CS6 Activation Deactivation Server Status November 202

[gator soup]

I am getting my two Creative Suite 6 perpetual licenses in order -- across four Macs -- in preparation for product End of Life.

Today I got through Adobe Chat to a support agent -- she wrote the CS6 activation servers were still running to Deactivate and Activate CS6 and I should have no server problems deactivating one Mac and Activating it on another.

CAN ANYONE CONFIRM OR DENY THIS INFORMATION -- it's a fair amount of time amoung other concerns.

I have all dowloads, updaters, macOS, hardware in order (running 2019 iMacs, and 2012 MacBook Pros on Mojave 10.14.6 )...

[davescm]

CS6 is already end of life and is well past its support period : https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/support/programs/eol-matrix.html

The activation servers are still live though.  See the following Adobe help articles :

Activate or deactivate apps when switching to a new computer

Unable to activate or reinstall legacy Adobe apps

Dave

[gator soup]

davescm >>CS6 is already end of life and is well past its support period... The activation servers are still live though.

that's a little confusing -- I am not asking about "support" -- i'm asking simply to confirm if anyone can confirm the info I received today from Adobe support -- that the CS6 can be deactivated and activated

support and adobe links, including Adobe employees and forum advisors have been misleading and incorrect in the past 

but if you please -- when was the last time you tried deactivating and activating cs6 (on macOS) -- successfull Deactivation and the actual Activation process?

[davescm]

@gator soup  '...whe was the last time you tried deactivating amd activating cs6 (on macOS)...

I don't, I use Windows PCs and keep the OS, drivers, and software up to date.

Dave

[jane-e]

@gator soup 

In addition to the two links that Dave posted, seen this post from @Jeffrey_A_Wright :

https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/activation-limit-reached-for-non-subscri...

Jane

[gator soup]

thanks, Jane,

i had not seen that link before -- but the info on that 2024 link is no longer valid for macOS/cs6 (either) -- in my recent experience October 2025 about 30 days ago

i recognize the screenshots -- it's what i expected to see -- an opportunity to deactivate one of my other machines and activate the new one (as i outlined earlier today)

but Adobe is no longer generating those error screens (at least on macOS CS6) -- they now just disable cs6 from launching on the machine that exceeded the seats -- you never get an opportunity to enter your serial again

my point -- my persistance -- is to present my actual experience -- to help others from wasting their time on misleading information

[kglad]

deactivating is especially problematic for many users. the host computer needs security updates or else deactivation works locally but fails to register with adobe's servers.  just what you don't want.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/signing-into-and-activating-legacy-adobe...

https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/activation-limit-reached-for-non-subscri...

[gator soup]

kglad >> deactivating is especially problematic for many users. the host computer needs security updates or else deactivation works locally but fails to register with adobe's servers

exactly the type of info I am looking for, thank you -- you are saying -- cs6 will deactivate in my app (it no longer works on that machine) -- but the seat is not opened up at Adobe -- I can't reinstall/Activate it on another machine in its place

Where/when did you see that occurring, if you please, I would like to look into that before canceling one of my four seats?

The cs6 Activation handshake requires something like TLS 1.2 (I recall, or some other standard) Mojave 10.14.4 on a TimeMachine restore had to be updated to open cs6 -- updating to 10.14.6 immediately fixed that roadblock and 13.0.6 opened right up

Mojave 10.14.6 is the last macOS that will run Photoshop

BTW -- those links are wrong -- I slugged through them a month ago here trying to activate cs5 Photoshop

I only trust what I see (and can verify) now... 

[kglad]

"exactly the type of info I am looking for, thank you -- you are saying -- cs6 will deactivate in my app (it no longer works on that machine) -- but the seat is not opened up at Adobe -- I can't reinstall/Activate it on another machine in its place"

exactly.  check this forum.  it's a common complaint.

the worst part (imo) is there are no explicit instructions about what exactly needs to be updated in order to be confident deactivation will succeed.

the links i gave are the most accurate.  the one's @davescm gave, less.accurate.

[davescm]

Surprising given that they are from the help article updated in September 2025.

Dave

[kglad]

in my experience, those dates mean nothing useful.

[Nancy OShea]

It boggles my mind why people cling to 14-15-year obsolete software and expect everything to keep working as before. That's unrealistic. Too many things have changed.  

1) Neither Apple nor Adobe recognize Mojave anymore. It's 7 versions removed from current technology.

2) To connect to Adobe's activation servers, you need a modern computer & OS capable of current security protocols.

3) But legacy CS6 won't install on anything newer than Mojave.  See #1 & #2 above.

Face it. You're up the creek without a paddle and way overdue for an upgrade. Once you see all the improvements Adobe & Apple have made, you'll kick yourself for not doing this sooner.

Most current Adobe apps work on these systems, no more than 2 versions back:

• Windows 11 (64-bit) versions 24H2, 23H2; Windows 10 versions 22H2, 21H2;
• MacOS 26 (Tahoe), 15 (Sequoia), 14.7 (Sonoma). 

- https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/system-requirements.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/kb/photoshop-cc-gpu-card-faq.html

CS6 REPLACEMENTS ~ Black Friday deals on now.
=============
Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements (3 year license)
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Annual Photography plan
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Creative Cloud Bundles & Single Apps for mobile, web & desktops
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Enjoy your holidays!

[gator soup]

Nancy OShea  >> It boggles my mind why people cling to 14-15-year obsolete software and expect everything to keep working as before.

no disrespect -- I saw your some of your many other posts saying pretty much the same stuff -- I imagine from your post you exist in a charmed world -- I'm so glad for you on the cutting edge -- I rode that wave (and paid into Adobe and Apple) for some 30 years -- and it's very cool to be on top your game

BTW Photoshop is still working great for me -- like the day I bought it only much faster on newer "obsolete" machines -- thanks to the great Adobe developers of my generation

[John T Smith]

Over on the Windows side I know that an update may be required so the computer will properly communicate with the Adobe server

TLS 1.2 is now required to connect https://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/multi/eol-tls-support.html

I have NO idea if that is true on the Mac side

[Nancy OShea]

That Adobe article is showing its age. The current TLS version used by all modern apps is 1.3 for stronger encryption & faster handshakes. 

https://www.cloudflare.com/learning/ssl/why-use-tls-1.3/

Mojave shipped with TLS 1.2 but never included TLS 1.3. Apple expected users to upgrade their OS to get it.

[gator soup]

Nancy OShea >>The current TLS version used by all modern apps is 1.3... Mojave shipped with TLS 1.2 but never included TLS 1.3

i wrote earlier, 10.14.4 required TLS 1.2 (it gave me this popup)  and cs6 would not handshake with the server -- running the 10.14.6 updater (including TLS 1.2 patch, i presume) immediately completed the handshake and cs6 worked -- i entered my serial numbers, Adobe ID and Activation was successful

if cs6 now requires TLS 1.3 for Activation -- i doubt Mojave will be patched -- making it impossible to handshake with Adobe servers -- if TLS 1.3 is now required i would conclude it is now impossible to Activate cs6 on a Mac

I am not sure that's the case -- but that roadblock would instantly prevent activation or deactivation under Mojave or earlier macOS -- installing cs6 to a new compliant machine

+++++

in late September or early October 2025 (less than a month ago) -- i wanted to move one of my cs6 seats to a 2019 iMac -- I downloaded a fresh 10.14.4 installer from Apple (the only installer they have available)

I erased a NVMe SSD -- installed 10.14.4, used Apple Migration Assistant to bring my working cs6 10.14.6 Mac user system to it -- but it called out the requirement for TLS 1.2 and cs6 would not open -- after checking the OS version (10.14.4) I ran the 10.14.6 combo update on it and cs6 worked without issues -- i made a clone

however, 3-4 days later it stopped working -- Photoshop would not give me normal options to re-enter serial or Trial -- i booted off the clone with the same result -- either my Mac or serial was blocked as I went one seat over (i suspect) but thought i would have a chance to deactivate my other Mac and re-enter my serial -- no such luck (i never saw this behavior before moving my cs6 licenses from Mac to Mac)

i think it is best -- for me -- to let sleeping dogs lie and NOT fool around with deactivating one of my machines in hopes of re-activating it on my iMac -- I don't want to risk it losing one of my seats

+++++

anyone trying to install/activate cs6 Photoshop on a Mac in 2025-2026 -- here is my advice:

Mojave 10.14.6 is the last macOS OSX that will run cs6 photoshop 13.0.6

2019 Apple hardware is the last Mac that will run Mojave

at this writing cs6 is fast approaching "end of life"

the Adobe activation servers are currently working, but not for much longer

+++++

i would not rely on Adobe links or even Adobe employees for what is actually working right now -- actual anectodatal results from someone who's recently performed the deed are most useful

[kglad]

good luck!

[Slipperyjim8]

I don't mind if software gets to end of life and stops getting updates. I am disapointed that I remembered to de-activate when buying a new PC. It said I had deactivated sucessfully. Yet when going to activate on the new PC it cannot. Speaking to support. They tell me the activation servers don't exist, or they shift blame and tell me that I didn't de-activate. Lifetime license... Maybe should be renamed to lifetime of the servers...

[kglad]

"and tell me that I didn't de-activate. Lifetime license... Maybe should be renamed to lifetime of the servers..."

that's been true since the cs2 servers were retired many years ago.  those were followed by the cs3 and cs4 servers being retired.  

many of us following this are surprised cs5, cs5.5 and cs6 servers are still working.

[gator soup]

kglad >> many of us following this are surprised cs5, cs5.5 and cs6 servers are still working.

working in what capacity? -- for initial serial#/ AccountID/ Activation, or you mean you are still able to use (which of) those versions -- from a previous activation? are you running any of these versions?

CS 5  ACTIVATION SERVERS ARE NOT WORKING -- I slugged this out here only 22 days ago: https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/how-do-i-install-cs5-on-mac/m-p/15580... and wasted a day reviewing confusing outdated links, and trying suggestions to reach my conclusion (marked on that link)

cs6 definately is still working for me Nov 2025

not sure about cs5.5 -- i use my full retail cs5.5 serial for my cs6 upgrade license

[kglad]

i have a current subscription.

the servers are fully operational.  they just (which is an understatement) have security demands that are not compatible with outdated os'es.

[Nancy OShea]

many of us following this are surprised cs5, cs5.5 and cs6 servers are still working.

By @kglad

=============

Windows users have better results than Mac users.

1. MS didn't block backwards compatibility the way Apple did. 

2. Windows holds 70% of the global desktop market, Mac holds only 15%.