Transferring adobe license to a newly purchased PC?

[Nathan_Randello8682]

How do I transfer my adobe products to a newly purchased PC and delete them from the old PC?  I want to ensure I'm only using them on 1 device  by the end.  Can someone link me to the procedure?  Thanks!

[kglad · Accepted solution]

if you mean transfering a cc subscription, it couldn't be easier.  just install the cc desktop app from here https://creative.adobe.com/products/creative-cloud on your new computer and use it to install all (or some, if you want) of your cc subscription programs.

the only (insignificant for internet connected computers) limitation is that you can sign-in (and therefore start your adobe programs) on, at most, two computers without signing-out. because you can sign out from either (or both) signed-in computers using a 3rd computer, this could not (imo) be easier.

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/using/install-apps-number-of-computers.html#:~:text=Activat....

if you don't want the subscription on your old computer, just sign out of the cc desktop app on that computer.  if you later change your mind, sign back in.

[Nathan_Randello8682]

Ahh, 'signout', gotcha.  Didn't know that's how it worked.  Thank you!

[kglad]

you're welcome.  and enjoy your new computer!

[TheViking-Rick]

Hello kglad,

This was very helpful to me as well... Thank you!

If my old PC died, do you know of a way that I can sign it out online so I can use the apps on the new PC?

[Tarun Saini]

Hi @TheViking-Rick,

Thanks for reaching out! You can sign in to your account here- https://account.adobe.com/activated-devices and deactivate the other device. 

Regards,

Tarun

[kglad]

@Tarun Saini 

it's no longer possible to do that.

[TheViking-Rick]

Thank you Tarun! That worked... I did have to log off and then back on after deactivating the old PC to reset my app counts, but everything became available after doing that. I appreciate the assistance!

[kglad]

@TheViking-Rick 

the only way to deactivate now is to use a computer that has an activation.  if that's impossible because the computer isn't available, then it's impossible to deactivate.

[Tarun Saini]

Hi @kglad,

Thanks for your message. I tried to go to the link here- https://account.adobe.com/ and then plans and payment, and I can see 'Activate devices' and am able to deactivate devices from there.

Regards,

Tarun

[kglad]

they won't register with adobe's deactivation server.  ie, your activation count remains unchanged.

[TheViking-Rick]

Thank you for your assistance. The procedure that @Tarun Saini recommended worked, but I did have to log-off after deactivating the old PC and then when I logged back in the counts reset. Just wanted to update you so that you knew as well.

Thanks again!

[kglad]

@Jeff_A_Wright 

can you explain?

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

@kglad thanks for tagging me, and I can understand the confusion. @TheViking-Rick responded to a public discussion from 2024, which asked about moving a software title from one computer to another. The original poster, @Nathan_Randello8682 had an individual subscription for Creative Cloud and was moving their subscribed apps from one computer to another.

@TheViking-Rick subscription is managed by an organization; in this case, the advice provided by @Tarun Saini and @kglad about managing the activations on Adobe.com could work, although it will depend on how the organization is managing its subscriptions. Information on how individuals including, @Nathan_Randello8682 can manage their activations can be found at https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/activation-limit-reached-creative-cloud.html and follows the advice provided by @kglad in 2024 and @Tarun Saini in 2025.

@TheViking-Rick please check with your organization's Creative Cloud plan administrator if you have any additional questions about how to get the software they are managing onto a new computer. You may also want to consider starting new discussions in the Enterprise & Teams community to reduce confusion and help make sure that the discussions you are reviewing are relevant to the type of subscription used by your organization.

[kglad]

@Jeffrey_A_Wright 

thank you (again).