Photoshop Elements 2021 installs but PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe will not run on Windows 11 Pro 25H2 (Build 26200.8037)

I have a valid perpetual license for Adobe Photoshop Elements 2021 purchased directly from Adobe.

Adobe Support verified my serial number and provided the official download link:

PhotoshopElements_2021_LS30_win64_ESD.zip

The ZIP file is approximately 3.88 GB, and Setup.exe is approximately 7.4 MB.

System

• Windows 11 Pro
• Version 25H2
• OS Build 26200.8037
• Fresh installation of Windows

Installation

The installation completes successfully but ends with:

Installation complete

Unable to launch the product automatically. (Error Code: 200)

Th

Problem

The main executable

PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe

cannot be started.

When launched from Command Prompt, Windows returns:

Access is denied.

Sometimes Windows also reports that it cannot find the executable even though the file is physically present in:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Photoshop Elements 2021

Troubleshooting already performed

• Clean reinstall of Windows 11
• Removed Bitdefender
• Confirmed Avast and AVG are not installed
• Completely removed Photoshop Elements 2021 using Revo Uninstaller
• Deleted remaining installation folders
• Downloaded a fresh copy of the official Adobe installer
• Reinstalled as Administrator
• Windows Defender shows no quarantined files
• File permissions are correct
• Other executables in the same folder, including:
  • sniffer.exe
  • TokenResolverx64.exe
    run normally.

Only PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe refuses to launch.

The installer creates the desktop shortcut and installs the program folder.

Adobe Support response

Adobe Support confirmed that:

• my perpetual license is valid,
• the installer they supplied is the official installer,
• Photoshop Elements 2021 is no longer supported,
• they cannot confirm compatibility with Windows 11 Version 25H2,
• and they have no newer installer for Photoshop Elements 2021.

Questions

1. Has anyone successfully installed and run Photoshop Elements 2021 on Windows 11 Version 25H2 (Build 26200.x)?
2. Has anyone seen Error 200 followed by "Access is denied" when launching PhotoshopElementsEditor.exe?
3. Is there a known workaround or compatibility fix?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Juha Kosonen