What is this GARBAGE

I'm still using CC2019 (20.0.10) on an aging Windows 10 computer incapable of running the current releases,  and I've had Use Legacy "New Document" Interface checked since the day of installation, so no, that isn't it, but thank you. Fwiw, it was suggested at one point that it might have something to do with my pc's lack of a GPU "with DirectX 12 support (feature level 12_0 or later)," but that requirement didn't come into play until CC2022 ( https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements/earlier-versions.html ) and, as I said, I'm running CC2019.

So I just live with it. Clicking Alt + F4 to dismiss the screen isn't terribly onerous, and anyway it'll all change next year when Windows 10 EOLs and I'm forced to move on. Sometimes you just have to be philosophical about things, na ja?

Welcome to the club. This is what I first reported here back on 09-13-23 ( https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-bugs/p-creative-cloud-apps-popup-when-opening-latest-photoshop/idc-p/14083031#M91062 ). For me, it comes and goes. Sometimes I'll get a couple weeks with PS opening normally and then it's back to the races. <opinion>There's nothing you can do because it's not your computer or your installation that's at fault. It's a problem back at the Mothership.</opinion>