Question

P: Subscriptions from Mobile App Stores don't work with Desktop Software

Forum|Forum|5 years ago
July 5, 2021
110 replies
55073 views

We get so many questions about this I decided that an authoritative post would be helpful.

If you've purchased a subscription from a mobile app store, (e.g. Apple's App Store, the Google Play Store or the Samsung Store), the subscription is for mobile devices only. Running Lightroom Desktop on a PC or a Mac requires a specific subscription purchased for desktop computers.

The Desktop subscription includes access to the Mobile product but not vice-versa.

Lightroom Web is included in all subscriptions.

If you've purchased the incorrect subscription for your needs, or your needs have changed, please login here to update your plan: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

After subscribing to the Ecosystem plan, you can decide whether to cancel your mobile-only plan.

Hopefully this helps.

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B

Brij340948273ykx

Participant

Hello,

I have purchased the premium of 100gb/year in my lightroom mobile app in my android mobile in India which is still ongoing and now when i am in germany and opening the same account in my macbook then i am not able to use that premium and they are continuously giving me a pop-up to purchase the premium. Can anyone please help me out urgently, i am really in need as i am a photographer and want to edit and post the photos on my instagram id.

Thanks a lot in Advance

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

Lightroom on mobile (Premium) is purchased via PlayStore/ AppStore and is only applicable to use on mobile devices.

To use Lightroom on a laptop (Mac or PC)and sync your photos, you need a subscription to the Lightroom Plan.

Contact Adobe support and request a Plan change.

Contact adobe support by clicking here,

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen

In the chat field (lower right of screen), Typing “Agent” into the chat text field will bypass the initial chatbot.
be patient, it can take quite a while to reach a human
If you are not able to get to the chat window, then disable your ad-blockers, firewall, enable cookies/scripts on your browser. If it still fails then change your browser/machine/network.

The Lightroom Plan-
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html?promoid=3F8XBLKT&mv=other

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.4.1, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.4, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .

H

Hugh33001346bgvs

Participant

Thanks, this is helpful. Hugh

W

WiHi39114

Participant

Mein Abo ist abgelaufen, ich habe es in der Lightroom Mobile App verlängert. Jetzt geht die App aber auf dem Laptop nicht mehr. Dort kann ich keine Bilder mehr bearbeiten, mir wird nur angezeigt, ich soll das Abo verlängern, aber das habe ich doch, wo liegt hier das Problem?

L

Liu32659813mwjx

Participant

What I bought on my mobile phone cannot be used on my computer.When I log in to the same account on my computer, there is no lightroom, only photo shop express.

kglad

Community Expert

@Liu32659813mwjx

did you purchase the lightroom app from one of the app stores?

C

Claudia31434409b071

Participant

Every time I try to sign in it says it is unable to complete the purchase only personal IDs can be used in the app store. However, I have purchased a year subscription - it allows me to sign on to my phone but not my Macbook. I am using the same apple ID as my phone and email to Adobe. Can someone help me, please?

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

If you purchased from the App Store- Read the post from @Rikk Flohr: Photography at the top of this forum thread.

"If you've purchased a subscription from a mobile app store, (e.g. Apple's App Store, the Google Play Store or the Samsung Store), the subscription is for mobile devices only. Running Lightroom Desktop on a PC or a Mac requires a specific subscription purchased for desktop computers.

The Desktop subscription includes access to the Mobile product but not vice-versa.
If you've purchased the incorrect subscription for you needs, please contact Adobe Customer Care for correction."

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.4.1, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.4, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .

D

doublep101

Participant

I can use the app on my iPad ok. The app worked on my Mac mini too. Now the app on the mini thinks I don't have a subscription. However I can access my account and Lightroom in a browser.

any suggestions would be most helpful!

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

In the Mac Mini- Are you 'Signed In' with the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App?

"The app worked on my Mac mini"- For how long? Was it only for 7-days (a trial?)

Is you subscription with Adobe for the Lightroom Plan?

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.4.1, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.4, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .

J

Johnny_Cash

Participant

Howdy.

I purchased the mobile Lightroom app for use on my phone. Does Lightroom for Mac require an additional license? I attempted to sign in on Mac and restore my purchase in the Lr app but I received an error saying I need to make a purchase first.

Rob_Cullen

Community Expert

No, not an additional licence- just a different licence that includes desktop versions- ie. the Lightroom Plan (1TB)

See the post (in this forum thread) -

https://community.adobe.com/t5/lightroom-ecosystem-cloud-based-discussions/p-subscriptions-from-mobile-app-stores-don-t-work-with-desktop-software/m-p/13359914#M75240

https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom.html

Regards. My System: Windows-11, Lightroom-Classic 15.4.1, Photoshop 27.8, ACR 18.4, Lightroom 9.4, Lr-iOS 10.4.0, Bridge 16.0.3 .

R

Rahmotullah30021707kf5r

Participant

I have purchased the monthly subscription for Lightroom Premium on my Android and and I'm trying to access it on my Windows laptop and it's displaying a screen that says I should purchase a yearly subscription or I should quit the Lightroom application. What can I do let it access my Lightroom.

A

Aslam28880967iq6j

Participant

I have subscribed light room yearly subscription on my iphone and can log in to LR on my Imac, its asking for another subscription and credit card, why?

George_F

Community Expert

Did you subscribe to Lightroom through the Apple Store? If you subscribed through the Adobe website, which plan did you select?

J

John282574993mtv

Participant

If you have LR and PS on iPad and desktop, do you have to pay for both mobile and desktop? Or are they both in the $9.99 /month?

J

Jonathan272313183xa7

Participant

I have the Lightroom iPhone app..... do I have to pay for another subscription if I want use Lightroom on my pc?

C

Charlie.D

Adobe Employee

When you subscribe to Lightroom Mobile premium service on iOS or Android devices, the desktop app is not included.

Info about plans that include Lightroom for Mac and Windows can be found here: https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-lightroom/compare-plans.html

and here: https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

If you subscribe to the desktop plan, be sure to cancel your mobile plan via mobile app store subscription settings!

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