where are CC update installers stored?

[DavidSweeneyBear]

Hi, I'm currently updating Adobe After Effects through the CC app.

Currently it is "installing media encoder" and "updating after effects"...

I'm just wondering where the installers are stored on my local system? I have the offline installer for After Effects CC2019... If I wanted to migrate to a new system, would it be possible to use the old installer, then use the update installer (if I can find it) to install an up-to-date version without having to download it all again?

[kglad]

that wouldn't save any time because, when you update,

1. the newer version is installed and

2a. the older version is uninstalled (if that's what you opt to do) or

2b. not uninstalled (if that's what you opt to do).

[DavidSweeneyBear]

Yes, I see that now... I ended up with both After Effects 2019 and 2020 installed (never saw un option to uninstall the previous version).

Still wondering where the 2020 installer is located locally... or does it self-delete after installation?

[kglad]

you have to pay attention when you install because it's easy to miss the option to uninstall vs keep older versions.  i don't think, but am not certain that, installers are stored locally.

[ProDesignTools · Accepted solution]

This is an interesting question, but in fact the CC Desktop app does not download or store entire installers in any traditional sense... It downloads and installs different pieces of a program one component at a time. And when updates happen, it only downloads the piece(s) it needs to make the change.

In other words, you cannot download complete, standalone installers using the CC Desktop app.

However, you can use direct download links to get offline installers, which you can then copy to another computer if you wish to re-use any installer without having to download it all over again:

How to Get New Adobe Creative Cloud 2021 Direct Download Links

This is also helpful when you need to get the products onto a computer which does not have a fast or unlimited network connection, or if you wish to keep that machine offline most of the time for security purposes, etc.