My MacOS can not be upgraded to run Lightroom Classic

[Sean34576811xrh4]

Hey All, I am still using my Macbook Pro (2014) MacOS Big Sur 11.7.1 and I can not upgrade my OS to Monterey in order to run Lightroom Classic. Is there a way I can use an older version of lightroom? I can't seem to find one, I just says i have to upgrade which puts me dead in the water.... Please help.

[Conrad_C]

The reason you don’t find one is that Adobe has a policy where only the current version and one previous version of a Creative Cloud application is supported and available for installation. That means every year when a new major version is released, the third most recent version is no longer supported and is dropped from the Creative Cloud installer.

Based on that policy, the versions available for installation are Lightroom Classic 13 and 12. Of those two versions, Lightroom Classic 12 does support macOS 11 and later, but Lightroom Classic 13 does not. So you can use the current Creative Cloud desktop app to install Lightroom Classic 12.

By the way, the reason for the macOS support cutoffs is that Adobe matches the Apple policy for macOS support: Both Adobe and Apple support only the last three versions of macOS, and again, every year Apple releases a new one so the oldest one falls off. Currently, that means Adobe and Apple support macOS 14, 13, and 12. Next year, that will ratchet up to macOS 15 (probably), 14, and 13.

Yes, this means you can always expect that starting from the release date (not purchase date) of any Mac model, after about 7 or 8 years you’ll have to buy a new one if you want to be able to upgrade to current versions of both macOS and Creative Cloud applications.

[Sean34576811xrh4]

Thank you for the info, so if i am understaning correctly, there is a way for me to use an older version of Creative cloud that will allow me to use my current 2014 macbook with Bigsur 11.7.1?

[Rob_Cullen]

As @Conrad_C  states- " So you can use the current Creative Cloud desktop app to install Lightroom Classic 12."

In the Creative Cloud Desktop App- click on the 3-dots icon for Lightroom-Classic and choose- [other versions] where you are presented with Version 12 options to install-

[PG in LA]

Hi, joining the conversation a year later, and Lightroom Classic 12 is nowhere to be found. I can't upgrade my old iMac past Monterey (macOS12). Any suggestions? Yes, I know I need a new computer.

[Conrad_C]

I’m not sure if there is an option other than asking Adobe Customer Service if they have a way of providing it.

The reason Lightroom Classic 12 can’t be found is because of the Adobe policy I talked about in my earlier reply: The Creative Cloud desktop app installer provides only the current version and one previous major version, so for Lightroom Classic that means versions 14 and 13. If a new version 15 is released this fall as usual, the installer will then only offer versions 15 and 14, and so on every year.

So we have to plan our hardware upgrade schedule/budget around that. It’s similar to how we already have to plan our Mac upgrade schedule and budget around Apple upgrade availability, since there is now a well-established pattern that a Mac will start to lose macOS upgrade support after about 7 or 8 years. At that point we pretty much have to get a new Mac if we want to upgrade any software including Apple’s.

[PG in LA]

Thanks, Conrad_C. That's what I expected, and my mistake for not paying attention earlier. I expect zero sympathy from Adobe Customer Service.

[Jao vdL]

You were already helped to install an older version but there is a way to run a newer Mac OS version on your machine by using Open Core Legacy Patcher (google it). This will then allow you to run the latest Classic. Not without its pitfalls but you would not be the only one doing this. P.S. even the cheapest current Apple silicon Mac will be lightyears faster than this machine. If you can afford it, I would recommend not sticking with an 11 year old computer.

[PG in LA]

Thanks, Jao vdL. I plan to upgrade soon. Funny, I actually purchased an older (at the time) iMac so it could run my old CS6 programs longer. Now it's caught up with me.