Skip to main content
Paolo37587428zfi0
Participant
September 22, 2026
Answered

Photoshop Express adds QR code watermark on new phone, but not on old phone – same app version

Hi,

I'm experiencing a strange issue with Photoshop Express after changing my Android smartphone.

My new phone is a Samsung Galaxy A56 5G running Android 16 and One UI 8.5.

I have Photoshop Express version 18.4.40 installed on both my old and new phones.

On my old phone, I can edit and save photos without any QR code/watermark, even though I do not have a Photoshop Express Premium subscription.

On my new Samsung Galaxy A56 5G, however, every exported photo has a QR code/watermark. On the export screen I see the “Remove watermark” option with the Premium icon, and if I tap it, Photoshop Express asks me to subscribe to Premium.

I have already tried:

  • uninstalling and reinstalling Photoshop Express;
  • clearing the app cache and data;
  • signing in with the same Adobe account used on my old phone;
  • using Photoshop Express without signing into any Adobe account.

The result is always the same on the new phone: the QR code/watermark is added to exported images.

I have also checked the watermark settings. On both devices, Preferences → Watermark is set to “No watermark”.

So the current situation is:

New phone: Samsung Galaxy A56 5G
OS: Android 16 / One UI 8.5
Photoshop Express: 18.4.40
Result: QR code/watermark added when exporting

Old phone: Android smartphone
Photoshop Express: 18.4.40
Result: photos are exported without the QR code/watermark

I also have an active Lightroom Photo & Video Editor subscription, although I understand that this may be separate from a Photoshop Express Premium subscription.

What I don't understand is why the exact same version of Photoshop Express (18.4.40) can export photos without the QR code/watermark on my old phone, while on my new Samsung Galaxy A56 5G it requires a Premium subscription to remove it.

Was watermark-free exporting previously available for free and somehow retained on older installations or devices?

If so, is there any way to restore or transfer this entitlement to a new phone?

Alternatively, could this be a bug related to the new device, Android 16 / One UI 8.5, or an account/licensing issue?

I would like to understand whether this is expected behavior before purchasing an additional Photoshop Express subscription.

Thank you for your help.

    Rose DV
    Rose DVCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    October 13, 2026

    Hi ​@Paolo37587428zfi0 & ​@lil_owz 

    Thanks for your patience while I looked into this!

    Here’s what the Photoshop Express team confirmed: the app uses a first-install version check to determine whether the watermark experience applies. Users who installed the app before version 12.0 retained watermark-free exports on that device. When you move to a new phone, the first-install version resets to whatever is current: which means the watermark experience applies on the new device, even if you’re using the same app version and the same Adobe account.

    This is confirmed working as designed, not a bug. There’s currently no way to transfer or restore that original entitlement to a new device. To use Photoshop Express without the watermark on the new phone, a Premium subscription would be required.

    I understand that’s frustrating when your old device still works fine; it’s a side effect of how that original entitlement was implemented. I’ve passed this feedback along to the team.

    Rose

    View reply

    5 replies

    Rose DV
    Community Manager
    Rose DVCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
    Community Manager
    October 13, 2026

    Hi ​@Paolo37587428zfi0 & ​@lil_owz 

    Thanks for your patience while I looked into this!

    Here’s what the Photoshop Express team confirmed: the app uses a first-install version check to determine whether the watermark experience applies. Users who installed the app before version 12.0 retained watermark-free exports on that device. When you move to a new phone, the first-install version resets to whatever is current: which means the watermark experience applies on the new device, even if you’re using the same app version and the same Adobe account.

    This is confirmed working as designed, not a bug. There’s currently no way to transfer or restore that original entitlement to a new device. To use Photoshop Express without the watermark on the new phone, a Premium subscription would be required.

    I understand that’s frustrating when your old device still works fine; it’s a side effect of how that original entitlement was implemented. I’ve passed this feedback along to the team.

    Rose

    Translate
    lil_owz
    Participant
    October 8, 2026

    Hi ​@Paolo37587428zfi0 ​@Rose DV did you get anywhere with this? I have the same issue, having just purchased the new iPhone and set it up using an iCloud backup, the PS Express app now has the watermark on every saved photo that I can’t remove with purchasing premium, however it still works fine on my old device? 

    Any fix for this would be great as it’s my go to app for photo editing.

    Understand companies do this to encourage purchasing the full package, but the price is too high considering I only use PS express and only every couple of months. Will have to move to another app if I can’t get it resolved.

    TIA

    Translate
    Rose DV
    Community Manager
    Rose DVCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    October 9, 2026

    Hey ​@lil_owz - I’m still looking for an internal response to this, I will update the thread once I know more, but I’ve added the context you gave so they have more than one example to take a look at. Can you confirm what device and OS version your new and old ones are?

    Rose

    Translate
    lil_owz
    Participant
    October 12, 2026

    Thanks ​@Rose DV for continue to look into this. 

    My new device is the iPhone 18 pro running IOS 27.0.1 with PS Express release 26.37.1

    My old device is the iPhone 15 Pro running IOS 26.6.2 with the same release of  PS Express as above. 

    A resolution to this would be greatly received as I would love to continue using the app and it’s features. 

    Thanks

    Translate
    Rose DV
    Community Manager
    Rose DVCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    September 24, 2026

    Hi ​@Paolo37587428zfi0,

    Thanks so much for such a thorough write-up. This one needs the Photoshop Express team to check the entitlement side, so let me bring it to them and get back to you.

    Rose

    Translate
      Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
      Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices