'Requiring' Mac OS 13+ is not a good move

Technology is going to keep marching on – that's never going to change. And Adobe moves ahead the OS version requirements in order to take advantage of the latest available capabilities in their newest Creative Cloud releases.

But since the very beginning of Creative Cloud, Adobe has said they would not force customers to upgrade, and by implication, to have to buy new computers. To make good on this promise, subscribers need to be able to access prior releases for older systems (especially Macs) which cannot support the newest CC versions.

In recent years, Adobe has limited this access to only the current release and the one prior. This is called their "N-1" Policy. Now, today, this means that macOS Big Sur (version 11.0) or later is required, since it's the minimum for both CC 2024 and CC 2023. This rules out everybody who, for whatever reason, is running macOS 10.15 Catalina and earlier.

As others have commented above, some older Creative Cloud releases are still available for direct download, but the choice is limited and it is unclear if those links will be available indefinitely.

I think it's not enough to say that folks can keep their old systems and versions in a frozen, isolated bubble, without ever needing to reinstall their apps... "Things happen," components fail, products can need reinstalling. If paying customers do not have ready access to those prior CC releases for their otherwise-perfectly-adequate machines, they are out of luck.

And since Adobe generally does not make complete standalone installers available anymore for CC users (unless you ask), then people aren't aware they need to have in hand the installers that they can no longer get, until it's too late.

I think Adobe urgently needs to do something about this, lest they continue to lose paying customers who can no longer access a Creative Cloud version that will run on their systems. "N-1" should be expanded to a wider window of previous releases (as it used to be), while disavowing all official support on anything older than N-1 and simply asking that any subscribers who need support for those prior releases just come here to the Forums instead.

Adobe of course still has all those older installers, should they decide to make them available – so it's just a policy change, really. I sincerely hope they do something about this soon.

[I] get the message: Mac OS X version 13.4.0 or later is recommended for maximum performance and correct operation of Adobe Photoshop 2024. An earlier version of Mac OS X was detected.

By @Jay Matthews

By my count, this is the fourth or fifth time Apple has made a change to their OS that forced me to buy a new computer. Windows 11 can still run many PS versions that macOS cannot. I've stuck with Mac — but knowing this, I don't blame Adobe. 

BTW, the last version of OSX was macOS 10.15 (Catalina). Then we had 11, 12, 13 and now macOS 14 (Sonoma).

Jane

There has been problems with the new Remove Tool not working correctly. The usual fix is to set the Remove Tool Image Processing setting from "Quicker" to "Stable". 

Yesterday, someone reported they fixed that problem upgrading to Ventura. That's why it's "recommended."

If you do not use certain features and they don't interfere with your workflow, you are good for now.

Consider "recommended" a "yellow light", because in some future version you will be locked out of the upgrade if it has what you want.

Totally agreed. Why should I have to get a new Mac Pro just to satisfy Creative Cloud? Adobe - make CC compatible with older systems. Many of your customers are running powerful older systems that can operate CC just fine.

My computer is none of the latest ones out there and yet very powerful for my work, and it let's me update my operating system up to a certain one but not to the latest. I do not understand why Adobe has to make it difficult for users to have to meet certain system requirements and take away the apps that work with older operating systems. You are trying to force me into either a new operating system which I can't upgrade to and this forces me to consider investing in a new computer just so I can meet your requirements AND THIS IS NOT NICE. I do not appreciate this gesture from Adobe. I would like to suggest that Adobe allows flexibility in this since not all of us are looking to have the latest and greatest gadgets in technology all the time but simply to keep using what we own because it still working great. Please allow for apps to work on older operating systems AND BE CONSIDERATE OF YOUR COSTUMERS, remember that it is we the customer who keeps your business alive. Thanks.

I'm not exactly an Adobe cheerleader but hyperbole and misinformation aren't helpful.

- You DO NOT need to upgrade macOS to run PS 25.0. I have it on two Intel/Monterey Macs including my work 2019 MacBook Pro and its just fine. And yes I got the alert.

- Newer Intel Macs can run Ventura and Sonoma (released yesterday). Apple has an official list of supported computers on its Sonoma page (scroll to the bottom.) https://www.apple.com/macos/sonoma/

- I own a 2015 15" MBP that I love but yes, sadly, I'll have to upgrade in the next year. I found a refurb MacBook Air on Apple's online store for ~US$1200 that I'm eyeing. Upgrading hardware to stay in sync with software changes is just a part of modern computing. On Windows, a bunch of older but serviceable computers are not usable with Windows 11 so its not just Apple.

- I work as a professional photographer (make my living exclusively from photography) and I use Photoshop, Bridge, and Lightroom Classic every single day. I understand the importance of working tools. Yes, Adobe has problems with bugs. I was part of the pre-release program for Bridge and reported literally hundreds of issues to the developers. But still, I am able to use their software well enough to do my job. And every profession requires people to remain current with their toolset.

- There isn't some grand conspiracy going on. Newer computers and software have new capabilities. If you don't need those (and are fine with potential security problems) then keep using the older system. Nobody will make you upgrade anything.

The arguements for just not upgrading expose a major flaw in Adobes business model based on subscritions for upgrades.

The monthly fee is to pay for new feature upgrades and if you can no longer upgrade why should you pay for monthly features you no longer get, but rather keep using the same software you have. This breaks the subscription business model as you have to keep paying to even use the software you have which is no longer supported on your machine? In essence you are paying for something you no longer recieve?This is breaking the consumer promise in moving to a subscription model.
Adobe should be required to add features to the older software versions on an older OS versions that would not require the new OS capabilities?

I can still drag and drop from LRC to PS 2024.  But will I have full PS capabilities?

I'm right there with you! #angry & ready to DUMP ADOBE. I am not a billionaire, I am a freelance designer who cannot afford a new computer every time ADOBE makes a change. My iPad is already aging out & ADOBE hasn't even added new features there, and my laptop is now rendered useless. All for a monthly fee. I AM SO SICK OF THIS!

If it didn't prohibit the install, you are safe for now. MacOS 11 and 12 are still the minimum.