Petition started: Adobe, enable the activation of Adobe CS6 licenses

[tobiasi31811965]

https://www.change.org/Adobe-blocks-our-License

The problem

We are customers who legally purchased a perpetual Adobe CS6 license between 2010 and 2014 - often for over €1,000.
This license was sold to us on the condition that we could use the software permanently.

Today - years later - this software can no longer be activated, although it still works technically. Adobe has switched off or blocked the activation servers - the software can be deactivated, but no longer activated.
Without any solution, without replacement, without warning.

This means that our legally purchased license is effectively worthless.
This is a breach of contract and an unfair business practice.

:loudspeaker: We demand:

An official option to continue activating Adobe CS6 offline or locally

The recognition of our perpetual license

The examination by the consumer advice center for a model declaratory action/class action.


:heavy_plus_sign: If you are affected - sign!
:heavy_plus_sign: If you are a journalist or lawyer - get in touch!
:heavy_plus_sign: If you are Adobe - do the right thing.

https://www.change.org/Adobe-blocks-our-License

[kglad]

i don't think this will get adobe decision maker's attention but i don't know anyplace better to move it.

[Jeffrey_A_Wright · Accepted solution]

Thanks for posting your concern, Tobias. Please see https://adobe.ly/3HvuSXR for information on how to activate any remaining activations for Creative Suite 6 in 2025

For up-to-date information on how to manage any remaining activations, see https://adobe.ly/415RQvn. ^JW

[tobiasi31811965]

Thank you Jeffrey, the German and American helpdesk said, that there is no possibility to activate CS6 anymore

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

The servers are still online. You can find details on the recent updates that were made to strengthen the sign-in process for Creative Suite 6 and other older applications at https://adobe.ly/4liWugJ. ^JW

[kglad]

cs2,cs3 and cs4 servers are offline. cs5, cs5.5and cs6 servers are still functioning.

[kglad]

no one here has influence on adobe's policy.

[Jeffrey_A_Wright]

@brett_CS6 can you please focus on your discussion and verify that any of your future responses meet the Community Guidelines at https://community.adobe.com/t5/using-the-community-discussions/adobe-community-guidelines/td-p/47881.... Thank you!

[Nancy OShea]

The license might be perpetual, but the software isn't. 

CS6 from 2012 had a 3-5 year shelf-life, after which you were expected to replace it with supported products. You got more than you paid for and then some.  It was built to run on Win XP/Vista/Win7, not Windows 11.  Fast-forward to 2025, the aging activation servers and legacy software are not compatible with newer systems. Time & technology have passed them by. 

MODERN OPTIONS:
==============
FREE Acrobat Reader -- view, comment, print & sign PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/pdf-reader.html

Paid Acrobat Pro -- the complete solution for creating and saving PDF.
https://www.adobe.com/acrobat/acrobat-pro.html

Photoshop Elements or Premiere Elements (3 year license, no subscription needed).
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

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

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

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

@brett_CS6  and @tobiasi31811965, 

CS6 & previous versions are discontinued & unsupported. You use them at your own risk of failures.

• The subscription model has been wildly successful for more than a decade. 
• It keeps pace with changing technologies in ways that boxed disks never could.
• It's easier on the wallet. You pay as you use, rather than one big lump sum. 
• Adobe has 22 million Creative Cloud users, which illustrates its popularity.
• The subscription model is here to stay. 🙂

Try Creative Cloud free for 7 days and Save 40% off your first year. Offer ends Aug 17.  

Or cancel and owe nothing. 

https://www.adobe.com/downloads.html

Best of luck. 

[tobiasi31811965]

The software is technically still running, even on win11. You can deactivate , but not activate. When I bought the software, Adobe promised me that I could use it for as long as the technology would allow. Adobe has broken its promise and has therefore not fulfilled the purchase contract.

[kglad]

i'm just stating fact.  none of us here are the decision makers about what's required to deactivate and activate your software.  we're simply (though the process isn't simple for either) stating the state of adobe deactivation and activation.