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Question

Windows Arm update to Lightroom Classic.

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
November 28, 2021
2 replies
4442 views

I love the new masking solutions for Lightroom Classic. I am though wanting to use Lightroom Classic on my macbook using Parallels. The Arm version of Lightroom Mobile was implemented in December 2020. When can we see an Arm version of Lightroom Classic? Thanks.

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Conrad_C

Community Expert

@Geoffrey Billett wrote:

I love the new masking solutions for Lightroom Classic. I am though wanting to use Lightroom Classic on my macbook using Parallels.

Just be aware that at this time there seem to be some legal issues with using the ARM version of Windows in virtualization on Apple Silicon, even though it has been working with Insider builds. There is speculation that if those legal issues are related to a Qualcomm exclusivity deal, when that deal expires it might become possible for Microsoft to officially sanction running ARM Windows in virtualization. Until then, it might be risky to rely on virtualizing ARM Windows on unsupported processors; for one thing, at any time Microsoft might decide to put in a check that prevents it.

More info:

Microsoft releases new Windows 11 builds, confirms running on an Apple M1 'is not a supported scenario' – The Register

Qualcomm exclusivity deal might be keeping Windows from running on other ARM chips – Ars Technica
End of exclusivity deal could allow Windows to run on Apple Silicon, other SoCs.

The ARM versions of Windows can run on things like the Raspberry Pi or in virtualization apps running on Apple Silicon Macs, but Microsoft doesn't officially support doing it, and the company has never elaborated as to why.

ZD Net:

Just be prepared for it to stop working at any time. Keep an eye out here. If Parallels, Microsoft, or Ed comes up with any updates on the licensing status for Windows for Arm as it pertains to the Parallels implementation, I'll update this article.

G

Geoffrey BillettAuthor

Participating Frequently

Conrad and John, thanks for your replies.

So there are multiple issues then. My version of Windows is an Insider Build. There is no guarantee that Adobe will ever make a native version of Lightroom Classic for Arm versions of Windows, and no guarantee that Windows will continue to allow its Arm version to run unsupported through the virtual environment offered by Parallels. Though, conversely, it might be that Windows, at some point, permits its Arm version to run across a wide range of Arm processors given relevant contractual changes.

I think I am currently ill advised to continue with my plan to consider Parallels beyond the trial period, especially if my goal is primarily to run a version of Lightroom Classic which will never be made. I should reconsider when Windows 11 is better assimilated generally and the above factors are clearer.

Does it beg the question as to why Parallels are developing the software at all given the uncertainties?

Thanks again.

C

Carlos3096277347o3

Participant

I was initially looking to use Windows 10, but that appears to have been withdrawn under the Insider Build options. Windows 11, with its own unique hardware requirements, makes virtualisation necessary to overcome those requirements. Windows 10 would have been far simpler, though would not have addressed the Lightroom Classic issue. Still I have lost nothing. Thanks.

And now the game changed again with Qualqcomm Elite X.

I´m testing a lenovo Yoga with Elite X and most of the Adobe Products does work perfectly (even with the compiler). But... lightroom Classic is not available... is there any information regarding L Classic running on Arms ?

Best regards.

john beardsworth

Community Expert

As always with similar questions, anyone who knows would be under an NDA and be unable to tell you.

The last update to LR Classic was in October, and updates are generally on a 3 month cycle. In any case I doubt Adobe will be putting resources into an Arm version of Classic Lightroom.

G

Geoffrey BillettAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thanks very much John for your views. I know I described an Arm version of Lightroom Classic as an 'upgrade' but I guess it really is a new app. Why would Adobe though apply product differentiation when it has already released Arm versions of both Lightroom Mobile and Photoshop? What specifically is it about Lightroom Classic which precludes it also becoming available in a similar fashion? Of course I do understand NDA restrictions; I was curious if there was a roadmap or any rumours which may shed a little light. Thanks again.

john beardsworth

Community Expert

To be frank, I'd be amazed if they did it, Geoff. There's no roadmap, just speculation like this, and I'll put aside the size of the potential market - I don't think it's big but who knows?

I think it's important to note that Classic is built around a specific code platform (Lua) which is an oddity in Adobeworld, plus C+ binaries, and it hasn't fundamentally changed in 15+ years. It may be portable to other platforms, but each time Adobe have felt demand for different environments they didn't reconfigure Classic. So they responded to the growth of mobile with Lightroom Mobile, and then to the growth of cloud services with Cloudy Lightroom. Mobile was of course less capable than the real Lightroom (now Classic), and Cloudy Lightroom was its desktop sibling.

So my guess is that Adobe's attitude to Windows under Arm might be similar to theirs to Linux - if Classic works on it, fine, but we're not allocating resources in that direction. And if they have any interest in Arm, I'd speculate that their focus would be on Cloudy Lightroom, which wouldn't leave you much better off.

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