What is Adobe Creative Cloud?
Creative Cloud is two things: Adobe's subscription service, and the Creative Cloud desktop app that installs, updates and manages Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and the rest of Adobe's catalog.
On Windows and Mac you need the desktop app to install almost any Adobe app, so getting it set up correctly comes first. This guide covers the official way to install it, how to choose a plan, how to manage apps and storage, and how to fix the most common Creative Cloud problems.
What you can do with Creative Cloud
- Installing and updating every Adobe desktop app
- Installing previous versions of an app
- Activating fonts from Adobe Fonts
- Managing cloud storage and shared files
- Managing your plan and signing in across devices
Can you download Creative Cloud for free?
The Creative Cloud desktop app is free to download from Adobe, and an Adobe account is free to create.
The apps you install through it need a paid plan or an active trial, except free products such as Acrobat Reader and Adobe Express's free plan.
Download the Creative Cloud app only from adobe.com. Fake “Adobe installers” are a common malware trap.
Creative Cloud free download: install it step by step
The whole process usually takes 15 to 30 minutes, most of it waiting for the download.
Create or sign in to your Adobe account
Your plan, fonts and cloud files are tied to your Adobe account, so start by creating a free one or signing in on adobe.com.
Choose a plan or start a trial
Pick a single-app plan, an all-apps plan or a free trial. You can also install the Creative Cloud app first and start a trial from inside it.
Download the Creative Cloud installer from Adobe
Adobe gives you a small installer: an .exe file on Windows or a .dmg on Mac. Run it, and on a Mac open the installer inside the disk image.
Sign in to the Creative Cloud app
When the app opens, sign in with your Adobe account. It reads your plan and shows the apps you're entitled to.
Install your apps from the Apps tab
Select Install next to each app you need. Installs run one after another, and you can keep working while they download.
Set your preferences
In Preferences → Apps you can change the install location, choose the app language and turn automatic updates on or off.
Ready for your Creative Cloud free download?
This takes you to Creative Cloud on Adobe’s official site, where the download starts.
Download Creative Cloud for Windows PC or Mac
The steps above are the same on both systems. These are the details that differ.
Creative Cloud for Windows 10 & 11 (PC)
- Adobe’s installer for Windows is a small .exe file. Run it and approve the User Account Control prompt so it can install.
- Creative Cloud needs 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11. Check yours under Settings → System → About.
- On PCs with ARM processors (such as Snapdragon), check Adobe’s list of apps that support Windows on ARM before you buy.
- If Microsoft Defender SmartScreen warns about an “Adobe” installer, stop. Real Adobe installers are digitally signed by Adobe Inc.: right-click the file and check Properties → Digital Signatures.
Creative Cloud for Mac (Apple silicon & Intel)
- On a Mac, Adobe’s installer comes as a .dmg file. Open it, double-click the installer inside and enter your Mac password when asked.
- Creative Cloud runs natively on Apple silicon (M-series) Macs as well as supported Intel Macs. Check yours under Apple menu → About This Mac.
- If macOS warns that it can’t verify the developer of an “Adobe” installer, delete it. Adobe’s installers are signed and notarized, so that warning means the file isn’t from Adobe.
- After installing, macOS may ask you to allow access to folders or other permissions. Approve them in System Settings → Privacy & Security.
Creative Cloud system requirements
Typical requirements for the current release. Adobe updates them with each version, so confirm the details on Adobe's official system requirements page before installing.
| Requirement | Windows | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 (64-bit, version 22H2 or later) or Windows 11 | One of the three most recent macOS releases |
| Processor | Intel or AMD 64-bit processor (or ARM64 for supported apps) | Apple silicon (M-series) or a supported Intel processor |
| Memory (RAM) | Depends on your apps: 8 GB for most, 16–32 GB for video | Depends on your apps: 8 GB for most, 16–32 GB for video |
| Storage | Space for each app (roughly 2–20 GB each) plus temporary files | Space for each app (roughly 2–20 GB each) plus temporary files |
| Internet | Required to download the app, activate it and validate your plan | Required to download the app, activate it and validate your plan |
Creative Cloud plans and how to buy
Creative Cloud is sold directly by Adobe. Plan names and prices change often and vary by country, so compare the current options on adobe.com. These are the main ways to get it:
- All-apps plans: 20+ Adobe apps, including Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, After Effects, InDesign and Acrobat Pro.
- Single-app plans: one app, such as Photoshop or Illustrator, plus cloud storage and fonts.
- Photography plans: Photoshop with Lightroom and Lightroom Classic.
- Student and teacher plans: discounted all-apps pricing for eligible students and educators.
- Business plans: licenses managed by an administrator, with extra storage and support.
Fixing common Creative Cloud installation problems
The Creative Cloud app won't open, or shows a blank or spinning window
Quit it completely (check the menu bar or system tray), restart the computer and try again. Install pending operating system updates. If it still won't load, uninstall and reinstall the Creative Cloud app from adobe.com.
Apps show as “Trial” or are missing even though you paid
You may be signed in with a different email than the one on your plan. Check the account in the app's profile menu, sign out, and sign back in with the email that holds the subscription.
Downloads are stuck on “Waiting” or “Pending”
Pause other installs, temporarily disable VPNs or proxies, and restart the Creative Cloud app. Corporate networks sometimes block Adobe's download servers. Try another network to confirm.
You need an older version of an app
In the Apps tab, click the menu (…) next to the app and choose Other versions. This is useful when a project or plugin requires a previous release.
Next step
Using Creative Cloud? Set up Photoshop too.
Photo editing, retouching, compositing and digital painting. Our Photoshop guide covers the official download, requirements and the fixes people need most.
Creative Cloud download FAQ
Yes. On Windows and Mac, Photoshop and the other Adobe desktop apps are installed and updated through the Creative Cloud desktop app.
The Creative Cloud app and an Adobe account are free. The apps you install need a paid plan or trial, except free products such as Acrobat Reader.
Yes. In the Creative Cloud app go to Preferences → Apps → Installation location and choose another drive before installing.
An individual plan lets you install apps on more than one computer and be signed in on two at the same time.
No. Adobe distributes Creative Cloud only through adobe.com, the Creative Cloud app and the official mobile app stores. “Free full version” downloads, keygens and cracks frequently bundle malware that can steal passwords and banking details, and they leave you without security updates or support.
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