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“How Many Computers Can You Install or Run Adobe Software On?”
How Many Systems Can You Use Adobe Products (CC, CS6) On?
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@ProDesignTools – but the question is for example I have installed Adobe Illustrator on one PC and Adobe Photoshop on another PC with same serial number. Can I use both the programs simultaneously on both machines?
Hi Shahid,
In your question the two applications have the same serial number, so they must be part of the same suite package. In which case, you can install whatever you want from the suite on two different machines – Adobe doesn’t care which components you use and install or don’t.
But if you’re asking can you further split one of those suites into separate applications on additional computers, the answer is no – please read:
“Can I distribute a Creative Suite edition across multiple computers or users?”
However, there is a solution to run CS5 with multiple systems or users, if that’s what you need to do.
I recently sold my opened, but never used or registered Photoshop CS5 on eBay. When I purchased it, it was brand new and sealed. The buyer is now saying that the serial number is invalid and that he called Adobe and they said there is nothing they can do.
I am worried he is going to put it on his computer and register it, then mail it back to me and ask for a refund, thus getting it for free. eBay said he has to mail it back to me before I refund him. When I receive it back, how should I go about trying to find out if he registered it? Thank you.
Hello Erin, sorry for your troubles. eBay is unfortunately bad for dealing in used software on either side (and Craigslist is even worse)… It’s a veritable den of pirates, fakes, and scam artists. We have heard many stories, and visitors posting here with issues. Read more about the challenges using sites like eBay.
When you get the software back, you could try to contact Adobe to see if they can verify if the license key has ever been used, and if so, to nullify all activations – effectively reset them to zero to start again. They might be able to do this, but there is no guarantee – you have to see how it goes.
However even if somehow you can match real buyers and sellers with 100% guaranteed authentic original and safe Adobe products, the rules have changed recently so you can no longer legally transfer the license through eBay, unfortunately.
Hope this helps.
I found a listing on Craigslist by someone selling ‘one’ of the licenses from their CS5.5 Master Suite. Is this legal? Do I get to register the license as a user? Can we both use the program at the same time? It sounds like a good deal, I need the upgrade but can’t afford it.
Thanks!
Here’s the e-mail I just received telling me how it would work:
Hi, I can give you CS 5 Master Suite MAC, all for just…250.
as far as the CS5…the easiest and quickest way for us to do this
would be to download the free trial from adobe.com….
and i can give you the license to activate/unlock/keep the program.
the key is corporate and can be used on multiple MAC’s
and we can use paypal for payment.
simple quick and easy…and you can have cs5 master this evening.
Hey there Clayton, thanks for your question. There’s an old saying, “if it sounds too good to be true…”
So you may be able to figure out for yourself if that’s real or not. In the meantime, here’s something worth reading that may help (the whole article). Good luck.
My company has a volume license for creative suite. Is it possible to run a second copy of creative suite on my laptop for work purposes using one of their licences?
Thanks j
Greetings Joseph, good question. The answer is you should be able to, with some caveats. Read our Adobe Volume Licensing overview for more information, about halfway down…
Hi, you are doing a great job answering a flood of queries about licensing, thanks very much for the information. Can I ask a question too?
If you are using Photoshop on a desktop and a laptop, what if the desktop is a PC and the laptop is a Mac? Are Photoshop licenses specifically Windows licences or Mac licenses?
Thanks again.
You bet Steve, and thanks for the kind words. Great question, too!
The answer is “it depends”… In fact, check out our brand new article about this very topic: running CS5.5 on Windows plus Mac.
Thanks again for your comment and please stop back anytime!
Hey, I have After Effects CS5. I used it on Windows 7.
Since the time I’ve used it, I’ve bought a Mac and need to buy the Mac version.
Would I be able to sell my Windows AE CS5 on eBay? It was only used on one computer.
Welcome redrox – trying to sell Adobe software on eBay (especially used) is problematic and risky, for starters because dangerous software piracy is rampant there…
Your better bet is just do an Adobe “cross-grade” to change your Windows product to a Mac product.
I have a quick question. I am a student that qualifies for the Adobe Student & Teacher Edition discount, but I want to make sure that this is the right product for me.
Now I know it says I can only run the Creative Suite on my personal computer, but I have a laptop and a desktop. Can I install it on both of my computers?
And then what if my computer crashes for some reason, will the serial number work again when I restore my computer, or will I simply be out of luck?
Hi Grant, thanks for your comments. The answer to your first question is yes – the two computers can be of any type, either desktop or notebook.
On your second question, no worries – you can freely move your software around, including restoring it after a system failure… (normally if you keep the same hardware and software after a crash, it counts as the same single computer.)
Hope this helps!
I have an educator’s CS5, which I want to install on both of my computers. I understand that the software can be activated on 2 computers, as long as it is not used simultaneously.
I may need to use different applications simultaneously – such as InDesign on one computer at the same time as Photoshop on another. Is this allowable? And is Adobe able to track whether I’m using the product simultaneously on my two activated computers?
Thanks for your help!
Hello Daisy, that’s a good question but it’s not possible. The suite is single-user software, and the ability to install it on two machines is a convenience for a one customer, not for allowing two.
If you need more than one person using the applications at one time, then consider an Adobe multi-user license, which usually costs less in addition to other advantages… (and these are now available for students and teachers as well)
Wouldn’t a solution to using multiple applications at one time is to set up a second monitor and split the two so that you have InDesign open on one screen and Photoshop open on the other screen?
Yes Matt – absolutely this would work, great idea! Both applications would actually be running on the same computer, but displaying on multiple “heads,” so this would be no problem at all. We in fact use this kind of dual-display setup right here in our offices.
Thanks for your suggestion and feel free to surround yourself with as many CS5 monitors as you need… J
Hi
I was wondering if you could help me with the following question regarding my work computers (Post-Production Business).
I currently use a Windows XP machine with Production Premium CS4 installed. I want to upgrade to Production Premium CS5.5, but need to buy new hardware to run it under Windows 7.
If I purchase the upgrade to CS5.5 and a new Windows 7 machine, can I still use the CS4 version on the XP machine at the same time as using CS5.5 on the new Windows 7 machine?
Many thanks
Simon
Hey there Simon, that’s a really great question.
And here is the answer… per the Adobe EULA.
Right from the EULA it looks like I can not, but can’t this count as the two systems I can run one license on?
Or could I use say After Effects on the Windows XP CS4 machine whilst simultaneously using Premiere on the Windows 7 CS5.5 machine?
Sorry it’s all a bit confusing unless you are a lawyer. ;-)
Thanks
Simon
Right Simon, well the EULA says that you’d be allowed to run both versions on two machines, so long as they are the same two machines…
Now you can’t actually run your new CS5.5 on your first (older) computer because it doesn’t meet the hardware requirements… But our opinion would be that you may be able to count that as your second potential system nonetheless, and so continue to run CS4 on it as you suggested.
The final answer always has to come from Adobe though, so we would recommend having a quick chat with their online support team to confirm. Feel free to point the rep back here for the supporting discussion if it would help.
Hi
I have just contacted the online support team and they say it is fine for me to run CS5.5 on the new Windows 7 system and CS4 on the old Win XP system under the same license. Just thought I would update you in case anyone else had the same question.
Many thanks for all your help
Best Wishes
Simon
Great news! Thanks for circling back to confirm that Simon, and glad to hear it.
Enjoy CS 5.5!
I am ditching my old laptop which has CS3 suite installed and activated.
I also had a second copy installed on my 2nd laptop which I used alternately.
When I came to de-activate the copy on the the first laptop there is no ‘Deactivate’ or ‘Activate’ option on the Help menu.
How can I transfer the licence to my new system? Thanks.
Greetings Stephen, check out this Adobe help page on how to uninstall/remove CS3 products.
Hello
I’ve a desktop, which is my main computer. My wife has a laptop on which I’ve also installed and activated my products (Photoshop & Lightroom). I only use the laptop when we’re on holiday. I’d like to install the stuff on a 3rd computer, a desktop, for a while, invalidating their use on the laptop for the duration. Can I do that? Thank you!
Welcome Allen, in theory that could work, although you’d have to carefully follow the deactivation/reactivation procedures described in our other article:
How to Move Adobe Software Activation Between 2 Different Computers
Also be sure to read this comment and response, from someone who had a very similar question to yours. Good luck with it!
Thanks for the information. That looks good. I’ll deactivate on the laptop, activate on the 3rd PC, and then in 3 months time reverse the procedure.
Thanks again for the pertinence and the rapidity of the response!
Sure Allen, you’re very welcome and glad it will work out for you. Please feel free to stop back any time, or if you have further questions or comments!
Hi there,
I’ve recently been given the task at University to create and design a Multimedia classroom. I require the Adobe CS5.5 Design Standard package but I need to have this on 21 different computers. How would I go about pricing this?
Hope you can help.
Hi Anna, thanks for your questions, and no worries at all… You’re in luck actually, because Adobe has just opened a brand new Volume Licensing Store for education customers, where you can buy software online for multiple users and have it delivered for download instantly (or via disc)… You should also be able to easily work out a quick pricing quote there.
Read more about how the volume program works – and please feel free to post back with any questions!
Is Adobe tracking every time I open and close my CS5.5? *creepy* I leave my Dreamweaver / Photoshop projects up and open most of the time on my home computer. I also have CS5.5 installed on my laptop under the same license. I use the home computer most the time becase of the larger screen, but I do use my laptop at the coffee shop etc. What would happen if I opened the suite on my laptop also? I do not want to jeopardize my license.
Hello Shay, thanks for stopping by. Well, it doesn’t work precisely like that… but if you do want to know more about how the process works, please read this earlier comment and response, as well as this one here.
Hope that helps!
hi there,
suppose someone gets a CS5 “teacher version”. can that person then install it on their primary machine if the name on the computer it gets installed on does not match the “teacher’s” name?
in addition, if “yes” to the first question, can this same CS5 version be installed on the person’s fiancé’s laptop (third name) as the second installation?
many thanks!
Hey there alimem, good question and not 100% sure about that, so you may want to check with Adobe via a quick online chat…
You may also find helpful our related article:
What are the Limitations of the Adobe Student & Teacher Editions?
Hope that helps!
Hi. I have CS5 Master Suite installed on a Mac. I’m planning to get a new Mac soon and sell the one that I’m using now. Can I uninstall CS5 on my current Mac and install it on my new one? Thanks a lot.
Yes Tynie, absolutely you can do that. Just follow our instructions on how to move your Adobe software between computers or system upgrades.
Hi! I currently have a Macbook Pro where I have installed Lightroom 3 and the Student & Teachers edition of CS5. I am not a professional photographer and have NO commercial interests at all.
I now wish to purchase a new, larger iMac computer to get more hard-drive space and security for my personal image library. My question is can I install my Lightroom 3 and Photoshop Cs5 on my new Mac computer using the same (original) serial number I got when the product was delivered??
Thanks for getting back to me!
Connie
Greetings Connie, you should be able to do that – you’re allowed up to two activations per product for your use, so long as they are not run at the same time.
I’m currently running CS3 and looking to upgrade to CS5.5. Do I have to purchase the upgrade version or can I just purchase the regular version?
Thanks.
Welcome Glo, since you already own CS3, you can benefit by purchasing Adobe’s upgrade version which comes with a big discount off of full price… The upgrade versions will only install and run for customers that own a previous qualifying version (and CS3 qualifies).
You could get the regular version instead if you like (either will work), but we can’t think of any reason to do that since it would be paying full price instead. The functionality and all other aspects are the same.
What Glo may want to know, the upgrade version contains a full version of CS5.5 on the upgrade disc. You do not need to have CS3 installed in the machine in order to use the upgrade version, just have the serial number. It is not upgrading your CS3 software but installing CS5.5 as new. There’s no reason to purchase the full version unless you want to pay twice as much for your software.
Yes – excellent point Terrie, and you’re absolutely right… Thanks for pointing that out, and adding this important nuance to the discussion.
When installing the upgrade version of any Adobe software, your previous release needs to be available either on the same computer or simply via entering its serial number – all else works the same.
Thanks! Upgrade it is.
Hi,
I am wondering if it’s possible to split up my installation of CS5. I am on a fairly new computer which has a solid state drive, and would like to take advantage of the performance benefit. However, my drive is fairly small and as such I have insufficient space to do the entire installation. I was wondering if it’s possible to have just Photoshop on the SSD as I use that the most, and have the rest on my data drive.
Thanks.
That’s a great question Jia, but as far as we are aware it is not possible to split up a CS5 installation between two different disk drives on a single machine…
You could try to install once with just Photoshop on your SSD, but probably when you go back to add the rest of the applications elsewhere the installer will want to put them on the same drive. All applications would head to the same top-level destination.
There may be some creative way to handle this that we’ve never heard of though (outside of creating two separately-booted partitions on the main disk), so if anybody has heard of one please feel free to post it!