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Tim003213201
Participating Frequently
April 30, 2026
Question

Problem moving Photoshop CS5 to new computer.

  • April 30, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 39 views

I am working to move from an old laptop to new laptop and an old desktop to a new desktop computer.  All Windows.
 

When I deactivated the Photoshop CS5 license from my old laptop, it properly activated on my new laptop.
 

Then, when I deactivated the Photoshop CS5 license from my old desktop, it didn’t make a license available for the new desktop.  Of course, it no longer works on the old desktop.

The Production Premium CS5 bundle was purchased directly from Adobe.  It appears in my Adobe account.

 

What is my best plan to get this situation resolved and get Photoshop CS5 working on the new desktop computer?

    2 replies

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Peru BobCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 30, 2026

    It sounds like the activation only worked locally and didn’t communicate with Adobe’s server.

    See if something here helps:

    https://community.adobe.com/announcements%2D616/activation%2Dlimit%2Dreached%2Dfor%2Dnon%2Dsubscription%2Dadobe%2Ddesktop%2Dapplications%2D565112

     

    AxelMatt
    Community Expert
    AxelMattCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 30, 2026

    When I deactivated the Photoshop CS5 license from my old laptop, it properly activated on my new laptop.
     

    Then, when I deactivated the Photoshop CS5 license from my old desktop, it didn’t make a license available for the new desktop.

     

    What you wrote is a little bit confusing. you have activate the installation on the new laptop and it worked. So far so good.

    Then you deactivate the installation on your old laptop and now the new installation doesn’t work too? Very mysterious.

    What happened if you activate the old installation again?

    Which operating system do you use on your new laptop?

    On de-/activation issues is very difficult to help. Adobe doesn’t support old CSx applications anymore and we are here normal users as you are and don’t have access to the activation server.

    My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
    T
    Tim003213201Author
    Participating Frequently
    April 30, 2026

    Hi AxelMatt,

        Thanks for the reply.

        I think you misread my post.

    Old laptop deactivated > New Windows 11 laptop activated.

    Old desktop deactivated > New desktop failed, because it didn’t release the old desktop deactivation to be available for a new activation.

    AxelMatt
    Community Expert
    AxelMattCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    May 1, 2026

    Ok, that seems that your activation count limit has been reached and the deactivation of your old laptop wasn’t communicated to Adobe’s server as ​@Peru Bob wrote.

    You can try to reactivate the installation on your old laptop and then deactivate it again.

    But I'm afraid that won't work and you’re out of luck to get your CS5 to work.

    I’m remenber to a similar post here. adobe cs6 auf altem pc gelöscht kann auf neuem pc nicht aktiviert werden | Adobe DME

     

    My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
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