Photoshop compatibility on MacOS 10.15 (Catalina)

[Natalie38827094bbh1]

Can anyone tell me if there are any versions of Photoshop that are compatible with MacOS 10.15 (Catalina). Haven't had any issues until today when it wouldn't save and then said the new version of PS was only compatible with MacOS 12.0 or later. I really don't want to have to buy a new Mac just to use Photoshop! Any ideas? Thanks X

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@Natalie38827094bbh1 You can still download and use Photoshop 22.2 via the Creative Cloud Desktop App.

Go to Apps/Photoshop and click the ellipses button (...) to access other versions. PS 22.2 is at the bottom.

[Natalie38827094bbh1]

Amazing thank you Kevin, I shall give it a try. Many thanks Xx

[Lumigraphics]

Catalina is out of support and Macs newer than about 2014 can update past it to Monterey which is supported for the time being. If your computer is too old to get past Catalina its from 2012 and you realkly want to think about upgrading. A new MacBook Air or Mac mini can be had for under US$1000 and will not only be supported but will run circles around that older machine.

[Natalie38827094bbh1]

Hello, yes I know my Mac is ancient! It is 2012 sadly but I just find it frustrating that without any warning (or not that I know of) I am told my Mac isn't compatible anymore. Thank you for your advice, I appreciate it 🙂

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@Natalie38827094bbh1 could it be that you had auto updates running and the latest build caused this issue? If thats the case you may not need to go back all the way to 22.2 - you could try installing a 2023 build to see if it runs.

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/system-requirements.html

[Conrad_C]

…I just find it frustrating that without any warning (or not that I know of) I am told my Mac isn't compatible anymore.
By @Natalie38827094bbh1

For future planning, just be aware that Adobe has some policies that were announced a few years ago:

macOS versions: Adobe matches Apple in supporting only the last three versions of macOS. Today, Apple supports macOS 15, 14, and 13, so Adobe also supports those three. 

Creative Cloud app versions: Adobe provides only the last two major versions in the Creative Cloud desktop app installer. Because the current version is Photoshop 2025 (version 26), Creative Cloud offers Photoshop version 26 and 25. Yes, it also offers Photoshop version 22.2 as an exception for some specific needs, but usually, it will only be the last two.

The oldest supported version is dropped every year: Because both Apple and Adobe release major new versions every autumn, you can expect supported versions to advance every year. So next year, if past patterns continue, Apple and Adobe will support macOS 16, 15, and 14, and Adobe will provide Photoshop 26 and 25 for installation.

After a Mac gets to be around 7 or 8 years old, the latest macOS it can install gets dropped from support, and that’s when people start having problems getting compatible software. Unfortunately, if we want to continue being able to install the latest (or even relatively recent) software, we have to plan our Mac budgets around a replacement cycle that is 7 or 8 years at most.

It usually hasn’t been as bad for Windows PCs, but now that Windows is putting a lot of the same changes in place that Apple has, system requirements have now gotten tighter there too.

[Jeff Arola]

If Photoshop is acting up, the easiest potential fix is to reset the Photoshop Preferences:

https://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/using/preferences.html

[PhotoMatte]

Good morning. Can you tell me how to reset my Photoshop Preferences if Photoshop won't even open? Also, if I have to uninstall (CC 2018) and re-install a newer version (I'm running OS 10.15), is there any way to save all my actions and presets I've made over the years? Same question for Lightroom Classic.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@PhotoMatte please read the posted link - it outlines how to reset preferences manually in Mac OS.