Elements 2024 Upgrade or full version on Windows 10 & Mac Sonoma?

Report · Jan 31, 2024

Like others, I've been running Elements 15 on Mac without issue until I upgraded to Sonoma - now doesn't work.

I have the retail boxed version of Photoshop Elements 15 with both Mac and Windows disks - only one serial number (activation key). On my account page this product shows Platform as Multiple

At the same time as upgrading to Mac Sonoma I also installed an extra SSD with Windows 10 and can now dual boot between the two.

I'm currently running the 30 day trial of Photoshop Elements 2024 on the Mac side only.

In order to activate the trial version I can either purchase the upgrade directly from Adobe or the full or upgrade versions from on-line sellers which appears a little cheaper.

The license seems to suggest I can install on two computers.

Q. Will any of the above purchase options allow me to install and activate Elements 2024 on both the Mac and Windows partitions?

(bearing in mind I can only ever be running one of the two OS's at any one time)

TIA

Report · Jan 31, 2024

There were problems with all versions prior to Photoshop Elements 2023 running on macOS Sonoma.

Then the macOS Sonoma 14.2.1 update fixed the major issues users were having.

So if your not running at least 14.2.1 macOS Sonoma, you might try updating to the

latest macOS Sonoma 14.3 and see if pse 15 works any better.

Report · Jan 31, 2024

Thank you for the reply.

My Sonoma was a clean install and as such I had to reinstall all the software from scratch. It subsequently updated to 14.3.

The issue with Elements 15 is that the installer will not run in Sonoma - says the developer needs to update it which is not going to happen.

The Elements 15 installer works fine in Win 10, so I could just do that but I'm more used to working on Mac (for many years).

Additional problem that I have created for myself is that my photo catalogue has been updated in the Mac trial of Elements 2024 and now I can't open that catalogue in Win 10 as it's running the earlier V.15- Doh!

I wanted this on both OS's as going forward I'm not sure whether to stick with Mac or move to Windows.

Report · Jan 31, 2024

For photoshop elements 2024 you would have to buy from a third party to get the Multiple Platform license.

Since pse 2023 there is no boxed dvd, just a box with the serial number

card inside and a link to download photoshop elements 2024.

Report · Jan 31, 2024

Thanks for the reply.

But as my original purchase was for Multiple Platform would any upgrade license not cover Multiple Platform too?

I understand that I'd have to download both 2024 versions, but that's not an issue as they are available from the Adobe website.

Report · Jan 31, 2024

Thanks for the reply.

But as my original purchase was for Multiple Platform would any upgrade license not cover Multiple Platform too?

By @andyh99548692

No.

The upgrade is just a price discount on the new version.

I don't think that multiple platform versions are available any longer.

Report · Jan 31, 2024

You can only get the Multiple Platform license when buying from third party, as far as i know.

I don't recall how many years it's been since Adobe offered a Multiple Platform license for photoshop elements from their website, so unfortunately you don't get the upgrade price unless you are willing to settle for a single platform license.

I guess to be sure you would need to contact Adobe support via this page and request an actual person instead of the Virtual Assistant.

https://helpx.adobe.com/contact.html?rghtup=autoOpen

Report · Jan 31, 2024

@andyh99548692 said: Additional problem that I have created for myself is that my photo catalogue has been updated in the Mac trial of Elements 2024 and now I can't open that catalogue in Win 10 as it's running the earlier V.15- Doh

AFAIK, you cannot use the same catalog on both a Mac and Windows. (Jeff will correct me if I am wrong, since I know almost nothing about Macs.) As far as Windows goes, when a later version is used to convert an earlier version catalog, a copy of the earlier catalog is made and is renamed with a numeric suffix. So, search your Windows computer for a file named catalog.pse15db and double-click on it. Your original catalog will open in Elements 15.