P: LrC Windows 11 on ARM (in emulation mode)

[Sunny UK]

With a slew of new laptops (including MS Surface Pro 11) being built on the ARM Snapdragon platform, does anyone know categorically whether it is possible to install and run Lightroom Classic on Window-on-ARM in emulation mode?

According to the system requirements (https://helpx.adobe.com/lightroom-classic/system-requirements.html) it needs an Intel or AMD processor.

However, I've found this analysis (paid for by Microsoft) of the performance of the new Surface: https://signal65.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/NewSurfaceLaptop2024_Signal65LabInsights.pdf . On page 24, there is an assessment of the performance of LrC running in emulation mode on the Surface 11. That suggests that it is possible.

If this needs to be raised as a feature request, can anyone point me in the direction of how I should do that?

[Ian Lyons]

I don't have an answer to your question and doubt that other users will have either. That being said, I'm sure that it will shortly generate significant interest.

I've moved your post to the 'Ideas' forum.

[johnrellis]

Lightroom Classic (Intel) does run on Windows 11 (ARM).  I've run LRC (Intel) in a Windows 11 (ARM) virtual machine in a Parallels / Mac / Apple Silicon (ARM) host for over a year.  It's not super speedy (mainly because the Parallels / Mac host doesn't provide the Windows virtual machines with access to the GPU), but it's fast enough for me to thoroughly test my LR plugins on Windows and help answer questions here in the forums.

See here for details:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-discussions/can-t-install-classic-in-parallels-on-m...

[Sunny UK]

Input from people who have purchased a Microsoft Surface Pro 11th Edition suggests that it is not possible to install Lightroom Classic on the machine.

This is despite the fact that it is possible to install it under Parallels on a Mac (as per John Ellis' screenshots in the linked article).

The ARM compatibility page has been updated on 18 June 2024 (i.e., the day the Snapdragon X Surface models were released): https://helpx.adobe.com/download-install/kb/arm-processors.html 

The page does not mention Lightroom Classic anywhere - not as "does work on Co-pilot+ PCs", not under "when does Adobe plan to release other apps for Co-Pilot+ PCs" and also not under "which apps can run natively on Co-Pilot+ PCs".  It almost looks as if Adobe is ignoring Lightroom Classic.

What is the best way to influence Adobe to address this? 

[Ian Lyons]

Posts to this forum are reviewed by the Adobe Product teams on regular basis. 

[Sunny UK]

I have learnt on Reddit that some users are able to successfully install Lightroom Classic on a Surface Pro 11 (i.e., Windows on Arms) in emulation mode.

When I'm using Creative Cloud Desktop and logged into Adobe, I simply don't see Lightroom Classic as an option. He, on the other hand, does, together with a warning about that since he's on an ARM computer, it will be an Intel version that is downloaded for emulation.

This confuses me. We clearly see the same thing, despite us both using the same version of creative cloud.

I am in the UK. He is in the US. Might it be the case that Adobe is allowing download of LRC in one region but not in another?

If anyone reading this has either successfully installed LRC in emulation under Windows-on-ARM, or has tried but not succeded, would you mind sharing your location please?

[johnrellis]

Moderators, @Rikk Flohr: Photography, @Rick Spaulding -, please merge this becoming-popular FAQ with this idea:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-classic-ideas/p-need-support-for-wos-devices/idi-p/13649447