supported. Typically a new major version is released in the autumn, so if that continues, every autumn the older of the last two major versions will be dropped from the Creative Cloud desktop app installer. 

 

For example, currently Photoshop versions 26 and 25 are available in the Creative Cloud desktop app installer. If a version 27 is released at the Adobe MAX conference later this year, then 27 and 26 will become the supported versions and 25 will be dropped. (I do see version 22.2 is still in my Creative Cloud app, I think it’s being kept around to address the issues with 3D, but that’s definitely an unusual exception and it will probably disappear when they decide a new version has an acceptable replacement for the old 3D code.)

2 replies

S
sunny_adventurer0569
Participant
October 26, 2025

I need the 3D effect so how can I dowload Photoshop 22.2

C
caryn_Author
Participant
October 29, 2025

In the Creative Cloud app, go to the three dot menu icon under the Photoshop app and click "Other Versions."

22.2 will be all the way at the bottom to install 🙂

 

Conrad_C
Community Expert
Conrad_CCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
August 19, 2025
quote

I'm also concerned that since they discontinued the v 21 download that eventually 22.2 might be discontinued

By @caryn_

 

Unfortunately there is little doubt on this subject. Several years ago Adobe announced a policy where only the last two major versions of an application will be supported. Typically a new major version is released in the autumn, so if that continues, every autumn the older of the last two major versions will be dropped from the Creative Cloud desktop app installer. 

 

For example, currently Photoshop versions 26 and 25 are available in the Creative Cloud desktop app installer. If a version 27 is released at the Adobe MAX conference later this year, then 27 and 26 will become the supported versions and 25 will be dropped. (I do see version 22.2 is still in my Creative Cloud app, I think it’s being kept around to address the issues with 3D, but that’s definitely an unusual exception and it will probably disappear when they decide a new version has an acceptable replacement for the old 3D code.)

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