How to stop Creative Cloud from launching when Photoshop starts?

[#1]

"Settings > General > Launch Creative Cloud at login" is NOT checked.

"Settings > Apps > Auto-update" is NOT checked.

"Settings > Notifications > App Updates" (and all other notifications) is NOT checked.

However, after the most recent update, Creative Cloud launches when I start Photoshop, and pops up a notification to tell me there are updates to my apps. What part of do not launch / do not update / no notifications does Adobe not understand?

How do I stop Creative Cloud from launching EVER under ANY circumstances, except when I manually run the exe myself?

[#2]

"Settings > General > Launch Creative Cloud at login" is NOT checked.

"Settings > Apps > Auto-update" is NOT checked.

"Settings > Notifications > App Updates" (and all other notifications) is NOT checked.

However, after the most recent update, Creative Cloud launches when I start Photoshop, and pops up a notification to tell me there are updates to my apps. What part of do not launch / do not update / no notifications does Adobe not understand?

How do I stop Creative Cloud from launching EVER under ANY circumstances, except when I manually run the exe myself?

[#3]

Tell Windows to not open Creative Cloud on startup.

Start > Settings > Apps > Startup...

That said, today Creative Cloud did not open but I did receive a Windows notification that CC updates are available. I think that's because I don't accept automatic updates.

[#4]

To be clear: Creative Cloud is NOT STARTING WHEN WINDOWS BOOTS, it's starting when Photoshop starts.

I should have also specified:

"Windows > Settings > Apps > Startup > Creative Cloud" (and all adobe products) are NOT starting when windows loads.

"Windows > Services > AdobeUpdateService" is set to Startup Type DISABLED

I've searched Photoshop for settings relating to auto-updating or cloud but didn't find any.

I did leave two Adobe DRM services in place: Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service & Adobe Genuine Software Monitor Service set to Automatic startup type, as I assume photoshop needs them to run.

[#5]

Open CC Desktop App. Settings > Syncing > Pause Sync.

[#6]

Nope, Sync was already disabled too.

[#7]

I cannot reproduce your problem on my end.  When all else fails, use the Adobe Cleaner Tools followed by a fresh install of CC and PS.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/cc-cleaner-tool-installation-problems.html

Good luck!

[#8 · Accepted solution]

The hacky workaround is totally obvious in retrospect.

I renamed:

C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud\ACC\Creative Cloud.exe

to something else (something rude! lol).

Also these files and every EXE in these folders for good measure (I was in a mood):

C:\Program Files (x86)\Adobe\Adobe Creative Cloud\ACC\Creative Cloud.exe

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe Desktop Common\ADS\Adobe Desktop Service.exe

I switched back and forth a few times to confirm: Photoshop no longer starts up Creative Cloud when I run it. No error messages. And I can still run Creative Cloud manually when I want to.

That red update reminder will no longer plague my working days. Free at last.

[#9]

I feel like there's a very hidden setting deep in either CC or PS that instructs PS to check for updates when it boots. But I couldn't find anywhere in either app to turn it off. Maybe it's just a feature of the newest PS that can't be disabled, but then I'm not sure why @Nancy_OShea couldn't immediately recreate it.

Maybe scrubbing and reinstalling everything would have fixed it but HELL NO that takes all day and I'm not confident I could keep all my custom settings / brushes / actions / hotkeys without also keeping whatever was causing the problem in the first place.