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tylerjones
Participant
February 2, 2020
Answered

Transferring CS6 to New Macbook

  • February 2, 2020
  • 4 replies
  • 20311 views

Hello Adobe Community, I hope someone can give me a definitive answer to this. I have a full license to the Creative Suite CS6 that I purchased and have registered in my name since late 2013. I'm a professional traveling photographer and it has been my primary production tool on my Macbook Air which it has always been installed in since late 2013. CS6 is still my primary production tool as I don't have Internet in my home and any subscription service is unaffordable at this time. My Macbook Air has battery issues and is now a liability and I must upgrade. I'm only looking at new Macbooks because I own this CS6 suite already and it still meets all of my needs and then some. I will only invest in a new Macbook if I know for a fact that my existing license will transer to a new a computer. I don't have installation CD's, I purchased a digital download version of my software from Adobe. Can this be done? I've heard conflicting answers some saying no, because Adobe will no longer honor the old software. If I can transfer, what will be the steps I need to take? Thank you very, very much for your help.

 

Correct answer John Waller

Your new Mac will be running macOS Catalina which has zero support for 32 bit software. It will only install and run 64 bit apps.

 

Although Photoshop CS6 comes in 64 bit, unfortunately the installer and other components are 32 bit so CS6 will not install or run on Catalina. Adobe has no plans to make CS6 Catalina-comptaible.

 

In fact, Adobe states that only Photoshop CC versions 20.x and 21.x (current) will run on Catalina. Any prior version - including CS6 version 13.x - will not. 

See https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/kb/photoshop-and-macos-catalina.html

 

Options:

  1. Downgrade to macOS Mojave and run CS6, or
  2. Stay on Catalina, subscribe to a Cloud plan and run the latest version of Photoshop CC.

4 replies

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Thomas28815092m9we
Participant
August 18, 2025

I also have CS2 on a late 2013 Macbook Pro, along with 2020 Office. I bought a 2 TB hard drive and a new battery on the web and a friend helped me install them. Pretty straightforward and it has worked for 2.5 years just fine. I don't use Illustrator very often, however, and can use pages and numbers instead of Word and Excel. I finally got a new Macbook air 6 months ago for browser security. 

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OtterWithKids
Participating Frequently
May 28, 2022

Two years later, I know, but for anyone else that comes across this thread:

My solution was to grab a 2012 Mac mini on eBay and still it in my computer cabinet. It’s connected to my network via gigabit ethernet and I use Screen Sharing to access it. It’s a bit of a kludge, but I got my entire Creative Suite 6 up and running on High Sierra for less than the price of four months of CC.

Sorry, Adobe. CS6 still more than meets my needs, and I bought a perpetual license for a reason.

    O
    OtterWithKids
    Participating Frequently
    May 28, 2022

    *stick in in my cabinet

    S
    Sensorburn
    Participant
    February 16, 2021

    Hi, I'm also trying to figure how to get an older stand alone Photoshop CS version to run on my Mac. I don't really like being charge a monthly fee. Still searching for this option, otherwise Krita seems to be a great free alternative. 

    T
    Test Screen Name
    Legend
    February 16, 2021

    New Mac, new apps, big budget. It's all part of the Joy of Mac. 

    A general note: new "M1" Macs cannot be downgraded from Big Sur. And in a couple of years they won't run ANY of the current apps, Apple have stated. 

    John Waller
    Community Expert
    John WallerCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
    Community Expert
    February 2, 2020

    Your new Mac will be running macOS Catalina which has zero support for 32 bit software. It will only install and run 64 bit apps.

     

    Although Photoshop CS6 comes in 64 bit, unfortunately the installer and other components are 32 bit so CS6 will not install or run on Catalina. Adobe has no plans to make CS6 Catalina-comptaible.

     

    In fact, Adobe states that only Photoshop CC versions 20.x and 21.x (current) will run on Catalina. Any prior version - including CS6 version 13.x - will not. 

    See https://helpx.adobe.com/au/photoshop/kb/photoshop-and-macos-catalina.html

     

    Options:

    1. Downgrade to macOS Mojave and run CS6, or
    2. Stay on Catalina, subscribe to a Cloud plan and run the latest version of Photoshop CC.
      T
      tylerjonesAuthor
      Participant
      February 2, 2020

      Thnank you John for that thorough reply. I did upgrade my Macbook Air to Mojave and continue to run to my CS6 without issue, so I'm still very happy in those regards. I just don't trust this current Mac to hold out that much longer. If you buy a new Mac though, can one opt to run an older operating system like Mojave, or can you not go backwards, or downgrade like you recommend?

      John Waller
      Community Expert
      John WallerCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      February 2, 2020

      >> If you buy a new Mac though, can one opt to run an older operating system like Mojave, or can you not go backwards, or downgrade like you recommend?

       

      If you buy a new Mac, you'll have Catalina pre-installed.

       

      If you really want to stick with CS6 and reinstall it, then you can downgrade to Mojave:

      https://www.macworld.co.uk/how-to/mac-software/downgrade-macos-3581872/#bootable

       

      You'll then have to download the CS6 installer. Adobe should provide a link in your Adobe account.

       

      If not, you can download from:

      https://prodesigntools.com/adobe-cs6-direct-download-links.html

       

      Have a good hard think about running CS6 though. You'll be using 8 year old software on a brand new cutting edge Mac. All CS6 development has long ceased and Adobe regards it as a dead product so there's no support. Also it won't open Raw files from today's digital cameras so you'll be forced to use the DNG converter after every single shoot.

       

      The Photography Plan is $9.99/month for the very latest Photoshop and Lightroom and full support on Catalina.

       

      I also recommend you check your existing apps and see how many are 32 bit. None of them will run on Catalina so see if 64 bit versions are available.

      https://www.macrumors.com/guide/32-bit-mac-apps/

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