Must I be logged in to Creative Cloud all the time to use Lightroom Classic?

[Legin2u]

I have downloaded Lightroom classic and Phtoshop. Do I have to stay logged in to Creative Cloud to use them on my Mac? I don't see them in my apps folder, so how do I open them once I log out of Creative Cloud?

[dj_paige · Accepted solution]

I have downloaded Lightroom classic and Phtoshop. Do I have to stay logged in to Creative Cloud to use them on my Mac? I don't see them in my apps folder, so how do I open them once I log out of Creative Cloud?

By @Legin2u

You have to log in one time. You should not Log Out when you finish using Creative Cloud. Stay logged in, and then you do not have to log in again, and you will not have to connect to the Internet to use your Creative Cloud applications (for roughly 30 days).

(You could, of course, log out which requires you to always log in the next time you want to use the software. THIS IS NOT RECOMMENDED.)

[Legin2u]

I have the standalone desktop version (LrC) and do not want to be logged in to Creative Cloud to use it. As you state, I now understand that this is possible for 30 days (with a monthly subscrition). Why do you say that it is not recommended to use the desktop version while logged out, that makes no sense. This is the whole point of using the desktop version. I have no interest in using the cloud storage feature.  

[Per Berntsen]

I have the standalone desktop version (LrC) and do not want to be logged in to Creative Cloud to use it.

There is no standalone version of Lightroom Classic,  it's subscription only.

Exactly what version of Lightroom are you running? (Lightroom menu > About Lightroom)

And do you have a Creative Cloud subscription? (Photography Plan)

[Legin2u]

This is untrue. Lightroom Classic is the desktop standalone version and many photo web sites have explained how to use it when not connected to the internet (which basically means that you are not signed in to Creative Cloud). It requires a Creative Cloud subsciption, which I have, but it should work when I am not connected to the internet for 30 days. It does not do this. 

[dj_paige]

This is untrue. Lightroom Classic is the desktop standalone version and many photo web sites have explained how to use it when not connected to the internet (which basically means that you are not signed in to Creative Cloud). It requires a Creative Cloud subsciption, which I have, but it should work when I am not connected to the internet for 30 days. It does not do this. 

By @Legin2u

I think your understanding, as expressed above, is not correct. Lightroom Classic is not "stand-alone" in the sense that it requires you to be signed in to the Creative Cloud in order to use it. And if you sing in and don't sign out, you can use it without an internet connection for at least 30 days (or longer if you have paid annually instead of monthly).

[dj_paige]

There is no standalone version. You do have to be logged in to the Creative Cloud to use your software. Why do you not want to be logged in?

As you state, I now understand that this is possible for 30 days (with a monthly subscrition).

What I said was that you can use the software for 30 days without internet connection, but you have to log in once with an internet connection and thereafter YOU HAVE TO STAY LOGGED IN.

Why do you say that it is not recommended to use the desktop version while logged out, that makes no sense. This is the whole point of using the desktop version. I have no interest in using the cloud storage feature.  

Staying logged in lets you use the software, and confirms that your subscription is active and paid up. You never have to use cloud storage. You are confusing a bunch of different issues here.

[Abambo]

(...)  and you will not have to connect to the Internet to use your Creative Cloud applications (for roughly 30 days).

By @dj_paige

If you have an annual subscription, the grace period is 99 days. So if you are going to the internet-desert, you can keep working your program for some time. You should stay signed in all the time!

[Legin2u]

I am unable to open Lightroom Classic (version 11.2) unless I am connected to the internet. I have a monthly subscription which I just purchased yesterday.

If I sign in to Creative Cloud I can open the app. If I close the app., turn off my internet connection, and then re open LrC I am unable to open the app. This is not the behaviour desribed by photo web sites that I have read. It should still keep opening until the 30 day clock runs out?

[Abambo]

I have a monthly subscription which I just purchased yesterday.

If I sign in to Creative Cloud I can open the app. If I close the app., turn off my internet connection, and then re open LrC I am unable to open the app.

By @Legin2u

Works perfectly for me.

(I just pulled the cable, before starting Lightroom Classic. If Lightroom Classic is not licenced, you will still be able to use the Library, so I switched to the Develop-mode.)

But are you sure to have a monthly subscription? People using Lightroom Classic have the Photography plan which includes 20Gb of cloud space, Lightroom Classic and Lightroom (which is more or less unusable with 20Gb of cloud space) and Photoshop for $9.99/month as an annual commitment.

As a standalone application, Lightroom Classic seems not to be available.

[richardplondon]

There is another option that includes Lr Classic: the full set (All Apps). And if you pay a 50% premium, you can have that as a monthly renewing plan, rather than a yearly renewing plan!

[JohanElzenga]

---

@Legin2u wrote:

I have downloaded Lightroom classic and Phtoshop. Do I have to stay logged in to Creative Cloud to use them on my Mac?I don't see them in my apps folder, so how do I open them once I log out of Creative Cloud?

---

You must not log out. What do you mean with "I don't see them in my apps folder"? Once installed, Photoshop and Lightroom Classic are both there, and can be started like any other app. The easiest way is of course to drag their icon into the Dock.

[TheDigitalDog]

The Creative Cloud software verifies the account status on Adobe servers once a day for your Adobe products. If the account is in good standing (that is, payment is up-to-date) when the last verification happens, the software status refreshes to run for at least 99 days offline.
https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/manage-apps-services-desktop.html

[Legin2u]

When I open Lightroom Classic it is asking me to Sign In and will not allow me to open the app. without doing so.

How do I use LrC without an internet connection?

Thanks.

[richardplondon]

You sign in when you do have an internet connection. This lets you use the app. When you are finished for the day, you close the app but you do NOT sign out from Creative Cloud. The next time you start the app, it shows as STILL signed into Creative Cloud from before. And the same the following time. This can continue to be the case indefinitely; or if you take a computer somewhere without internet connection, this remembered sign-in will persist for up to a little over 3 months offline - at which time you will need to arrange internet connection, and in effect restart that "stay signed in" timer. But signing OUT at any time, will mean that internet connection is then needed in order to sign back in. 

You can have two computers in a signed-in state to your Creative Cloud account, at any given time. The only usual reason you would want to sign out from a given computer, would be if you own say 3 computers - and you now want to release this particular computer's sign-in, so that you can then be signed-in across both the other 2.

[Legin2u]

Thanks, but this doesn't work. If I open LrC (signed in to CC) and then close the app. (remaining signed in) and then try to open it with the internet turned off, I am unable to open LrC.

[dj_paige]

Thanks, but this doesn't work. If I open LrC (signed in to CC) and then close the app. (remaining signed in) and then try to open it with the internet turned off, I am unable to open LrC.

By @Legin2u

And I have had the opposite experience. If I sign in once with Internet connection, launch LrC, then disconnect the Internet, I can still use LrC, even after I close it, I can re-open it without Internet as long as I remain signed into the Creative Cloud.

[Legin2u]

OK I figured it out. When one opens the app. (off line) a dialog box opens up asking you to sign in to CC (even though I was signed in when I closed the app). I kept cancelling this sign in box because I figured "how can I sign in if I am off line"? Well, apparently you can. Closing the dialog box/CC sign in screen simply closes the app. It's counter intuitive but there must be something in the Adobe files on the users computer that tells the program that the user has been signed in in the required timeframe previously and that the account is up to date. 

[TheDigitalDog]

When one opens the app. (off line) a dialog box opens up asking you to sign in to CC (even though I was signed in when I closed the app). I kept cancelling this sign in box because I figured "how can I sign in if I am off line"?

By @Legin2u

Yes, user error ("I kept canceling this sign-in box") instead of following what it asked you to do (actually sign in).

And further, you CAN be offline and run the product under the few limitations discussed.

[Rob_Cullen]

To put it simply-

To 'Log In' is to ACTIVATE ALL YOUR Adobe Apps.

To 'Log OUT' is to DEACTIVATE your Apps.

Log in - Do NOT Log out!

[Abambo]

To put it simply-

To 'Log In' is to ACTIVATE ALL YOUR Adobe Apps.

To 'Log OUT' is to DEACTIVATE your Apps.

Log in - Do NOT Log out!

By @Rob_Cullen

You can, however, cut the internet connection for 99 days. However, in modern computing times, disconnecting the internet for so long did not arrive to me. Even in the good old times of dial-in connections, I used the internet more often to get my e-mails.

[Legin2u]

Even if I stay logged in I cannot open LrC unless the internet is connected. It would be nice if Adobe had phone support considering we are 'renting' their software.

[JohanElzenga]

---

@Legin2u wrote:

Even if I stay logged in I cannot open LrC unless the internet is connected. It would be nice if Adobe had phone support considering we are 'renting' their software.

---

Adobe does have phone support.

I can't reproduce your problem however. I often work with Lightroom Classic on my laptop in my RV, and I deliberately do not connect to the internet because that would use expensive mobile data. Lightroom Classic has no problems with that at all.

[TheDigitalDog]

Even if I stay logged in I cannot open LrC unless the internet is connected. It would be nice if Adobe had phone support considering we are 'renting' their software.

By @Legin2u

You are not renting software (you've NEVER owned any Adobe software from day one!). Read your EULA.

Again, you must simply 'phone home' once every 99 days to update the subscription status and after that, you do NOT need to be connected to the web to use the product. The way the product works has been described to you by numerous users along with a URL from Adobe that explains all this as well. I don’t know if you are purposely trying not to understand this, or if you are really struggling with it.

DO NOT sign out. Log in, activate, and move on. You can run the products on two computers at the same time that are activated and logged in. You can install it on as many computers as you desire, but only two at a time, hence the ability to log in and out of your CC account. You can now work with the software for 99 days (if you have a year subscription) without net access and are logged in on two and no more than two systems per subscription.

[Legin2u]

I know many many professinals that absolutely hated when Adobe went to renting their software. If you get to use a product and pay a monthly fee for it then you are renting it, just like an apartment or a vehicle from a rental car agency.

I have Adobe products (Creative Suite 3 and Lightroom 4) from 15 years ago on CD that I still actually own (and did so from day one)! Of course, they are mostly useless now, but can still be installed on an appropriate computer running a compatible operating system. No 'sign ins' required or creative cloud BS to deal with.

Of course, many companies, like Avid for example, sell their sofware products the same way, but at least Avid still offers a perpetual license for some versions of Pro Tools.

The reason why I was struggling was because no one explained the process correctly, but I managed to figure it out through trial and error. I was an pilot and transport category simulator flight instructor for 27 years and so I think I have a handle on how to effectively communicate technical information in a clear and concise way, and I didn't see much of that going on here at all. In fact, most of what was written was flat out incorrect and missleading.