Skip to main content
P
Psymon23
Participating Frequently
July 8, 2014
Question

What can I uninstall that I'm not using and don't need (or want)?

  • July 8, 2014
  • 1 reply
  • 1947 views

Earlier this year I bought the Adobe CS6 Design Standard package -- I wanted to own the software, I didn't want to "rent" it. Now I've got Creative Cloud also installed (even though I didn't ask for it to be installed, it seemed to do so whether I wanted it to or not), and it keeps nagging me either to download upgrades, or else the Adobe Application Manager keeps asking me to download and try out the CC software. I have NO interest in trying out "trial" software, and NO interest in using the Creative Cloud, I don't want to "rent" or "try out" anything, and I don't need the cloud for storage space or anything either -- it's useless to me, and just taking up disk space on my hard drive and annoying me with update alerts, etc. all the time.

For starters, can I just uninstall the Creative Cloud completely off my computer (I'm on Win7)?

Secondly, the software that I do use -- mostly Photoshop and Acrobat -- has a "check for updates" item right under the help menu. Can I get rid of the Adobe Application Manage (which seems to be what keeps nagging me to try the trial upgrades) -- and, if so, how do I get rid of it? I don't seem to see it listed in my list of installed software.

Also, can I uninstall Adobe AIR, too? I'm not even sure what that is, but doing a search for/about it, it seems to be more for software developers (which I'm not).

Basically, I really just want to be able to run Photoshop and Acrobat, and I really don't need anything else -- certainly not any "cloud" stuff nor "trial" upgrades -- and I'd like to uninstall virtually anything and everything else that I can (especially anything that nags me!).

Thanks in advance for any tips!

    This topic has been closed for replies.

    1 reply

    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Community Manager
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    July 8, 2014

    Psymon23 you are welcome to remove the Creative Cloud versions of your Adobe applications.  You can find details on how to accomplish this at Install and update apps - https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/install-apps.html.

    You do still require the Adobe Application Manager however.  Not only does it handle updates, which include security updates, but it also handles the licensing and activation for your Adobe software titles.  It may be possible that you upgraded your Adobe Application Manager to the Creative Cloud Desktop version.  If this is the case then I would recommend removing Photoshop and Acrobat as well and reinstall to obtain the version which came with Creative Suite 6.

    Finally Adobe AIR is a runtime which allows an application to be ran on both Windows, Mac, and even iOS and Android operating systems.  I would recommend leaving it installed.

    P
    Psymon23Author
    Participating Frequently
    July 9, 2014

    Thanks so much for your reply, Jeff! That does help, but I think that perhaps I didn't explain myself well enough with my original question, though...

    I haven't actually installed any of the Creative Cloud versions of the software I'm using, but what I was wondering was whether I can just completely uninstall "Creative Cloud" right off my computer completely (via Add/Remove Programs in my Windows control panel -- or, rather, "Programs and Features", as it's called in Win7)? I have no interest whatsoever in using anything "Cloud-related" -- is there any harm in just uninstalling it?


    Also, with regard to Adobe App. Manager, is there any way to get it to stop nagging me to try out the Creative Cloud versions of the software? I have NO desire to whatsoever, and really don't think I ever will (except maybe a decade from now or something). Every time that I get notification that there's a software update, though, I keep "almost clicking" those links/buttons by accident, and I wish I could just make them go away.

    Jeffrey_A_Wright
    Community Manager
    Jeffrey_A_WrightCommunity Manager
    Community Manager
    July 9, 2014

    Psymon23 yes you can remove the Creative Cloud versions.  Once you have reinstalled the Adobe Application Manager from Creative Suite 6 and applied the available updates you should no longer be nagged unless a security update is released.

    Terms & ConditionsAccessibility statement
    Using the community Terms of use Privacy Cookie preferences Do not sell or share my personal information ad choicesAdChoices