How to Delete CC Apps but Retain InDesign CS6

[Richard Groff]

I've retired and have canceled my subscription to Creative Cloud. But I'll continue to do some work for a nonprofit using InDesign CS6, which I purchased outright back when it first came out.

Using Adobe's uninstall programs, I uninstalled all the CC apps and restarted my Mac, then launched InDesign CS6 but was greeted with a screen that said it was verifying my CC account. It couldn't find it, of course, because I canceled it, but InDesign CS6 would no longer launch.

Luckily, I use TimeMachine, so I restarted in Recovery Mode and restored the latest backup. So is it possible to get rid of all the CC apps and keep my CS6 running?

[Randy Hagan]

It should be ... with qualifications. Did you use the CC Cleaner app to uninstall all your Adobe CC applications? Or did you uninstall the specific CC apps, one by one?

Most all CC apps contain Uninstall [particular Adobe app] programs in the Applications>[given Adone application] folder. Uninstalling from there might prove to be less invasive than using CC Cleaner. I'd try uninstalling one Adobe app, like InDesign CC or Illustrator CC, and see if that doesn't let you uninstall without the unfortunate repercussions you experienced before.

And I would keep that Time Machine backup handy, and maybe even do a fresh one before uninstalling apps one-by-one, just in case. With my serial number handy for that CS6 install.

Hope this helps,

Randy

[Richard Groff]

>> Did you use the CC Cleaner app to uninstall all your Adobe CC applications? Or did you uninstall the specific CC apps, one by one?

Aha! That might have been the problem. I started by using the Uninstall app for ID 2021 (the latest I have on this computer) and 2020, then did the CCs. I'll give it another try by using the Uninstall Creative Cloud app first.

Thanks!

[Randy Hagan · Accepted solution]

Actually, I'd try it the other way. I'd uninstall, say, InDesign CC using the uninstall app in the Applications>InDesign CC [whatever year] folder. Then I'd go back and make sure InDesign CS6 is still working fine. Maybe try AICC [whatever year] next, confirm my AICS6 is still fine, etc.

You may have to save the Creative Cloud App itself because it may hold the code to keeping your old CS6 apps running too. Fortunately, the CC app itself is free and not a subscription product, so it should be able to stay without causing you future issues. But I'd still keep that Time Machine backup handy; Adobe hasn't supported CS6 for some time. Just to be clear, this is unauthorized technical advice from an end user with no authority to speak for Adobe Systems. On this issue, we're on our own.

Good luck. Hopefully this will work well for you and you can share how this got you past your CC install issues.

Randy

[Richard Groff]

I uninstalled all the CC apps but now whenever I try to launch InDesign CS6 I get a box that says "Adobe InDesign CC" and "Please wait for a moment..." and a spinning wheel forever.

[Richard Groff]

Thank you so much for the advice! I'm getting ready to go on vacation, but I'll definitely try this when I get back.