Creative cloud not updating apps

Report · Sep 22, 2025

Hi everybody,

currently running creative cloud on iMacs m1 24" in my lab: the app detects new updates and executes them fine on some iMacs, on some other iMacs just doesn't wanna detect new updates, not even if I search them manually. Why so? The only solution I found is to completely uninstall the app I want to update then install it again and it comes out with the latest version, but it obviously isn't a feasible thing for me on the long term as I have to frequently update the software on like 60 machines.

Tried with the repair/cleaner tool with no success.

Any help? Thanks in advance

Report · Sep 22, 2025

do you have a teams or enterprise subscription?

Report · Sep 22, 2025

we are on a school plan

Report · Sep 22, 2025

you should contact your admin, https://helpx.adobe.com/enterprise/kb/contact-administrator.html

Report · Sep 22, 2025

no I'm the person looking to solve the problem

Report · Sep 22, 2025

your admin can disable updates, if they choose.

Report · Sep 22, 2025

I have them enabled and I want them

Report · Sep 22, 2025

check that admin link. is it you or someone else?

Report · Sep 22, 2025

someone else but mind you the updates work on other machines with the same account logged in

Report · Sep 22, 2025

if you insist.

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 and you have windows, open your control panel > add/remove programs > cc desktop app > repair

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>

if that fails, you probably have a corrupt user account. google your os and how to create a new one.

Report · Sep 23, 2025

Hi @cristiano_8203,

This behavior may be related to the package you deployed on these machines. If you created a managed package with the Disable auto-update for end-users option enabled, users will not be able to update their apps. In such cases, the auto-update option will not appear in the Creative Cloud Desktop app. For more details, please refer to this document:
https://adobe.ly/3ICNeXw

Could you please confirm whether this is the first time you are encountering this issue, or if updates were happening automatically earlier?

Regarding the OPM.db file, it may not be visible because it is hidden. You can follow the steps in this article to access hidden Library files:
https://adobe.ly/4nEjY1u

Additionally, I recommend reviewing your self-service policies to ensure they are configured as intended:
https://adobe.ly/4mtbWr6

I hope this helps.

Regards,
^AN

Report · Sep 22, 2025

Hi @cristiano_8203,

Thank you for reaching out. As checked, I am unable to see any active subscription associated with the Adobe ID you used to post this query. Could you please confirm what type of plan you have—Teams or Enterprise?

If it is an Enterprise plan, please verify whether the self-service policies for that product profile are enabled. If they are turned off, you will need to enable them and define the level of control users have over installing and updating applications on their machines. You can find more details here: https://adobe.ly/3VuMXc4

Alternatively, you can create an update package from the Admin Console and deploy it across all machines. Please see this document for guidance: https://adobe.ly/428xodP

I hope this helps. Let us know if you need any further assistance.

Regards,
^AN

Report · Sep 22, 2025

Hi Anshul,
I'm using another account because my school one is unable to post community threads for a bug I've been having since last year. I have a K-12 school account but mind you: I don't think it's an account issue because I am completely able to update other machines near the ones I have this problem with, and I doubt my admin has any agency over the machines themselves, plus I am able to have an updated version of the app by uninstalling/reinstalling the app itself so even if that was the case, that would not solve the eventual problem of stopping updates. Yes I definitely need further assistance

Report · Sep 23, 2025

Hi @cristiano_8203,

Thank you for the clarification. Since the issue affects only certain machines while others with the same account update correctly, it appears to be specific to the affected iMacs rather than your Adobe account.

Please try the following steps on the problematic machines:
Reset the Creative Cloud Desktop app

Ensure the app is in the foreground, then press:
Mac: Cmd + Option + R

Repair Creative Cloud Desktop
- Follow the instructions here to repair if needed: https://adobe.ly/4nbGCyt

Additionally, please check the following:

Verify macOS updates
- Ensure the iMacs have the latest macOS updates installed.
Check network and permissions
- Ensure no firewall, proxy, or network restriction is blocking Adobe update servers.
- Confirm that the user account on the iMac has full permissions to install and update apps.
  
  Additionally, could you please confirm whether these are lab Macs with SDL licenses assigned, or if they are using named user licenses assigned to individual users?

Please try these steps, and let us know if the issue persists.
Regards,
^AN

Report · Sep 23, 2025

already tried all that. Even tried to remove opm.db file but is not present in the folder

Report · Sep 23, 2025

Hi @cristiano_8203,

Thank you for confirming. Could you please try the following steps on any of the affected machines:

Open the Creative Cloud Desktop app.

In the Apps tab, go to More actions in the Installed apps panel and verify whether the Enable auto-updates option is turned on.

Reference: https://adobe.ly/46AJvBZ

If auto-updates are enabled, please try updating Creative Cloud apps manually on any of the affected devices. Let us know if you get any errors:
https://adobe.ly/4pAIouH

Since you mentioned that the OPM.db file is not present, can you confirm whether you checked in the following location:
/User/<user>/Library/Application Support/Adobe/OOBE

Additionally, could you please confirm whether these are lab Macs with SDL licenses assigned, or if they are using named user licenses assigned to individual users?

Please try the steps above and let us know the results.

Regards,
^AN

Report · Sep 23, 2025

The app doesn't even have that auto update option avaiable, strange cause the other machines that work correctly do have it present

The OPM.db file path is correct, but I noticed that it's not present either in the machines that do work and the ones that don't