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tylerjones
Participant
February 2, 2020
Answered

Transferring CS6 to New Macbook

  • February 2, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 20250 views

Hello Adobe Community, I hope someone can give me a definitive answer to this. I have a full license to the Creative Suite CS6 that I purchased and have registered in my name since late 2013. I'm a professional traveling photographer and it has been my primary production tool on my Macbook Air which it has always been installed in since late 2013. CS6 is still my primary production tool as I don't have Internet in my home and any subscription service is unaffordable at this time. My Macbook Air has battery issues and is now a liability and I must upgrade. I'm only looking at new Macbooks because I own this CS6 suite already and it still meets all of my needs and then some. I will only invest in a new Macbook if I know for a fact that my existing license will transer to a new a computer. I don't have installation CD's, I purchased a digital download version of my software from Adobe. Can this be done? I've heard conflicting answers some saying no, because Adobe will no longer honor the old software. If I can transfer, what will be the steps I need to take? Thank you very, very much for your help.

 

Correct answer John Waller

Your new Mac will be running macOS Catalina which has zero support for 32 bit software. It will only install and run 64 bit apps.

 

Although Photoshop CS6 comes in 64 bit, unfortunately the installer and other components are 32 bit so CS6 will not install or run on Catalina. Adobe has no plans to make CS6 Catalina-comptaible.

 

In fact, Adobe states that only Photoshop CC versions 20.x and 21.x (current) will run on Catalina. Any prior version - including CS6 version 13.x - will not. 

See https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/kb/photoshop-and-macos-catalina.html

 

Options:

  1. Downgrade to macOS Mojave and run CS6, or
  2. Stay on Catalina, subscribe to a Cloud plan and run the latest version of Photoshop CC.

4 replies

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Thomas28815092m9we
Participant
August 18, 2025

I also have CS2 on a late 2013 Macbook Pro, along with 2020 Office. I bought a 2 TB hard drive and a new battery on the web and a friend helped me install them. Pretty straightforward and it has worked for 2.5 years just fine. I don't use Illustrator very often, however, and can use pages and numbers instead of Word and Excel. I finally got a new Macbook air 6 months ago for browser security. 

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OtterWithKids
Participating Frequently
May 28, 2022

Two years later, I know, but for anyone else that comes across this thread:

My solution was to grab a 2012 Mac mini on eBay and still it in my computer cabinet. It’s connected to my network via gigabit ethernet and I use Screen Sharing to access it. It’s a bit of a kludge, but I got my entire Creative Suite 6 up and running on High Sierra for less than the price of four months of CC.

Sorry, Adobe. CS6 still more than meets my needs, and I bought a perpetual license for a reason.

    O
    OtterWithKids
    Participating Frequently
    May 28, 2022

    *stick in in my cabinet

    S
    Sensorburn
    Participant
    February 16, 2021

    Hi, I'm also trying to figure how to get an older stand alone Photoshop CS version to run on my Mac. I don't really like being charge a monthly fee. Still searching for this option, otherwise Krita seems to be a great free alternative. 

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    February 16, 2021

    New Mac, new apps, big budget. It's all part of the Joy of Mac. 

    A general note: new "M1" Macs cannot be downgraded from Big Sur. And in a couple of years they won't run ANY of the current apps, Apple have stated. 

    John Waller
    Community Expert
    John WallerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    February 2, 2020

    Your new Mac will be running macOS Catalina which has zero support for 32 bit software. It will only install and run 64 bit apps.

     

    Although Photoshop CS6 comes in 64 bit, unfortunately the installer and other components are 32 bit so CS6 will not install or run on Catalina. Adobe has no plans to make CS6 Catalina-comptaible.

     

    In fact, Adobe states that only Photoshop CC versions 20.x and 21.x (current) will run on Catalina. Any prior version - including CS6 version 13.x - will not. 

    See https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/kb/photoshop-and-macos-catalina.html

     

    Options:

    1. Downgrade to macOS Mojave and run CS6, or
    2. Stay on Catalina, subscribe to a Cloud plan and run the latest version of Photoshop CC.
      JJMack
      Community Expert
      JJMackCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 2, 2020

      Also Perpetual Photoshop licenced were for either Windows or for Mac.  So you can not switch to Windows and user you Mac CS6 serial.  You need to use an old version of OSX.

       

      Apple and Adobe don't care about compatibility in fact compatibility problems help them get new sales.

      JJMack
      John Waller
      Community Expert
      John WallerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 2, 2020

      Well I'm less inclined to lay this particular one on Apple. They gave developers 10+ years to switch to 64 bit. They really stepped up the campaign 3 years ago with Mojave and dropped 32 bit support entirely with Catalina.

       

      Adobe did all the 64 bit work on their core apps but none on the legacy installers. In my view, they leveraged this to force Catalina users to their Cloud plans. In fact, if you have a Mac with Mojave and CS6 already installed then upgrade to Catalina, you can still run CS6, although I'm not sure if it will run 100%.

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