Photoshop Elements 15 no longer works with Mac Big Sur?

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
August 7, 2021
4 replies
3041 views

Re Downloaded Photoshop Elements 15 from Adobe site (not Mac Applications) and it says "Install" needs to be updated. The developer of this app needs to update it to work with this version of macOS (Big Sur 11.5.1). Contact the developer for more information.

It was working fine a week ago. So presume even though I have pad for Elements 15 back in 2017 Adobe are forcing me to upgrade to continue using?

Download and install

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Correct answer Greg_S.

Some would say Apple is forcing you to upgrade by not making older programs compatible with their new OS.

S

sandy639

Participant

I am using photoshop elements 15 on a system upgraded to Big Sur without problem. (Big Sur requires 64 bit) But when I went to install PS elements 15 on a new computer with Monterey it said the installer needs to be updated. I assume this means the application is 64 bit but the installer in 32 bit. In other words it looks like it can't be resinstalled or moved to a new computer.

Does anyone know of a work around?

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sandy639

Participant

It has been 6 months since my original post. Obviously there is no work around. It is a black mark on Adobe to not update the installer to 64bit when the main program is 64bit. The installer is a relatively small bit of code compared to the main program. If they did this on purpose it rather cruel, your computer breaks and now you can't reload your software. I agree with Jimsliff this is an Adobe problem not an Apple problem. Not a way to win over or keep customers.

S

Simsorder

Participant

Is there any new info on an update to Elements 15 installer. My harddrive crashed and need a new one installed. Now I'm running on Monteray and installer will not work as mentioned in this thread. Trying to decided if I continue to wait for an update or find something new.

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Giuggio

Participating Frequently

It seems as somebody is blaming Apple for that, but I would rather blame Adobe for being greedy. Please note that Apple introduced the 64 bits tecnhology with macOS 10.5 Leopard in 2007. It's the software manufactorer to provide support for both versions, especially in this occasion when the software produced is only 5 years old.

MichelBParis

Legend

To @Giuggio

As a matter of fact, it's not 'somebody', but nearly everybody who considers that Apple is to blame because they decided NOT to support old applications. The 'bricks' of code which are used in the operating system for external applications to work are no longer there. That's a fact. The result is that old applications don't work. To get applications to work, you have to create new code, that takes time and money. You are expecting Adobe (and other software companies) to spend this money for free for you?

What does 'support' mean? For an OS manufacturer, support means keeping as much as possible compatibility with older applications when they create new versions. That's difficult as time passes by, but it's their choice. They save a lot of money by not keeping compatibility with old sofware and they get attractive by offering new features incompatible with old apps. They risk losing old users? They weigh the balance: if they have most users willing to always upgrade to the new solutions, they are winning.

I am a Windows users, but I don't really blame Apple for their choice, which makes them so profitable. They have a majority of users following them blindly anyway. You should rather realize that you should blame other Apple users for expecting Adobe and other software companies to compensate for Apple economical decisions.

(Note that with Windows, I can practically run all the 20 versions of PSE since 20 years).

Fair support for a software company means trying to keep solutions working so long as the hardware and software environment is kept. It does not imply offering new features for free.

You say the software is 'only 5 years old'. I say you are dreaming. The software is already 5 years old, which is also much too old for your hardware.

Tom Blackthorne

Participating Frequently

Tom,

I had read and undertood all of your previous post. Re-reading it as well as your current post, I do realize that it will be difficult to help you which is the main reason I am posting in this forum. I think that for the most part my previous post did give the necessary explanations for the present situation. I don't take your word that you don't care for facts, you do; so, what can you expect realistically now?

- following the first posts about the Monterey issue, the PSE team has acknowledged (privately) the precise stumbling block preventing the compatibility and that they are working on a solution.

- Note that the issue does not seem to appear in any other Adobe software, so it's only an Elements only issue.

- Officially, you should not expect Adobe staff to recognize the issue since the system requirements for PSE2022 don't mention Monterey. They are not allowed in any way to blame Apple or Microsoft in any way, and in this forum, MS users (80% of PSE users worldwide) won't dare to discuss with angry Mac users. And the root of the recurring problem for the last OS versions is that technology is urging to disable old functions and to add new requirements, making new OS incompatible with older apps. That is also true for Microsoft and you can already see similar questions for Windows_11. So what is crucial is to be informed. to avoid a premature hardware or OS change. In that respect Mac users had been warned about 3 years in advance for the PSE15 new requirements.

- I agree with you that the naming of the software based on years is a poor marketing choice, but you see it everywhere now. We are not yet in 2022, so, based on previous history, what do I expect personnally? The PSE team is investigating the issue which had not been discovered with the pre-release OS version. I am confident they will solve it soon and issue a PSE2022 update as soon as they can. When? Perhaps in a few weeks, but that can be a little later if they want to take advantage of the update for fixing other bugs, optimizing compatibility with W11 or updating the ACR version.

Well I'm heartened that you think they are working on an update. I had misunderstood you to say that they don't do OS fixes until yearly updates.

I have no issue with 15 going out of date. It lasted well for me and I realise this is part of the process and I am grateful that Adobe provides a "perpetual" licence alternative to the subscription scheme which you rightly point out makes far more money for them. However I believe that in providing the software they do have a responsibility to their clients to do what they can to keep it compatible with the latest Mac and MS OS's. In part because I think there is a side to the business model that you didn't take into account: I believe that Elements soaks up many users that do not earn enough from their use of the software to buy into the subcription scheme but who use it regularly enough to want to use it anyway. I believe that a large part of the business model is giving those users an alternative to piracy. And while they've got them using their products if their circumstances change they will be easier to convert to the subcription model. I get the "1 person converted to CC is worth 5 Elements users" but I think that for most of Elements' target base the choice happens far earlier: "I am not earning enough to justify the CC subscription so I either go with Affinity et al. or I pirate."

For this reason I think Elements is worth more to Adobe than just the money paid for it and for that reason I think it is important that they invest in making sure that their Elements customers are happy.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

Apple went to some trouble to make sure such old apps cannot run. If you upgrade the system, with it already installed, you sometimes get a few weeks or months before Apple have their way. New Mac, new system, New apps! It's all part of the Joy Of Mac.