Adobe says my Photoshop CS3 serial number is invalid. [CS3 is dead]

[SilasJohnsonYT]

I entered my serial number into the Plans>Products menu on  the Adobe Account website, and then it said that my serial number had an invalid format. The serial number is 20 numbers, and is the MacOS version. Can someone help me with this? I don't see why it would be the CS3 activation servers being taken offline.

[Nancy OShea · Accepted solution]

Hi @SilasJohnsonYT,

CS3 from 2007 is officially dead.  Even if you have the original installation disks that you received at purchase with a matching valid serial number, you cannot activate the software.  The activation servers for CS3 and earlier went offline years ago.  Sorry.

Creative Suite is no longer legally sold by any vendor, retailer or in country.   Adobe support cannot help you.

MODERN OPTIONS:
Photoshop Elements 2021 (under $100, no subscription needed)
https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop-elements.html

Creative Cloud Photography Plan -- approx $10/month for 12 months. Includes the very latest versions of these great products & services:
-- Photoshop CC and Photoshop on iPad
-- Lightroom on desktop, mobile and the web
-- Lightroom Classic
-- Portfolio website + hosting
-- Spark with premium features
-- Bridge
-- 20 GB cloud storage (upgradable to 1 TB).
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/photography.html

Creative Cloud All Apps (31 + apps & services) and Single Apps Plans
https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/plans.html

Hope that helps.

[chanaart]

Yes. Unfortonatley CS3 is gone.

Try to get a trial and retrieve and re open youe files and save them!

Ch