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.