Creative Cloud won't launch

[caelicorona]

So I downloaded cc a week or so ago, launched it and installed a few programs and messed around with photoshop for a bit. But now when I try to open the desktop app it won't launch at all, I've tried running the program as the administrator and it still won't start. I've looked around at previous discussions and have tried following instructions, but the uninstalling program won't even launch at all either, I'm kinda stuck here for ideas.

[kglad]

uninstall everything cc, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-remove-app.html

lastly uninstall the cc desktop app, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html

clean your computer of cc files per http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

restart your computer (don't skip this)

reinstall the cc desktop app, https://creative.adobe.com/products/creative-cloud using compatibility mode (https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb456979.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396)

use the desktop app to install your cc programs/trials

[Homer&Jethro]

To uninstall all my CC apps to fix this seems extreme and a real hassle. Programs work, but CC app doesn't. Why do we have to delete them all?

[Blaine5FAA]

I can't uninstall lightroom or photoshop first because when I try to uninstall them they try to start CC, which doesn't work.

[kglad]

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-missing-damaged.html

if that fails, follow solutions 2 and 3 here: https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/failed-install-creative-cloud-desktop.html

[Blaine5FAA]

I tried all of that. Did not work. The support droid in India was unable to help me. I cancelled my plan.

[ProDesignTools]

Hi Blaine,

Another option would be to request/use the 2020 direct download links instead, which don't use the Creative Cloud Desktop app.

For starters, try the standalone installer for the CC Desktop app itself and see if that helps:

https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-app-download.html#Problemsinstall...

Some folks have success with that if the regular download/install mechanism doesn't work for them.

Please let us know how it goes.

[Blaine5FAA · Accepted solution]

Thanks but nope. I'll tell you what did work, though:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads

[ProDesignTools]

So downloading & installing the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package fixed the problem for you? If so, that's great to hear.

[Blaine5FAA]

Yes sir, that's what worked. Thank you for your help!

[LaQuita5E10]

Blaine thank you so much for this answer!! This should be the accepted answer because after searching these forums for 2 days straight this is the only thing that worked. I gotta say this is a bad look for Adobe because this was my first time trying to download and use it and it's been a nightmare. Today was the first time I've gotten it to even launch! Not looking forward to continuing my montly subscription at this rate though.

[kglad]

things change.  a correct answer 4 years ago may not be currently correct and a correct answer in 2020 may not be correct in 2024.

anyway, bottomline for people having trouble installing the cc desktop app in 2020 whether mac or window, is to update your os.  with windows, updating ms vis c++ too is helpful.

[LaQuita5E10]

Yeah I write software so I'm pretty familiar with how things change.

Bottom line is that if there are well known issues with this software and certain OS, which there obviously are, these fixes should be mentioned in the troubleshooting docs not buried in an obscure post on page 5 of search results.

In this instance, updating ms vis c++ wasn't just helpful it was essential to get the program to even launch, that is worthy of noting in a highly visible area.

[Blaine5FAA]

According to MS, my OS already was up to date. I'm not a programmer though, so to be honest I don't understand how or why the "Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable for Visual Studio 2015, 2017 and 2019" worked; I just know that it did, on both my PCs.

[DJMarkS]

I had the same issue. I went to "Add or Remove Programs", clicked to uninstall the CC app, and it gave me the option to uninstall or repair. I clicked repair, and ince that was done, it worked just fine.

[Blaine5FAA]

Unfortunately this option did not work in my case.

[kglad · Accepted solution]

first, reset the cc app:

to reset the cc desktop app, make sure it's in the foreground, then press:

Win: Ctrl + Alt + R
Mac: Cmd + Opt + R

if that fails, try to repair
https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-install-stuck.html

if that fails go ahead and uninstall/reinstall per the above link

if that fails, do a clean cc install following each applicable step:

uninstall every cc app including preferences, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-remove-app.html
then uninstall the cc desktop app, https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html
clean your computer of cc files per http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html
check for, and if available, update your os

repair all ms visual c++ versions that can be repaired.

update your ms visual c++, if it can be updated
restart your computer (don't skip this)
reinstall the cc desktop app, https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-app-download.html
if you're unable to install the cc desktop app at this stage, use the link at the bottom of the page at https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-app-download.html
use the desktop app to install your cc programs/trials

[Blaine5FAA]

None of that worked in my case. I already posted what did work.

[jerrym27344559]

I appear to have much the same problem.  Adobe apps all started slowing today and then so did other apps and function.  CC will not open at all now and despite trying to repair it a few times and trying to uninstall through the control panel I have not been able to get anywhere.  I am caught in a loop that tells me it is damaged and requires repair but that doesn't work and I am not able to uninstall.  What now?

[jerrym27344559]

I have downloaded MS Visual C++ etc but to no avail. Still CC will not load and sends me into the same loop. Would greatly appreciate a solution.  Thanks.

[kglad]

using a browser that allows popups and cookies, contact adobe support during pst business hours by clicking here, https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html

click contact us (= cryptic icon in the lower right)

in the chat field, type AGENT
be patient, it can take quite a while to reach a human

[Jeroen2339245943fc]

hello

so i downloaded cc like a while ago and since today i got like a notifications somethings is up with the apps please take a look at it.

so i have been trying all the things in this post ,, repaired 100 times, untill and even with remover all the time however im now stuck in the loop of cant sign in.

what to do ?

[ProDesignTools]

Try following @kglad's instructions above:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/creative-cloud-won-t-launch/m-p/11869567...

Also try downloading & installing the latest Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable package:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/2977003/the-latest-supported-visual-c-downloads

[ElectricMario]

I have the same problem, I clicked the repair button. Didn't work, and it doesn't let me touch the little icon on the right corner.

[kglad]

@ElectricMario 

reset the cc desktop app by making sure it's in the foreground, then press:

Win: Ctrl + Alt + R
Mac: Cmd + Opt + R


if that fails, repair per https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-install-stuck.html


if that fails, uninstall using the correct uninstaller from https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html#sa_src=web-mes... and then reinstall using*


if that fails, do a clean cc install carefully following each applicable step:

uninstall every cc app including preferences per https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-remove-app.html

then uninstall the cc desktop app, again using the correct uninstaller per https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-creative-cloud-desktop-app.html#sa_src=web-mes...

clean your computer of cc files per http://www.adobe.com/support/contact/cscleanertool.html

check for, and if available, update your os

if windows is your os, repair all ms visual c++ versions that can be repaired (use google if you don't know how to do this)

if windows is your os update your ms visual c++, if it can be updated (use google if you don't know how to do this)

restart your computer (don't skip this)

reinstall the cc desktop app using the "alternative download links" at the bottom of the page at https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/creative-cloud-desktop-app-download.html

use the desktop app to install your cc programs/trials

NOTE: win 11 users that have trouble with the latest win 10 installer often have success with the older win 10 installer.