Why do I have 2 versions of Photoshop appearing in my computer now?

Hello, as described, you can select to keep older versions, they just take disk space, they will not consume RAM.

In the Creative Cloud application, you can select the 2021 version and remove it, as described in this help document:

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/uninstall-remove-app.html

Here is how to configure the CC application to auto-update, delete older versions, etc.

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/help/creative-cloud-updates.html

Like my peers, I prefer to update manually, and keep older versions for troubleshooting, or in case of issues with a new update. After a while, it is possible to remove the older versions if disk space is an issue.

The older versions are mostly needed for those using the soon to be retired 3D functions.

If older versions stick around, that means the Remove Older Versions option is disabled in the Creative Cloud Desktop app. Below is where to find Remove Older Versions if you have Auto-Update enabled.

If you do not have Auto-Update enabled, then you can enable/disable Remove Older Versions each time you manually update to the next major version. Keep an eye out for it…a lot of people click through the manual update screens without paying attention to the setting, and then wonder why they now have two versions or lost the old version they wanted to keep.

Important: Next week is the Adobe MAX conference. If Adobe does what they usually do every year at that conference, they might release next year’s version (2023?) at that time. If that happens, and you update, and you have Remove Older Versions disabled, then you will have three major versions on your computer: 2021, 2022, and 2023.

So now is a good time to set that option the way you want it, before you update to next year’s version.

You can use the All Apps list in the Creative Cloud desktop app to un-install any versions you don’t want any more.

"Is each program consuming twice the memory space too?! How do I fix this or is it something adobe needs to take care of?"

If you run one version it won't consume twice memory, version that is not running will not consume any memory space.

You must take care, uninstall older (or newer) version to save disc space.

Normally, when PS has an update from one year to the next, it will install the new version along side of the old one. This is good, in that you can make sure the new version works with your system. Once you're sure it can, you can uninstall the old version.

It's possible to have more than one version of Photoshop CC installed.  There is an option in the creative cloud app to delete the ones you no longer want.  I usually keep one previous version in case I run into issues with an update.

Feel free to clarify if I've misunderstood the question 🙂