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Participant
September 12, 2025
Question

Does Photoshop Elements 21 still run on macOS Tahoe 26

  • September 12, 2025
  • 9 replies
  • 3561 views

Hello everyone,

I'm currently using macOS Tahoe 26 on my Mac mini (M4) and tried to install Photoshop Elements 21. Unfortunately, the program won't launch; instead, I just get a message saying the version isn't supported.

Has anyone managed to get Elements 21 to work on macOS Tahoe 26? Are there any workarounds, or is upgrading to a newer version the only option?

Thank you for your help!

Best regards,
Patrick

9 replies

Participant
October 16, 2025

Funny (or not): 

Adobe PSE 2026 is also not running on MacOs Tahoe. Support said, I should downgrade my OS (which also does not work, unless I fully delete my HardDrive):

AuburnBoy
Participating Frequently
October 16, 2025
It might depend iff you already have a prior version of PSE installed. I installed PSE 2026 on both my iMac (running Sequoia) and MacBook Pro M2 (running Tahoe), works great! But it was an upgrade version on top of PSE2020.

I’ve also received poor advice from the Adobe phone staff. One guy said Adobe no longer sells a perpetual version of PSE when I was having trouble finding it to buy and download. While listening to his “advice”, I found, downloaded and installed the PSE2026 upgrade and it worked fine. But I’m not sure about a fresh install with the full version. In did see purchase options for the full version of PSE 2026 for Mac so I must assume it does work.
Randolph II
Participating Frequently
October 16, 2025

I do agree. 

Upgraded from PSE 2021 to PSE 2026 on my MacBook air M3 (Tahoe 26.0.1) works  smooth and without any trouble so far.

Participant
October 4, 2025

All,

I haven't tried it yet, but I see that https://www.photopea.com/ is a possible solution to replcae Photoshop Elements.  I understnad that it's not nearly as comprehensive as Photoshop Elements, but it is free.  Worth a look.  

AuburnBoy
Participating Frequently
October 4, 2025

Ultimately and begrudgingly I had to upgrade to Photoshop Elements 2026 for $79.99. Actually the cost isn't so bad, it works out to $2/month. It's more the principle. While I was looking for the latest version, the Adobe chat rep told me the perpetual versions are no longer offered, then I found the upgrade a few minutes later on my own. Caveat emptor!n Let's see what happens in 2029, but I'm good until then.

Participant
September 18, 2025

I contacted Adobe Help Center and receied the same answer: Photoshop Elements 2021 WILL NOT WORK with MAC iOS 26 (Tahoe).  I was told that I had to purchase the new 2025 version.  Note:  Read the detailed agreement.  While many of the Adobe products are subscription only, you can buy the PSE 2025 for $99.99 + tax....but the "fine print" says that it is only good for three years.  Watch out, Adobe is trapping us into a subscription base business model. Follow the $$$

Participant
September 19, 2025

Maybe it's time to start researching other photo editing apps. I'll do that this weekend.

ines777
Inspiring
September 19, 2025
Please let us know what you find.
Sent from my iPhone
Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 17, 2025

gbread,

 

 Did you buy Photoshop Elements 2025 from the Apple App Store?

Participant
September 17, 2025

I can't get Adobe Photoshop Elements 2025 Editor to open, since updating to MAC Tahoe 26.  I get an error message:  Receipt Validation Failed.

Participant
September 19, 2025

I'm sure that they will fix this soon… So many of us really rely on this app.

Glenn 8675309
Legend
October 4, 2025

No they will not fix anything prior to pse 2025.  Even PSE 2024 became unsupported once PSE 206 came out.   Any version before that?  Zero chance of any update- absolutely zero.

Participant
September 16, 2025

Same issue for me after installing main public release. So annoyed 

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 16, 2025

Seems that Photoshop Elements versions older than Photoshop 2022 think that macOS Tahoe is older than

macOS /Mac OS X.

 

Photoshop Elements 2022 when trying to run on a 2022 Mac Studio with macOS Tahoe 26

Rosetta 2 is installed

 

Participant
September 16, 2025

Installed public release of MacOS 26 this morning and photoshop elements 2022 won't run and shows a similar error to that shown above. 

im hoping I'm not up for buying a new version of elements. 

Randolph II
Participating Frequently
September 16, 2025

I got the same notice ; try to run photoshop emlements 2021. 

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 16, 2025

 

jimi_1115,

 

What version of Photoshop Elements do you have?

ines777
Inspiring
September 18, 2025

Mine is version 2020, stopped working just now, after upgrade to Tahoe 26

Jeff Arola
Community Expert
Community Expert
September 12, 2025

Your running a Beta version of macOS Tahoe 26?

 

If so, better to wait and try Photoshop Elements 21 when the final version is released on September 15, 2025.

 

After that there will be lots of posts here about versions that don't work.

Participant
September 16, 2025

True that, Elements is no longer working after installing MacOS 26. Will adobe do an upgrade?