I installed Adobe Creative Suite 5 on Windows 11, no problem. Here’s how I did it.
I originally posted this Adobe Creative Suite 5 Windows 11 Workaround on Reddit’s Adobe subreddit, but within a few hours a moderator removed it. There was no reason to do so, unless they want to suppress a workaround and sell Adobe services. So, I thought I’d post it here. Here it is below:
Hi, I’m a small publisher and writer and have laid out quite a few books over the years using Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. I’ve had CS5 Design Premium for yonks, but recently had to move it to Windows 11 after my PC wouldn’t update to the latest version.
I bought a refurbed HP ProDesk with W11 installed, and thought – well let’s see if CS5 will install.
And it did. No problem at all – though to be on the safe side I installed it in Windows 7 compatibility mode to ensure that any problems with Windows 11 were bypassed. I put in the legit registration code, and it worked like a dream.
I was surprised, since I’d read in many places this wasn’t possible.
I didn’t have a wi-fi card in the PC, so I put one in. Immediately I switched on CS5, there was the problem. “You have reached the limit of your license with 2 installs”, or similar.
So, I realised that Adobe CS5 only switches off if it’s able to connect to Adobe’s “deactivation servers” (a made up name, but you get the point). Once the deactivation is in place, it can’t be undone as far as I can see… BUT… since it was a clean PC install, I reset the system with a fresh install, removed the wi-fi connection and installed Adobe CS5. Once again, it was fine.
Next, I set the firewall to block all outgoing and incoming traffic from Adobe. Absolutely nothing gets out or in. I first locked down the system with Tinywall, then manually identified all the Adobe-associated .exe programs in the CS5 program files, and manually blocked them all on Windows defender.
With a belt-and-braces approach, I also set up rules to only approve net communication with chosen software via Tinywall, and excluded Adobe.
Then, with belt-and-braces-and-another-belt, I went into Windows Firewall and disallowed all Adobe programmes on its list of apps that can access the net. (I can’t remember where that is now, but I found it somewhere in the system.)
Anyway, the upshot of this is that I have a fully functioning legit copy of CS5 Design Premium on my PC, on a fresh install of a completely up-to-date Windows 11. This is my Adobe CS5 Windows 11 Workaround
I don’t know if mine’s a freak, but I thought if you’re annoyed by Adobe switching off activation when there’s absolutely no reason to do it, it might be worth a go. Let’s hope it keeps on working.
Btw, before people jump in, I know CS5 is old tech. But what I’m using it for, it’s great. And there’s no way I’ll enter Adobe’s subscription model, which sits very uncomfortably with me.
Comments
Thanks Matt. Just encountered this after buying a Win11 computer for the first time having no issues for years using my legitimately purchased copy back in 2011. I like it, I know it, and I abhor the subscription model. Can you list the adobe related exes that you blocked? Thank you.
This sounds like something I might want to try – I’m looking into getting a Win11 laptop myself, to supplement a Win10 desktop and allow me to work on stuff while not at home. I am comfortable using the CS5 applications I bought 15 years ago, and equally reluctant to support Adobe’s horrific subscription model.
That said, it seems there are viable alternatives – both free and single-purchase – so I may give them a try before trying to install my old-faithful CS5.
Saw your post on Reddit. I deactivated and uninstalled CS6 from an old laptop to put it on a Surface Go tablet I just bought. I get the message it’s on two devices and must be uninstalled from one to activate. I called Adobe, they said it’s unsupported and nothing they can do and can’t release my serial number to reactivate on the tablet, even though I got a confirmation of deactivated when I did so. So now I’ve uninstalled it from the tablet since not usable. Just saw your post, wondering if I factory reset the tablet and turn off wifi and try your method if it will work. I would need to factory reset right since I already tried to install it? Do you have any other suggestions? I only have it on one laptop with Windows 10 and it works, but now I’m worried about one day when that laptop fails. I am not interested in subscriptions and CS6 does everything I need, plus I paid for it, it shouldn’t just be disabled and taken away.
I want to try this. Did you make any more detailed documentation of the process? Like, an actual list with file paths of what you blocked? Would you care to share? I’m seriously desperate to get my licensed copy working again.
Thank you for posting this! Same feelings as you about the “old tech” and the “subscription models.” I bought CS 5.5 today to install on Windows 11 Pro; it should arrive next Tuesday (Dec. 9). I’m wondering whether I ought to take any of your steps in advance to block Adobe traffic or .exe’s.
Could you share the list of files? “identified all the Adobe-associated .exe programs in the CS5 program files, and manually blocked them all on Windows defender.” and what is “belt-an-braces” ? With a belt-and-braces approach, I also set up rules to only approve net communication with chosen software via Tinywall, and excluded Adobe.
Author
Hi, I’m sorry, I’ve only just seen this. I’ll see if I can dig these out from somewhere, but basically what I did was block ALL .exe files. I also used a firewall programme that blocked EVERYTHING unless I gave it permission to speak to the net. CS5 is working well.
Author
Good luck with whatever you try to do!
Author
Hi, I’m afraid, from my own experience of trying this, that Adobe closed the loophole with CS6. It only works for me with CS5.
Damn, I hate the subscription model!
Sorry for the late reply, btw. I’ve been off site for some time.
Author
Hi, no, I didn’t. But I also added a firewall called Tiny Wall (I think), and this blocks EVERYTHING unless I give specific permission to unblock.
I’ll see if I can find a block list and post it.
Sorry for the delay in reply, btw. I’ve been v busy elsewhere and didn’t receive notifications of these.
Author
Hi, thanks for your message. I’m not an expert by any means. I just found this worked for me.
My experience is that there’s an exe file that needs to be stopped from the Adobe CS5 program files, but i don’t know which, so I blocked everything in there. You don’t need to block anything outside of CS5.
Author
The Tinywall solution is exactly what I did, as well as Windows Defender blocking.
I’ll look at Defender and see if I can see which files I’ve blocked – both incoming and outgoing.
Thanks,
Matt
Stupid question, sorry … So, when you say you blocked “EVERYTHING”, you only mean Adobe-related, yea? Because if you block all ingoing and outgoing traffic then I’m guessing windows won’t run properly .. ?
Author
I literally used Tiny Wall to block all traffic at one point, while I got in control of the Adobe processes I wanted to block using defender. Then having done that I put Tiny Wall in learning mode so it would let other processes through.
FWIW, if you have an adobe acct, you can (if you haven’t already) register CS 5 or 6 on that account. You’ll be able to turn on or off activation as you like. I have CS5.5 on three different win10s and one win11 machine, and routinely switch amongst ’em.
Thanks Matt,
I may give this a try. I had one system completely crash some years ago so I lost the ability to uninstall/deactivate the license and Adobe was no help. Then recently I I deactivated the working program as required to install on my newest Windows 11 pro image processing computer (astronomy) after deactivating the old system CS5 install. That worked for maybe a week when I got a message that I had used both activations and could not use either system. Of course the Adobe forum was all but useless and I was told by Adobe basically I was out of luck.
I have legitimate versions of PS CS4 & 5 as well as Dreamweaver CS5 bought from Adobe in their original boxes. None of the Photoshop versions will run at this time due to the activation server issue. Like you, I use only a few processes as most telescope images are processed with a program designed for Astro astronomy. PS CS5 is used for enhancement purposes.
At 72, I’m not sure I’m savvy enough to follow the processes described.
Author
Hi, the reason I wrote this post is that Adobe have now closed the registration servers for these versions. You will not be able freshly install.
Author
Hi, it’s quite easy to do. If you ask someone who’s tech-savvy to sort it out, it can be done in ten minutes. Good luck.
I’ve done it, with success. I can assure you it takes a great deal longer than 10 minutes. For starters, if you haven’t used TinyWall before it takes longer than that just to get a solid handle on how it works.
Following that, finding and blocking every single adobe process and executable that might ‘phone home’ is a lengthy and detailed task. Then testing and tweaking and making sure other applications are free to work as intended also takes time, including being able to use a VPN unencumbered.
I’m considered tech savvy, have been building computers since the 90s and worked a help desk for 25 years, and it took hours of work, with follow-up tweaking.
Author
Great, well at least it worked for you, which is good to know. I guess it would be more useful to know which of the adobe processes is the one that phones home, or if there are a few of them. But as it is, this is the only way I can think of to do it.
I guess I’m just really instinctual with Tiny Wall. I just installed it and used it, so for me that didn’t take any time at all. I agree, the tracking down of processes takes a while longer, but it’s just a question of searching for the .exes in the adobe folders, and that did it.
Glad it was useful, though.
Okay, I’ve found a Windows workaround for someone who owns a legitimate version of CS5 but has gotten the dreaded “You have reached the limit of your license with 2 installs”. Matt has shown the way to do it if you can fresh install windows, but what if that is not an option? Well, you may not like this solution, but it does seem to work, the catch is only once at a time. Afterwards, you need to apply this workaround again, and again….. But the sort of good news you will get good at it, and it should only take about 5 minutes to apply each time.
This all works if you can copy a folder from your other computer that still runs CS5. It might even work if you can copy that folder from any computer that still works and hasn’t failed with the “You have reached the limit of your license with 2 installs” yet.
1) The overall process is first you need to restart your computer in safe mode. This is normally done by holding down the “shift” key while clicking the restart with your mouse.
2) Look to go to the “Troubleshoot” mode, then the “Advanced mode”, and then the “Restart options”. Your computer will give you options to start in “safe mode with no internet”. Take that option and you will come up in a safe mode of Windows. This will look a little different, but you can still use most of the Apps and folders.
3) Once in Windows use the search to type in “cmd” but don’t hit “enter” yet. Look for the “cmd” up at the top of the list and right-click your mouse to “run as administrator”.
4) Next you will need to paste this command below into the black Dos window and hit enter:
rmdir -s “c:\program files (x86)\common files\adobe” /s
I usually keep this command in a text file on my computer to use by copying it. Note that to copy use the Cntrl-C and to paste it into the Dos command line use the Cntrl-V keys.
5) This operation will require typing “Y” to agree to remove the folder a couple of times. This will delete only the one folder. Sometimes there are a few files that can’t be deleted but I’ve found that those don’t matter. Just leave the Dos window by typing exit.
6) Now you will need that same exact folder which you have copied onto a flash drive from another computer that has CS5, but has never gotten the warning message, and still runs fine. Copy from the flash drive the “Adobe” folder to the exact place it needs to be on your computer you are trying to re-enable CS5. Note that folder is the following:
“c:\program files (x86)\common files\”. Use File Explorer to paste the “Adobe” folder into the “common files” directory.
7) Restart your computer as normal and open CS5. Note, that it won’t matter whether the internet is connected or not because the next step will always happen. You will get the dreaded “You have reached the limit of your license with 2 installs” message but note that it says you can use Photoshop this one time but then everything starts over again. Just close that menu and enjoy your onetime Photoshop experience. Make the most of it!
The process starts all over again after you close Photoshop. I have copied that “good” “Adobe” directory, and the text file into a spot I can easily find each time on my computer, so you won’t need the flash drive anymore.
Hope this helps
Bill
Author
Hi, thanks for this. Not something that would suit me, but different strokes for different folks. I’ve approved your feedback in case someone finds it useful.
Thanks!
Matt