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Upgrade from CS4 to CS6

Forum|Forum|13 years ago
January 24, 2013
9 replies
72793 views

How do I do this? Customer service has said that I must completely re-purchase Photoshop. This is unacceptable. I spent $700 on this program and I don't understand up an update costs another $700. I've been a loyal customer since Photoshop 5 (I've had 5, 5.5, 7, CS2, CS4.)

photoshop

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Correct answer John Waller

From Jan 1, 2013, only CS5 owners can upgrade to CS6.

Everyone else must pay full price for CS6 or join the Creative Cloud.

Last year, there was a special offer from Adobe for CS3 and CS4 owners to upgrade to CS6 but that offer expired on Dec 31, 2012.

http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/faq/upgrade-policy.html

The upgrade net's been tightening for several years.

Until CS5, there was a "3 versions back" upgrade policy so CS2, CS3 & CS4 owners could upgrade to CS5.

With CS6, that was abruptly revised to a "1 version back" upgrade policy.

Only CS5 owners qualified but there was an outcry from everyone else - traditional version skippers - who suddenly, without warning, had no chance to upgrade.

Following a high profile public campaign http://scottkelby.com/2011/an-open-letter-to-adobe-systems/, Adobe offered a 12 month window throughout 2012 for CS3 and CS4 owners to upgrade which expired on 31 Dec 2012.

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

If you have a Creative Cloud subscription you can DOWNgrade to CS6 if you really want to run the old software. It's included with your subscription.

A

Anthony32958313rcsa

New Participant

I have a question similar to this post, I have CC 4 installed and updated that own, at the time of 2013 I paid for the upgrade. But I never upgraded, I still have my original key for CC 4. What is the upgrade process to CC 5 or 6. I honestly don't remember which upgrade I paid for, but I did pay for the upgrade, if I somehow found the upgrade software to 5 or 6 would it recognize the key that I have for CC 4 or do I have to find a different upgrade key somewhere. What is this process if it works still. I'd imagine I'm still entitled to the upgrade I paid for. I understand its too late to buy an upgrade but I have already bought it, I just never applied it.

D Fosse

Community Expert

Obviously, you need to have the CS5 installer and serial number. If you don't, there's no way to get it now, 12 years later. That train left the station many years ago.

If you do have the CS5 installer, and you have CS4 installed now, you can run the CS5 installer and the CS5 upgrade serial number should be enough. If CS4 is no longer installed, you will be asked to provide the CS4 qualifying serial number during install.

No guarantees it will still work. CS4 is officially dead and can no longer be activated. CS5 is still alive, but just barely and on life support.

Just a word of warning: Pirated copies are all over the internet, and it's not difficult to find fake CS6 and probably CS5 copies too. Don't go there. They are not legal copies, and almost certainly contain malware. Legal copies/serial numbers are no longer available anywhere.

emmanuelt36949925

New Participant

Please I wnt to upgrade cc 2015 to cs6 what I do

T

Test Screen Name

Legend

I'm surprised, I didn't think they sold the CS6 upgrade any more. But if you are really determined to buy an ancient version that doesn't work properly on the current systems, isn't supported, won't be upgraded and can't swap platforms, you can expect them to price to discourage. Last time I looked, to buy Photoshop CS6 was about 7 years worth of subscription. Why would you want CS6?

M

madoldgranny

New Participant

I have no problems with CS5, have used it for years together with Lightroom. I object intensely to having to pay a yearly subscription for something I have already paid for and am happy with. The software companies are pushing us all into a corner where they can dictate exactly what we pay for. Windows 10 has been a total disaster for me, partly because I have a very slow download speed of 0.7 Mbits and the upgrades will not download properly. Added to that I keep having to pay extra on my monthly download allowance from my USP because of all the failed packages from windows 10 which exceed my normal download agreement.

Terri Stevens

Legend

which country are you in as that's a ridiculously slow broadband speed? It is possible to download the installers for all Adobe products back to Creative Suite 2 without using the desktop application. If you install a downloader then even with a very slow connection that drops out you should be able to get the necessary files.

J

johanw86882782

New Participant

Adobe steals from its users! I cannot upgrade from CSS4. Prices per month is ridiculous on the cloud as this American company don't check the dollar/ zar exchange rate.

Deserae Evenson

New Participant

I just recently purchased a new computer and would like to install my CS5.5 on my new computer. I downloaded CS5.5 from Adobe but get an error that reads,

"Install" can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer. Your security preferences allow installation of only apps from the Mac App Store and identified developers.

Anyone know how to get around this or fix the issue?

gener7

Community Expert

Yes. Temporarily set your security settings to anywhere. That also includes updates.

Deserae Evenson

New Participant

Oh man, you're the best! Thanks so much!!

B

Bingo Whiplash

New Participant

I just got off the phone with an Adobe rep who told me i could upgrade to CS6 from CS4 for $350.00 because CS4 is NOT compatible with Yosemite OS X. Does this sound right?

O

OkayJay

Participating Frequently

hey, did the upgrade to CS6 work out for you? I just re-installed cs4, but am having trouble with updates, etc. because 4 is no longer supported. And was that a suite upgrade price, or just photoshop?

henryg837505

New Participant

‌Hello,

Have you upgraded to CS6 suite yet? If so, would you recommend CS6 premium or standard?

How much is the cost difference?

Thank you.

J

JackSparrow

New Participant

Do you really need CS6 or just being sucker to the cloud?

I

Ileen Cuccaro

New Participant

I was on with tech suppost the other day for 2 hours, I even would have purchased the upgrade to 5.5 they said no. I never receievd a notice that the last day was in december, I certainly would have upgraded at that time. I never upgrade to each version just every other one. They said someone else would call me back, I receievd no call back. Unconsionable that they would do this to its customers and have to pay 600 dollars for this, as a 15 year user and purchase all my software directly from adobe online with my napp discount, I am done, I may as well cancel my napp membership that I pay 100 bucks a year for the past 10 years as well.

Noel Carboni

Legend

Ileen, another user recently reported success in finding an upgrade package in stock on Amazon.com. Even though Adobe themselves no longer sell it, you may still have a way to buy Photoshop CS6 on upgrade pricing. But be very wary that what you're buying is directly from a reputable buyer (e.g., make sure it's Amazon itself, vs. "sold by").

-Noel

G

GeoFeuchtAuthor

Participating Frequently

Thanks for the heads up. I located a retail upgrade from another (highly-rated) vendor and this will hopefully work: It is for CS3 and up. Fingers crossed...

John Waller

Correct answer

Community Expert

From Jan 1, 2013, only CS5 owners can upgrade to CS6.

Everyone else must pay full price for CS6 or join the Creative Cloud.

Last year, there was a special offer from Adobe for CS3 and CS4 owners to upgrade to CS6 but that offer expired on Dec 31, 2012.

http://www.adobe.com/products/creativesuite/faq/upgrade-policy.html

The upgrade net's been tightening for several years.

Until CS5, there was a "3 versions back" upgrade policy so CS2, CS3 & CS4 owners could upgrade to CS5.

With CS6, that was abruptly revised to a "1 version back" upgrade policy.

Only CS5 owners qualified but there was an outcry from everyone else - traditional version skippers - who suddenly, without warning, had no chance to upgrade.

Following a high profile public campaign http://scottkelby.com/2011/an-open-letter-to-adobe-systems/, Adobe offered a 12 month window throughout 2012 for CS3 and CS4 owners to upgrade which expired on 31 Dec 2012.

G

GeoFeuchtAuthor

Participating Frequently

I was not looking to upgrade last year and therefore did not know of any deadline. How can Adobe turn its back on loyal customers?

John Waller

Community Expert

I did not receive a notice, though I am registered for CS4.

I am not interested in using Cloud: I am frequently offline and even the $29.99 discount comes to $360/year. I don't see how that is an advantage over a $199 upgrade even if I was frequently online for work.

I was planning on buying both After Effects as well as Premiere to replace Final Cut Pro, but I'm glad I learned about Adobe's lack of loyalty to customers before investing. Perhaps I will suck it up and learn to use Final Cut Pro X.

Basically, I'm shocked that Adobe would do this. Even if they just did it for new customers and allowed their long-term loyal customers to receive the same service that they bought into Adobe for. I use Vuescan for my film scanning. Since I was an early adopter, I get free upgrades for life. THAT is service. I'm not asking for free upgrades from Adobe. I'm expecting fair pricing on upgrades - not being required to throw away the slightly outdated program and completely repurchase it for the minor tweaks. If this policy stands, Adobe has lost a customer for life.

GeoFeucht wrote:
I am frequently offline

You don't have to be online to use the Adobe Cloud. It will check your membership once a month and needs an internet connection to contact the Adobe servers for that. Other than that you use all the software offline, locally installed as normal and get early access to Cloud-only new features.

http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud/faq.html

http://blogs.adobe.com/creativecloud/

GeoFeucht wrote:
even the $29.99 discount comes to $360/year. I don't see how that is an advantage over a $199 upgrade even if I was frequently online for work.
I was planning on buying both After Effects as well as Premiere to replace Final Cut Pro,

If you join the Cloud, you don't have to fork out extra for After Effects and Premiere Pro - they're all included in your Cloud membership.

http://www.adobe.com/products/creativecloud/buying-guide.html

With the Cloud you get access to the full Master Collection plus other apps and services for the monthly fee.

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