Why did the InDesign ( 17.4.2 ) download button disappeared from the Creative Cloud app ?

[creativecloud1]

Hi !

I need to get access to a specific version of InDesign, the 17.4.2, earlier this morning I was able to download and run it on my computer, but then, after a reinstallation of windows ( and maybe an update from the creative cloud app ) I'm no longer able to download it through the " Get Old Version " mechanic

Why is it so difficult to get an older version of InDesign and where can I download the 17.4.2 ( which is mendatory for one of our soft to properly work )

Thank you

[jmlevy]

Seules les 2 dernières versions sont disponibles via Creative Cloud (18 et 19). Il faut contacter le sevice client pour obtenir un lien de téléchargement pour la V17. Mais rien n'oblige à supprimer les anciennes versions lors de la mise à jour.

[Conrad_C]

jmlevy is correct and it’s vitally important to make a note of that, because it’s official Adobe policy: They only support the current version and the previous one. Older versions than that are not made available in the Creative Cloud desktop app installer.

The reason it’s so important to note this is because it has to be accounted for as a production constraint. Every year, Adobe releases a major new version, so every year the last two versions available are shifted up one version. We all have to plan for this, because if for example version 17 is needed and it's just been released, the Adobe policy and release schedule means it’s virtually guaranteed that 2 years after release, version 17 will no longer be available for installation.

That is expected to still be true with the new version 19 released at this month's Adobe MAX: With the release of version 19, the versions supported for installation shifted up to versions 19 and 18, in 2024 it will become 20 and 19, and in 2025 it becomes versions 21 and 20 so version 19 will stop being available.

[Manan Joshi · Accepted solution]

One point you should remember going forward to avoid landing in such situation is to stop removing the old version when installing the new version. Creative Cloud app asks if we want to remove the older version when updating to a new major version, uncheck that option. You should uninstall explicitly only when you are sure that you no longer need the version.

Another thing that can be done is to ask for offline installers for a version still supported so that you can use that once the version goes out of support. This has higher chances of getting served by Adobe support. 

-Manan