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A
Anonymous
July 17, 2024
Answered

How to stop Elements from uploading photos?

  • July 17, 2024
  • 5 replies
  • 2238 views

Elements/Organizer 2024 keeps syncing my photos to my Adobe account even though I have turned off Auto-Sync. Each time I turn the function off the program immediately turns it back on. Any way to stop auto sync?

 

I also found auto-sync still running when I exited the program. I had to stop several tasks in Windows Task Manager until I found one that stopped auto-sync.

 

Thanks, Steve

Correct answer Greg_S.

Try this:

  • Quit the Organizer
  • Go to C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Elements Organizer\24.0\CAHeadless\
  • Make a copy of the file named AutoCreatorPrefs.xml and save it with a different name.
  • Open the original AutoCreatorPrefs.xml file in a text editor like WordPad.
  • After  the following text: <Autosync version="1"> the value for Photos and Videos probably says true. You must change the text to false.  The entire text should read as follows: 

(<AutoSync version="1"><Photos value="false"/><Videos value="false"/><FullResDownload value="false"/></AutoSync>

  • Save the file under its original name with the .xml extension.  (WordPad may try to change it to .txt)
  • Open the Organizer and see if you are now able to change the Preferences file to turn off autosync.

 

Please report back if this works for you.

5 replies

Greg_S.
Greg_S.
Community Expert
November 14, 2024

@peterm6917112, there are several problems discussed in this thread.  Please be more specific about which problem you are having.

F
francisc75144729
Inspiring
February 10, 2025

Brilliant - sorry this is a long thread so not quite sure who explained that as well as turning off autocreeations you had to delete everything that Adobe had already created without so much as a 'by your leave' but whoever it was many, many thnaks.  I found over 30 that I didn't even know existed including wholly inappropriate 'enhancements' of a long since deceased elderly aunt.  Time to reprogramme whoever generated that AI!

Greg_S.
Greg_S.
Community Expert
November 5, 2024

@Joe.P, what is the problem you are trying to correct?  As @TonyP5 states, if you are simply trying to reach the Organizer's preferences to turn off auto sync, you do that through the Organizer's Edit menu.   (Or you can press Ctrl+K).

 

If you are having problems turning off the auto synch preferences and need to follow my instructions for editing the .xml file, It's not clear from your post whether you have looked in the ProgramData folder. (You say that you can't find it in the Program Files directory.)  Perhaps you have system files hidden. 

Greg_S.
Greg_S.
Community Expert
October 22, 2024

@jasons5780960, this discussion relates to an inability to turn off Auto-sync of Cloud photos in the Organizer's preferences.  You state that your problem relates to Auto Creations.  Are you unable to uncheck the box for generating Auto Creations in the Organizer's Edit>Preferences>Media Analysis dialog shown below?

 

 

@TonyP5 , AFAIK the problem has been fixed in Elements 2025.  I guess we will have to see whether @jasons5780960 agrees.

 

As for deleting Auto Creations from the Home Screen, if you turn them off in preferences, no new creations will be generated.  For those that have already been generated, if you click on the View All button, they will appear on a new page with trash can icons to delete any you wish to get rid of.

 

T
TonyP5
Participating Frequently
October 22, 2024

Wonderful. That worked. Strange that after I applied the changes, Auto Creations still wouldnt acceot the 'untick' permanently. However, now that I have seen the little trash icon (I hadn't viewed all the Auto Creations, just the one on the Home screen) I have succesfully deleted all of them. About 33. Now I notice the Auto Creations box in Preferences remains unticked. You made my day. Thanks Greg👍

D
dennisw46765709
New Participant
October 3, 2024

Any idea how to achieve this in MacOs?

 

Greg_S.
Greg_S.Correct answer
Community Expert
July 17, 2024

Try this:

  • Quit the Organizer
  • Go to C:\ProgramData\Adobe\Elements Organizer\24.0\CAHeadless\
  • Make a copy of the file named AutoCreatorPrefs.xml and save it with a different name.
  • Open the original AutoCreatorPrefs.xml file in a text editor like WordPad.
  • After  the following text: <Autosync version="1"> the value for Photos and Videos probably says true. You must change the text to false.  The entire text should read as follows: 

(<AutoSync version="1"><Photos value="false"/><Videos value="false"/><FullResDownload value="false"/></AutoSync>

  • Save the file under its original name with the .xml extension.  (WordPad may try to change it to .txt)
  • Open the Organizer and see if you are now able to change the Preferences file to turn off autosync.

 

Please report back if this works for you.

    A
    Anonymous
    July 18, 2024

    Thank you very much. I will let you know what happens.

    A
    Anonymous
    July 20, 2024

    ALL Right! Greg S Your solution worked. I had to change my security properties to full control so I could save the XML file.

     

    I tried disabling the 2 Adobe startup programs--it didn't work. So thank you very much for the solution.

     

    Steve

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