Need standalone installers for InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop CC 2022, 2020, and 2019

[Nutriamix]

I need the standalone installers for these three applications, but Adobe claims not to have download links anymore (which is a lie), and you can’t get them using CC Desktop App. I want these versions because I know they work; and I don’t want all the bloat that Adobe adds with each new version, or the AI crap they’ve added for 2025.

Does anybody have them so that I can download them? I know there are some sites that have a bunch of past versions for both Windows and Mac, but from what I’ve read about people who tried to use those, they all fail because the installer is somehow corrupted.

I’d appreciate any help.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

It's not a lie. The support people don't have access to them. You can ask for a supervisor but you will need a better reason that "bloat", such as compatibility with your company (although you wouldn't need all three older versions for that). 

[Nutriamix]

I’m sorry to disagree with you, but it is a lie. I found all those direct download links on another prominent web site for designers, and they still work.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Anybody can have an archive. ProDesignTools used to have them. I have the 2020 and 2019 installers. 

What I said was the support people don't have ACCESS to them or the authority to release them. However, a supervisor might if you can provide a good reason.

[Nutriamix]

I would like to have the 2020 installer, but Adobe doesn’t want to provide it. It still works, and they charge the same per month for it as any other CC product, so there’s no reason they couldn’t provide it. They had already alienated Pantone by that time, so those libraries probably aren’t in it, so there shouldn’t be any licensing issues.

[Eugene Tyson]

Adobe's official policy is to provide installers only for the current (N) and the immediately preceding (N-1) major versions of their Creative Cloud applications. This approach helps streamline support and ensures compatibility with modern operating systems. For instance, as of May 2025, Adobe offers installers for the current and previous major versions of their apps.

While enterprise customers may have access to older versions through the Admin Console, individual users are generally limited to the two most recent versions. This policy is in place to manage resources effectively and to align with the evolving landscape of operating systems and hardware.

Pantone Licensing and Adobe
The removal of Pantone colour libraries from Adobe applications was primarily due to Pantone's decision to shift to a subscription-based model. In 2022, Pantone introduced the Pantone Connect plugin, requiring users to pay a monthly fee to access their colour libraries within Adobe software.

This change led to situations where existing projects using Pantone colours displayed those colours as black unless the user subscribed to Pantone's service. While Adobe facilitated the integration of the Pantone Connect plugin, the move to a paid model was initiated by Pantone.

Accessing Older Pantone Libraries
Regarding the availability of older Pantone libraries, it's worth noting that some users have shared previous Pantone libraries online, such as on GitHub. However, the legality of downloading and using these libraries depends on the licensing agreements and terms of use set by Pantone and Adobe. Users should exercise caution and ensure compliance with the End User License Agreements (EULAs) when accessing and utilising such resources.

[Nutriamix]

My understanding at the time was that Adobe had ticked off Pantone, so they withdrew licensing and created a paid extension to use Pantone colors. But QuarkXPress still has the Pantone color libraries, and Pantone could have created a similar extension for that, but they did not.That seems to confirm that Pantone and Adobe were on the outs.

[Eugene Tyson]

Adobe's license for Pantone colour libraries was expiring, and Pantone decided to switch to a direct subscription model, allowing users to pay a fee for access to their color libraries.

I suspect quark and others will also be switching when their license expires, but cannot say for certain.

[Eugene Tyson]

Just because it's on another site doesn't mean it's a lie. 

The lie is someone is pirating software - which is not good. Who knows what else is included in the download links for those installers, that's how malicious software is installed on computers. 

It's up to you - but you should report piracy - stealing is not an answer. 

And it's not a lie that Adobe do not support less than 2 versions. 

The AI is not bloat - it's in the software - if you don't want to use it then don't - nobody is forcing you. It has ZERO impact on your ability to use the software or the speed/performance. 

Seriously consider going the legal route and installing via the Creative Cloud App. 

Piracy will not be tolerated, neither will bragging about it. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

@Eugene Tyson I didn't get the impression the OP was pirating the software, but just wanted to use older software with their subscription. (I could be wrong of course...)

[Eugene Tyson]

They said they found links on another site for designers - whatever that is - I assumed piracy, because it's not supposed to on any other site AFAIK. I could be wrong.

[Nutriamix]

As to your point about not using AI or other features that I don’t want, you overlooked the fact that Adobe changed ther Terms of Service s that they are scanning what you create and using it for AI, and there is no way to opt out. Unless you read the fine print, you wouldn’t know that.

[Eugene Tyson]

I'm sorry to say that you may be misinformed a lot on what's going on from Pantone Connect, to AI to other things.

Let me clarify this one for you

Adobe updated its Terms of Service in mid-2024, which led to confusion and concern among users. Initially, the language was vague, causing many to believe that Adobe would use their content to train AI models without consent. However, after significant backlash, Adobe clarified its position.

Adobe explicitly states that it does not use user content to train generative AI models unless the content is submitted to the Adobe Stock marketplace.

Content Scanning: Adobe may scan content stored on its servers to detect illegal or abusive material, such as abuse images/content or spam. This scanning is automated, and human review occurs only if content is flagged.

Opt-Out Options: Users have the ability to opt out of content analysis used for product improvement. This can be done through Adobe's privacy settings.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

One would still need an active subscription for the installers to work. 

[Nutriamix]

Actually, you don’t need any subscription for the installer to work; what you need is an Adobe ID and then you can start a Free Trial, after which you get after 14 days.

[Nutriamix]

It is a lie, because these are on Adobe’s servers. That is not piracy.

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

It is a lie, because these are on Adobe’s servers. That is not piracy.

By @Nutriamix

If they are on the Adobe servers as you say, why don't you download them?

[Nutriamix]

I did download the 2019 installers, but I know Photoshop won’t install on my M4 Mac. The error claims it can’t move some file, but it doesn’t indicate which file, so that’s a waste of time.

[leo.r]

In addition to other info:

Do you experience any actual issues with InDesign 2024 or 2025 that you can describe?

[Nutriamix]

I won’t install or run those on my Mac. I don’t need or want any AI crap, and I have a limited amount of disk space due to the unified SSD architecture on the new M-series Macs. I can’t just go and buy a new one with more storage.

[BobLevine]

If your Mac is so old that current versions won't install, you're going to need a computer sooner rather than later anyway but if you won't/can't consider that, you'll need to find alternatives to the Adobe applications because the chances of getting installers for those older versions is practically zero.

[Nutriamix]

I have an M-series Mac, but Apple has made it prohibitively expensive to buy enough SSD storage for all the things that peoplel may store on their computer: music, photos, etc. Maybe I should ask Tim Cook to send me another one with at least 2 Terabytes of storage and 43GB of RAM.

[Eugene Tyson]

Have you considered external storage? It can really help if your internal SSD is tight especially with M-series Macs where upgrades aren’t exactly doable or affordable. Totally agree there, Apple’s storage pricing is tough.

On the topic of AI and "bloat" if you're not using the AI features, they won’t affect your performance. They're there, yes but you’re not forced to use them. They don’t slow things down or take over your workflow.

Also, just something to think about you can get a high-spec Windows machine with more storage, faster components, and a decent GPU for often less than half the price of a Mac. I’ve worked on both platforms for 25+ years. Macs have their appeal, but value-wise, Windows wins out for me.

At some point, it might be worth considering whether holding out for older versions is worth the friction. You're not sacrificing anything by installing the current apps you just don’t use what you don’t need. That’s how I approach it.

Just some thoughts. Hope you find a setup that works best for your needs.

[leo.r]

ask Tim Cook to send me another one with at least 2 Terabytes of storage and 43GB of RAM.

By @Nutriamix

As others have already suggested, just get an external drive. External SSDs are relatively cheap (that is, way cheaper than Apple's ones). Plus, you don't really have to buy an SSD, which is only essential for your system and apps installation. For the regular files, you can get an HDD, which are quite inexpensive these days. 

[Dave Creamer of IDEAS]

Completely agree with Leo.r (except I would still get an external SSD...😁)