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maciejm21267710
maciejm21267710
Participant
November 5, 2015
Question

How to disable updates of Creative Cloud Desktop app?

  • November 5, 2015
  • 3 replies
  • 17543 views

Hi,

 

Background :

We use Creative Cloud Packager 1.9.2 to create installers.
All packages we create, have "Adobe Update Manager is Disabled (IT manages update distribution)" setting checked.
We use SCCM2012 to distribute the software.
90% of our users don't have local admin rights on their machines.

We used "Named Licenses" in most packages.

File described here Disable auto-updates | Application Manager | IT administrators is present on each machine.

 

 

The problem :

All Creative Cloud packages we create have Creative Cloud Desktop application, to manage all applications and some services... that's all fine.

The problem is that when CC Desktop application has an update it ignores all the known auto update disabling methods I could find.

When an update is available our users are unable to use the application at all. They run it, home screen says "Update Available" and only two options are to quit or install (they can't - no admin rights).
So the only option is to quit the application.

 

Troubleshooting :

It turns out that settings from the AdobeUpdaterAdminPrefs.dat file is completely ignored by this application (all other apps do have updates disabled).
In the preferences of the application there's an option to Always Keep Creative Cloud Desktop up to date. It's on by default.
If I uncheck the option a file is created :
C:\Users\*\AppData\Local\Adobe\OOBE\com.adobe.acc.container.default.prefs

It contains the following XML value :<prefs><property key="keepAppAlwaysUpToDate">OFF</property></prefs>

So as a proof of concept, I've tried to deploy the software to a new PC. Copy the file to the user folder before CCDesktop is launched by the user and see if that would be of any help.
Didn't work...
At first launch it overwritten the value in the file to <prefs><property key="keepAppAlwaysUpToDate">ON</property></prefs>
Update available screen appeared and it was not possible to use the app.

I've switched the network on the PC off (I can run the app when I do so) changed the setting via the application preferences and enabled network again.
Re-launch and still, I'm informed that Update is available and I can't use the app.
Keep in mind that this setting is in user content. Not really reliable location when distributing software.
So I've tried checking if similar configuration can be placed in C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE
I've tried placing the file in that location and to edit the OOBE.conf file and inject the XML elements.
None worked of course.

 

 

What's Needed :
Does any one have a reliable way to disable automatic update of the Creative Cloud Desktop application on machine level?

    3 replies

    R
    rickm19
    Participating Frequently
    November 5, 2021

    @maciejm21267710  First great detailed write up of the issue.   Did you ever find a solution to this issue?   I tried the suggestions on this thread and like you, they either didnt work or resulted in a block notification to upgrade. Like you we want to control the update option for the enterprise.   Thank you

      Eternal Warrior
      Eternal Warrior
      Inspiring
      March 24, 2017

      This looks amazingly useful....

      Adobe Properties — Enterprise Administration Guide

      Preference Basics — Enterprise Administration Guide

      Maybe there is something in there that can suppress the update available message as well.

      O
      Okami117
      Participant
      November 17, 2019

      I used the method as described below.

       

      Let me know if it works for you.

       

      <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" ?>

       

             

          <Preferences>

             

          <UpdaterPrefSchedCheckFreq>10</UpdaterPrefSchedCheckFreq>

             

          <Automatic>10</Automatic>

             

          </Preferences>

       

       

      Create a notepad named AdobeUpdaterPrefs.dat  and input the above data(instead of 3 use a bigger number, I used 10 and it worked so far.

       

      Save it as all files type and copy to this location for windows:

      C:\Users\<user name>\AppData\Local\Adobe\AAMUpdater\1.0\AdobeUpdaterPrefs.dat

       

       

        R
        rickm19
        Participating Frequently
        November 3, 2021

        Hey this didnt work for me.  @Okami117 Please confirm that this still works for you. When I apply your method the Creative Cloud Desktop App updated to the latest version.   I have not found a setting that can prevent the forced upgrade.  Has anyone found a solution to this yet?

        Petr_Egorov
        Petr_Egorov
        Inspiring
        March 24, 2017

        Bumping this thread since there's no any working solution and the problem persists.

        Dear m_vargas​ I believe you could provide some information regarding the issue.

        More information:

        I distribute Adobe CC Apps via Adobe Creative Cloud Packager and I use the setting "Elevated Privileges" that should allow users to install apps and updates themselves:

        But it doesn't work (still requires admin privs) and I assume it could be related to auto update issue: when the app updates itself it will not run with required privileges anymore. But I can't confirm it since I cant launch CC App without updating it first:

        BTW one more little issue: if I follow the link 'Full Release Notes' I can't see release notes for version 4 there. The last version I see is "Version 3.9.5.353 released on 12/14/2016".

        _maria_
        Community Manager
        _maria_Community Manager
        Community Manager
        March 24, 2017

        Hi Petr Egorov

        Dear m_vargas I believe you could provide some information regarding the issue.

        I don't work on Creative Cloud and am not at all familiar with the Cloud Packager you are referring to.

        --

        Maria

        Petr_Egorov
        Petr_Egorov
        Inspiring
        March 24, 2017

        m_vargas​

        Thats very pity, I really hoped you could shed some light on this since no one seems to know what to do.

        Anyway, thanks for quick response! Maybe you cold navigate your colleagues who do work with CCP and CC-App to this topic? It looks completely dead since 2015 despite the fact that about 25 people have the issue and waiting for resolution...

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