Photoshop was automatically uninstalled from Mac laptop

[thegraphicgroove]

Today I saw that Photoshop was no longer installed on my Mac (M1 Pro) laptop running Ventura 13.4.  I had to reinstall and all my previous Settings such as Workspaces, etc. were all missing.  All other Adobe Software that I had previously installed was still installed.  Why did was Photoshop automatically uninstalled without receiving any prior notification from Adobe.  This is super FRUSTRATING !!!

[D Fosse]

There is nothing that automatically uninstalls Photoshop. An uninstall is a fairly complicated process. What would initiate that?

Are you sure it's not just a missing application shortcut?

What can happen is that you have the CC app set to automatically update the application - but the hardware doesn't support the new version and so it doesn't get installed. But it sounds like you have a new machine, so that can't be it.

[thegraphicgroove]

I've not set the Adobe CC Desktop 'Control Centre' to automatically update Apps.  For example, today I had to manually 'click' Updates for After Effects, Illustrator, Lightroom, Media Encoder, etc.  But for some bizarre reason, Photoshop was no longer installed.  It was listed in the Adobe 'Control Centre App' with the option to "Install".  That is super frustrating because it is the software I use the most and I had honed the Settings in a very specific way to the way I work.

I did update my M1 Pro laptop today, but it was already running Ventura ... it was just an incremental upgrade for mostly security fixes.  So I don't think that would cause Photoshop to 'uninstall' while all the other Adobe Apps remained installed.  I looked in my Applications folder and there is only one Photoshop listed ... the one I re-installed today when I noticed that Photoshop was missing.  

[TheDigitalDog]

I've also never seen ACC automatically uninstall any Adobe app. A user can (has) to do so:

[thegraphicgroove]

I've been using Photoshop for at least 20 yrs, long before it became "CC".  I have "installed" and "uninstalled" Photoshop scores of times over the years and this time it DEFINITELY uninstalled Photoshop automatically, without providing me with any notification or warning.  I simply logged on to my MacBook Pro (M1 Pro chip ... fully maxed specs) running the most recent version of Ventura ... and Photoshop was bizarrely missing!  All other CC software that I'd previously installed was still installed, ie: Illustrator, After Effects, Media Encoder, Dreamweaver, Character Animator, etc.  Only Photoshop had mysteriously been uninstalled.  I did NOT uninstall it myself!

When I looked in the Adobe CC Desktop "Central Control" App, it showed that Photoshop was NOT installed and it gave me the link to "Install" (ie: did not say "Update" as many of the other Apps showed).  And when I "Installed" Photoshop, all my Workspaces and Settings were lost!  I'm quite pissed about this, and it's even more frustrating when people seem to be doubting that this could occur.  

[TheDigitalDog]

OK, fine; ACC (or Photoshop) uninstalled itself without your interaction.

Reinstall it, and move on. 

And since you've used the product for so long, you have a backup of your preferences, Actions (.atn), Workspaces (.psw), and anything you would need to move forward, just as you had before PS uninstalled itself, right? 

[thegraphicgroove]

The reason I came onto this Community Support forum is to find out whether other users have experienced this same issue.  I never specifically backed up my Preferences ... because in the 20+ yrs I've been using Photoshop, this has never been an issue because Photoshop has always been reliable (even before CC) and all my PSD/PSB files are backed up.  It never occured to me that Photoshop could just inexplicably be "Uninstalled" without giving prior warning or notification.  

Seems a bit harsh to just say: "Reinstall it and move on".  This is supposed to be a "Support Community" ... so I was hoping to find out "Why" this occurred and whether this was caused by the Adobe "Central Control Hub" Desktop App somehow glitching, or whether it might be a Mac Ventura issue ... when I just updated to the most recent Ventura update (just a small incremental update ... not a major update). 

[TheDigitalDog]

The reason I came onto this Community Support forum is to find out whether other users have experienced this same issue.

By @thegraphicgroove

And two of us (at least one, I suspect the other) having a longer experience with PS answered that question. 

Again: No. Never. Since early 1990 using Photoshop. 

You say you never backed up your preferences. Well, we are happy to tell you how, as you now know why. By doing so, you could reinstall Photoshop and get back to your original condition in minutes. 

Do you need assistance in how to do this? Just ask. 

[thegraphicgroove]

 TheDigitalDog's reply to me:

"And two of us (at least one, I suspect the other) having a longer experience with PS answered that question. Again: No. Never. Since early 1990 using Photoshop." .....

... however ... the 2 of you did NOT mention what platform and OS you are using ... or whether you are also using the M1 Pro ARM-based chip.  If you are using a different OS, different platform and chip, you might have entirely different experiences.  As I've already mentioned, on the same day I noticed Photoshop was no longer installed, I had just updated to Ventura to 13.4.  This was not a major update, should have mostly been minor security patches ... so I am wondering whether the Adobe CC Desktop "Control Centre" App somehow glitched out, or whether the 'uninstall' was caused by (or during) the Ventura update.  

And besides, 2 people within the vast Adobe Community is not a 'conclusive representation' of the entire Community's 'results' or experiences.  So your over-confidence that this could never occur seems a bit out of place.  🙂

... 

[TheDigitalDog]

Photoshop originally ran on Mac only.

I'm currently running on the latest version of Ventura. Currently using: MBP Pro 16" 2022 32-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine/64GB

In 33 years of running Photoshop on Mac, it has never uninstalled itself without user intervention. 
I'm sorry two of us answering your question aren't telling you what you want to hear.

[thegraphicgroove]

I am also using a fully spec'ed out 16" M1 MacBook Pro with the "Pro chip": 32 Core GPU, 64GB unified memory, 2TB storage.  Sounds like our systems are comparible.  I fully agree that a 'missing' App seems impossible.  However, never say never.  It happened to me and I am trying to figure out how such a seemingly illogical thing could occur.  

When I noticed it was missing after updating Ventura, I wondered whether maybe Photoshop might have been "Open" in the background and not properly "Shut Down" when I began the Ventura update ... or another theory is that maybe my laptop had 'gone to sleep' (ie: maybe I inadvertently closed the lid) while Photoshop was in the middle of an update.  Then the next time I opend the laptop, I immediately did a Ventura update ... this is only a wild guess ... grasping at straws ... trying to dredge up some logic in this seemingly 'illogical and impossible scenario'.  

But one thing for certain, I DEFINITELY did NOT 'uninstall' Photoshop myself!  And when I opened the Adobe Desktop Control Centre App, after doing the most recent Ventura update (13.4) ... and clicked on the "Updates" tab ... it listed a bunch of "Updates" for my installed software ... except for Photoshop ... which was listed as not yet installed ... it gave me the option to "Install" ... which by default means that it was somehow no longer installed on my computer.  I looked for it and "presto chango" ... it was nowhere to be found.  I had to 're-Install' it 🙂

... so it's still a bloody mystery ... and if anyone experiences something similar ... please let me know.  Even though I can easily rebuild my prior Settings and Workspaces ... I'm still super curious to know what caused Photoshop to go MIA.

[samuell24201966]

This exactly happened to me just in the last few days. Unexpectedly uninstalled PS 2024. All presets gone. It definitely uninstalled itself. I've been using Photoshop since 1997. This has never happened before.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

The only reason I could ever see PS being removed is if Auto updates were chosen with "remove older versions" checked. If there wasn't enough HD space to complete the install, It uninstalled the old version but didnt have enough room to install the new version.

[ui41918594]

Yes I have been experiencing this also on a m1 mac. It's a really weird thing. It happended 3 times now  First with After effects (2 times) and now with photoshop. Maybe it has to do with the fact  that I installed the photoshop beta because it happened a few days after I did that. I also have the after effects beta installed so thats the only clue I have.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

@ui41918594 what most likely happening is a failed update. Go to your CC desktop app and turn off automatic updates and uncheck remove previous versions. If you try to install and it fails due to lack of disk space for instance, part of the update when those options are on is to remove previous versions. If it fails to install it removed the previous without the new added.

[Best3065480670r4]

Hello...!
Photoshop was designed to run on Mac systems. Right now, I'm using the latest version of Ventura while working on my powerful MBP Pro 16' 2022. With its impresive 32-core GPU, 16-core neural engine, and ample 64GB of RAM. , I'm running without any problems In short, Photoshop has been amazing platform for 33 years (removed)

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Hi @Best3065480670r4 to be clear Photoshop was "not built to run on Mac systems" thats just an assumption on your part.

[jane-e]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer wrote: to be clear Photoshop was "not built to run on Mac systems"

Photoshop actually was built to run on Macs, but it's also been on Windows for 30 years.

"Photoshop 1.0 was released on February 19, 1990, for Macintosh exclusively. ... Photoshop was initially only available on Macintosh. In 1993, Adobe chief architect Seetharaman Narayanan ported Photoshop to Microsoft Windows."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adobe_Photoshop

Jane

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

Splitting hairs here @jane-e. The point was made as if there are no issues because the user was running on a Mac and came off kind of pius. Both Mac and Windows users have been running Photoshop which has been developed for both for decades. Its not like they are developing current Photoshop for Mac then adapting to Windows...

[jane-e]

@Kevin Stohlmeyer 

Haha, I'm an English major. If you had used present tense "Photoshop is not built..." instead of past tense "Photoshop was not built...", I would have understood what you were attempting to say.

Jane

[Best3065480670r4]

As an English major, your attention to verb tense is admirable! Understanding the depths of this language can make a difference. But it is great to see your keen eye in interpreting the intended meaning. Keep up the excellent work!

[Best3065480670r4]

Hello!
You are right, I apologize if my answer came out as fake. I should have clarified that Photoshop's compatibility with Mac systems is longstanding. Although Photoshop is available for Mac, it is also important that it was originally developed for Windows and then later adapted for Mac. Thank you for pointing this out۔

[TheDigitalDog]

Although Photoshop is available for Mac, it is also important that it was originally developed for Windows and then later adapted for Mac.

No, you have it backward and outlined months earlier (May 29, 2023)

from someone here who purchased the (Mac-only) version in May of 1990. 

Mac first, developed for Mac first. A few years later, Windows. 

[D Fosse]

None of which has any relevance to the present situation. This isn't 1990, this is 33 years later.

Bugs and problems are 50/50 distributed, just look around the forum to get that confirmed. And more importantly - the user base is 50/50, which means that development efforts are absolutely 50/50. Anything else would be pretty stupid from a business standpoint.

[Kevin Stohlmeyer]

And now back to our regularly scheduled forum post. @thegraphicgroove are you solid now or still having issues with PS uninstalling?