Can Not Install Adobe Express

[ecallawb]

I opened the app in my browser but I can not find the download icon so that I would be able to install the app on my MAC laptop even though I have a premium membership. Please advise.

[Myra Ferguson · Accepted solution]

Adobe Express works in the browser on laptops. You can access it either by clicking on the Open in browser button in your Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application or using the link here:

https://new.express.adobe.com/ 

[Brian290581785d3p]

I have the same question. I understand AE works in the browser window, but Adobe's instrutions say to access the site you reference in Chrome, then click the "Download" button and then click "Install". Why does Adobe's info direct us to use something that doesn't appear to exist? Is that outdated info? When I go to that URL I only get the option to sign in. There is no ability to "install" anything and being forced to sign in contradicts the plethora of comments (even from Adobe) that say the PWA an be used offline. Seems the app can't be used at all unless signed in and on the internet.

[Myra Ferguson]

If you have links where those are Adobe's instructions, would you please post them here?

There are a few places that could cause some confusion.

First, there is another product that is referred to as Ae that you would download and install. That product is After Effects. 

Second, the confusion over downloading could be instructions for what you do after creating a document with Adobe Express in the browser--which would be to click the download button to download the end result (PNG, JPG, PDF, MP4).

Third, you do need to sign in--even if it's with a free account. It's how you can access your previous content and other content that you have in your Creative Cloud Libraries. Here's how to get set up with a free Adobe ID:

https://helpx.adobe.com/manage-account/using/create-update-adobe-id.html

And here's what you get with a free account:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/benefits-creative-cloud-membership.html

[Brian290581785d3p]

This is the Adobe page that explicitly instructs users to "install the app".

https://helpx.adobe.com/express/get-set-up/access-the-app/download-on-mac.html

I also just tested it a few minutes ago and it's not possible to even access the app, much less use it, if offline. I immediately get a warning that there is no internet connection. Perhaps because the app isn't actually "installed" anywhere, and can't be per the above Adobe instructions?

[Myra Ferguson]

Thanks for sending the link.

I tried it on Windows 11 and Chrome, and it let me download and install it, but on macOS in Chrome, I didn't get the installer. 

Whether you install it this way, you should know that a PWA (Progressive Web App) is different from a desktop application. It's a web app that has a wrapper that makes it look like a native app, but still relies on its web connection. It is possible to have offline caching, but you would need to be online to download the web content before going offline.

I'll see if I can find out anything about the PWA installer for Mac. (BTW, I'm not an Adobe employee, but I can ask some).