Installing CC programs on a Mac on an external drive?

[andrewb26384411]

Hi there, forgive me if this is a topic that has been talked about before, but I'm trying to install my various CC programs (premiere, photoshop, etc...) on my external SSD and I keep getting the message: "Unable to install at this location." 

Is it not possible to install the programs on an external drive? Unfortunately my Mac has a very small internal hard drive so I really need to save space by having some of these bigger programs on the external drive if at all possible. 

Thanks in advance for any help!

[kglad]

correct.  you must install on the non-root and an internal drive.

in addition, even when you install on non-c drive, 1 to 5 gb are taken by each adobe app installed and by the cc desktop app on the c drive.  so you need a fair amount of free space on the c drive, just to install.

then to use the apps, you need more c drive space, so you have to comfortably fit cc apps on your computer and have room to spare on your c drive.

[andrewb26384411]

So basically I'm SOL because I bought a Mac with a small hard drive that is impossible to upgrade. Fantastic. #ThanksApple #ThanksAdobe 

[kglad]

why can't you upgrade and how old is your mac?

[John Waller]

Are we talking about a 128GB hard drive or 256GB?

If you provide us with your system specs and which software you want to install, we can suggest some options.

Apple menu  > About This Mac

[andrewb26384411]

It's a 2018 Mac Mini with a 250gb drive in it. My understanding is it's soldered in and can't be upgraded, but maybe I'm wrong? I did figure out how to shift some other stuff around to have more space on it, but I am admittedly frustrated by the small hd size.

[kglad]

250 is enough, but yes you'll want to store no -executables on another drive or cloud.