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February 17, 2023
Question

Photoshop Elements cross platform ue

  • February 17, 2023
  • 7 replies
  • 3480 views

can a single purchase of Photoshop Elements 2023 be installed on an IMAC desktop and a Windows 11 laptop?

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    7 replies

    Greg_S.
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 18, 2023

    @Jeff Arola, the discussion in your last link has a reference to this HelpX article (last updated in 2022) about exchanging platforms.  But, in my mind, an exchange, suggests that you can only have one or the other on two machines.

     

    @Charles284587986d9x,  I'm sorry if we have confused you with this discussion, but as far as I am concerned the issue is as clear as mud, and I will stick by my original answer which is:  It depends.  But I know nothing about Macs and have never owned one.  Jeff, on the other hand, is fluent in both.

     

    And if you follow my advice and contact sales support, it wouldn't surprise me if the answer you get depends on which rep answers the phone.   😉

    kglad
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 18, 2023

    @Greg_S. and @Jeff Arola 

     

    actually, i think you did answer the op's question; yes, pse 2023 can be cross-platform.  whether a particular license is cross-platform depends.  ie, read the license terms carefully before purchase and ask for clarification from the vendor if it's still unclear.

     

    Greg_S.
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 17, 2023

    @Jeff Arola said:  That Terms of Use or EULA for pse 2018 was determined to be in error when pse 2018 came out.

    Jeff, as a retired lawyer, I have to ask you who made that determination and how is it in error

     

    And the quote from the current Technical Questions FAQ is nothing new.  I can't see how it answers whether the license can be used on two different platforms.  Jeff, I know you use both Macs and Windows, perhaps you have a clearer answer from experience.  But it is still my understanding that the answer depends on other factors as well.

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 18, 2023

    I was thinking of the FAQ for photoshop elements 2019 and how it was worded may have sounded to some as though photoshop elements could only be installed on one machine at a time.

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-elements-discussions/photoshop-elements-2019-licensing/m-p/10164979

    There was a discussian about it and i believe the installing on different operating systems with the multiplatform license was covered as well with some Adobe employee participation, but unfortunatly it was over on the now defunct Photoshop Family Customer Community.

     

    Here's what i found about installing photoshop elements on two different platforms (mac/windows)

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/adobe-photoshop-elements-license-valid-for-how-many-family-computers/m-p/6709924

     

    I'm not, however, able to find an official Adobe document on the subject of Mulitiplatform licenses.

     

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 17, 2023

    That Terms of Use or EULA for pse 2018 was determined to be in error when pse 2018 came out.

     

    This is what Adobe says for the current 2023 version under

    Technical questions

    https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-premiere-elements/faq.html

    "May I install Photoshop Elements & Premiere Elements on more than one computer?

    You can install your product on up to two computers. If you want to move your product to a new computer, simply choose Help > Sign Out in the product from one of the computers that has an active license. That will deactivate it. Then you can install the product on your new computer."

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 17, 2023

    If you buy photoshop elements from the Adobe website, then the license is for the operating system

    you specify at time of purchase.

     

    If you buy the multi license version from a third party like Amazon, Best buy, etc, then you can

    install a copy on two different computers with one being windows and the other being mac, or two

    mac or two windows.

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 17, 2023
    quote

    If you buy the multi license version from a third party like Amazon, Best buy, etc, then you can

    install a copy on two different computers with one being windows and the other being mac, or two

    mac or two windows.


    By @Jeff Arola

     

    Are you sure?

    It was my understanding that you get a redemption code that, when redeemed, you choose either Windows or Mac.

     

    • DVD no longer included in boxed product and will be replaced with a prepaid keycard that contains a redemption code for use to obtain the serial number and download the product.

    from here:

    https://www.amazon.com/Adobe-Photoshop-Elements-Editing-Software/dp/B0B92CKVMC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=221ZVA96M0MA7&keywords=photoshop%2Belements&qid=1676675591&sprefix=photoshop%2Belemetn%2Caps%2C501&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzRFlGWllBMU1VRVoxJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjYyOTU5MU5DTktNSDBVVUlIQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTY4MDYyMlZLQzNBSjFDRVNSMSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU&th=1

    Jeff Arola
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 18, 2023

    Peru Bob,

     

    I found that if you buy the Adobe Photoshop Elements 2023 | PC/Mac Box | Photo Editing Software from a third party site like Amazon, you get a box labeled Windows + macOS, then inside is a card with the serial number and links to download the software directly from Adobe, not Amaazon or other third party site.. The serial number works on both mac and windows, so you can have both a mac and windows install of pse 2023 that uses the same serial number. No dvd inside the box.

     

    The serial number imcluded in the above is what Adobe calls a Multiple platform license that

    works on both macOS and Windows.

     

     

    I bought and tested the above on my own Windows 10 and macOS Ventura machines.

    I've been buying the multi platform license version on cd/dvd and now electronic download

    since photoshop elements 1.

     

    All of the above pertains to Adobe Photoshop Elements bought in the USA.

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 17, 2023

    No.

    The serial number is for a single platform: either Windows or Mac.

    Greg_S.
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 17, 2023

    I'm afraid there is no clear answer to your question.  I just looked at the terms of use found on this page.

    But the latest version found there is for Elements 2018 and it says that you cannot use on two different Operating Systems even if the software you bought can be installed on either system.  It may also depend on where you are purchasing from and in which region of the world you are.

     

    If you have not yet purchased, I suggest you contact Adobe sales support in your region.  If you have already purchased, then try the installation and see if you can activate on the second machine.  Remember that the license only allows you to install and activate on two machines but only use one at a time.

    kglad
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 17, 2023

    in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

     

    p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post if it helps you get responses.

     

    <moved from using the community>