Photoshop Elements 12 / Windows 11 Compatibility

@malcolm_3742, thank you once again for providing a detailed response, confirming that activating a legacy version is still possible using the proper procedures for activating offline.   I wish better instructions were provided by Adobe.

@malcolm_3742 thank you for your detailed description for installing the program.  

Some users have been able to avoid the sign-in loop by activating the program offline, using the instructions found here.  (The link is to archive.org and it may take several seconds to load.  I have asked Adobe for some better, more current, information and instructions for users with similar problems.)

I see there are numerous users of PE12 who are having issues installing PE12 into W11, myself included.

While you can install in PE12 in compatability mode, this will not stop the issue of the install completing and W11 crashing on the reboot to complete the install and then only rebooting into startup repair mode.  

However, if you install PE12 into W11 as an Admin or create a System Restore Point and backing up the Registry before installing, you should be able to restore your PC in about 15-20 mins using the System Restore Point option in the 'Advanced Options'.

What is causing the issue of W11 crashing then opening in repair mode on reboot, is the PxHLpa64.sys driver, (located in C:\Windows\System32\drivers) which has a conflict with Microsoft's recently introduced Windows 11's "Memory Integrity" feature, also known as "Core Isolation".   

Note, the PxHLpa64.sys driver is often associated with DVD burning functionality, and is sometimes included within older versions of Photoshop Elements e.g. PE12, (and other Adobe, Corel, etc. software) even if the DVD feature isn't explicitly used by the software.   

Deleting or renaming the PxHLpa64.sys file, might resolve compatibility issues between older PE versions (e.g. PE12) and Windows 11.  However, doing so can disable the DVD burning features within the software.  However, this is really is no great loss if PE12 operates as it should.  

Possibly, the challenge in solving this issue, is when to delete or rename the PxHLpa64.sys file installed in 

C:\Windows\System32\drivers

Ideally,  having today (15/08/2025) experienced a W11 crash after reboot to complete a PE12 install, the PxHLpa64.sys  driver should possibly be deleted on completion of the install (in compatibilty mode) and before rebooting to complete the install.

Or maybe to select the "Don't show this option again" box on the displayed on error dialogue and test if PE12 will run on completion of the install.  

Another option could be to locate the PxHLpa64.sys file within the installer package files and delete it before installing. 

Have no idea how that could be done, if you do please give it a try and report back.

The W11 "Core Isolation" feature (default setting on) mentioned above, was introduced by Microsoft in a W11 update sometime during the past 8 weeks.  I know this because I was able to install and run PE12 in compatibilty mode as a trial, on a new W11 laptop for my wife during 1st week of June 2025 and it installed and worked without any issues. 

However, attempting an install of PE12 today (15/08/25), on a new laptop I purchased a couple of weeks ago, resulted in the error message:-

"A security setting (i.e. Windows 11's "Memory Integrity" feature, also known as "Core Isolation") is preventing this driver (i.e. PxHIpa64.sys) from loading.  You will need to adjust your settings to load this driver".  That is, turn off   "Core Isolation" which then leaves your PC vulnerable to security risks from exploytation of 'older' apps you may still be using. 

Basically PE12 and possibly other early PE versions, will have this problem because, they are not 'signed' for release and use with W11 by Microsoft, because of their age.  And the PxHLpa64.sys driver is very old, therefore considered a possible security risk.

In closing, it is the PxHLpa64.sys driver conflict decribed above being locked down by the "Core Isolation" security function, which is preventing Windows 11 from successfully booting to the login screen or causing other issues when executing the program, namely rebooting in repair mode.  This may be an issue, by which controlled PE12 installation experimentation may or may not find a solution.

And remember, before installing any dated PEx software of making any changes to system files, it is recommended to create a System Restore Point, backup the Registry,  your PC's operating system and data.

Same with me. Brand new Acer Aspire. Working fine until install Adobe Photoshop Elements 12... have had to completely restore whole OS twice already. ARGHHHHHHHH.

@danilo_3924 , yes Elements 12 is compatible with Windows 11.  But you may have to run it in Compatibility Mode.  See my post here for instructions.  The path for the Elements 12 program file is:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 12

Infatti lo stesso La versione 12 di Elements è compatibile con Windows 11? Di recente ho installato la mia versione scaricata e ha causato l'arresto anomalo dell'intero computer (nuovo) e ho dovuto ripristinarlo.

@tony_8068 don't worry about the updates instructions.  They have nothing to do with Elements 12.  So, yes, I think you now know what to do.

@tony_8068 is your laptop now in its out-of-the-box condition?  In other words, have you done a factory reset? 

If so, try installing Elements using compatibility mode.  Presumably, you have downloaded the installation files from your Adobe account, or you have an installation DVD.  Whichever you have, find the Setup.exe file in Windows File Explorer and right-click on it.  Select Properties and then follow my earier instructions for installing in compatibility mode.

If you are still seeing error messages, we need to know exactly what they are.  If possible, use the free Windows 11 tools for creating a screenshot or, better yet, a video recording of what is happening.  See this link for instructions how to do that.

@tony_8068 said:  if 2 elements of the program won't load in the first place, it's already too late to start changing the part-loaded program to run in compatability mode

Please explain what you mean about the 2 elements of the program not loading.  Since you have apparently not tried the solution that has worked for others, I'm not sure why you think another solution is necessary.

Has a solution been found for the issue of trying to load PSE 12 on a new win 11 laptop ? I have already loaded twice and had to do factory resets twice as laptop fails to restart once program is loaded. I see suggestions to adapt the program to run in win 7 compatability mode but presumably if 2 elements of the program won't load in the first place, it's already too late to start changing the part-loaded program to run in compatability mode ?  Trying to get to speak to an adobe human is proving impossible as I have no paid-for support plan in place.......