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Fearless_Mist8950
New Participant
June 21, 2025
Question

re-register cs6 after restore from backup

  • June 21, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 306 views

My previous laptop died and when I restored from backup, photoshop 6.2 runs but won't let me register the license number.  The license number still shows as valid on Adobe Account.  When I start Photoshop, it says I'm in demo mode and only have 18 days left.  It did let me previously enter the license number but if I try to complete my profile, I get caught in a login loop.  It shows a QR code, I use my mobile device to successfully login (for example I can see my license in Adobe Account page), but back in photoshop it's asking me to login again.


4 replies

Nancy OShea
Nancy OShea
Community Expert
June 24, 2025

Registration of ownership is a one-time thing.  No need to do it again.

 

However, Activation is required to use the software.  And you can't do that from backups. 

You must run the installers from disks or downloads you received at purchase.  When prompted by the installer, enter your serial number to activate. 

 

Did you deactivate Creative Suite from your previously installed devices first?
That's critically important because your individual license has a strict activation limit. Remote deactivation of Creative Suite is not possible. See links below for more details.
- https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activate-deactivate-products.html
- https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/activation-deactivation-help.html

Keep in mind that CS6 is unsupported legacyware from 2012. It's way beyond its 'replace me' date.  There is no guarantee that any of this will work, given its advanced age and obsolete status. 

When purchasing new equipment, it's best to invest in new software that's compatible with it.

 

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 (Annual & Monthly plan options). 
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

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

Nancy O'Shea— Product User, Community Expert & Moderator
F
Fearless_Mist8950Author
New Participant
June 25, 2025

Thanks for the response and explanation.  Poor choice of terms on my part.  I had activated as it had prompted for license number and now when I go to help the only option "deactivate".  

Re: "When purchasing new equipment, it's best to invest in new software that's compatible with it."

My wife is a very casual user of Photoshop.  The cloud licensing costs are far and above what she's willing to pay given her limited usage.

We bought a "lifetime" license and hope to stretch that for as long as possible.  Once it no longer works we will look at non-photoshop options.

 

kglad
kglad
Community Expert
June 25, 2025

if deactivate is the only help option, your cs6 is activated.

kglad
kglad
Community Expert
June 24, 2025

registration is unimportant.  you must activate it to move from trial mode to full usage.

 

make sure your os and default (non-opera) browser are updated with security measures.

 

then in ps click help > activate 

    jane-e
    jane-e
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2025

    @Fearless_Mist8950 

     

    You need to have one of your two activations available to be able to activate on a new computer. Adobe does not reset activations.

     

    Jane

    AxelMatt
    AxelMatt
    Community Expert
    June 21, 2025

    Try a offline activation.

    See solution 2 here: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite/kb/serial-number-validation-launching-cs6.html

     

    This doesn't work if you have reached your activation limit. Then you're out of luck, because Adobe has stopped supporting CS6 products and there's no chance to reset the activation counter.

     

     

    My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 25H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 8 - PureRAW 5 - Topaz Photo
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