Run Windows Update, let it download version 22H2, and you will be able to install and run the latest Photoshop without issue. Do not waste hours trying to hack your registry or downgrade your software. In the time it takes to read this article, you could have already updated your PC and gotten back to designing.
: Newer Photoshop versions rely on modern Windows frameworks for performance and GPU acceleration. Security & Stability
Select and choose an older release (e.g., Photoshop CC 2017 or earlier). 💡 Troubleshooting Tips How to install a previous version of Photoshop adobe photoshop requires windows 10 anniversary update
If the version number is , you have the Anniversary Update (or a newer version). If you still get the error, the issue is likely a corrupted system file or a misleading error message from the Adobe installer. If the version is 1507 or 1511 , you must update Windows.
: Adobe aligns its support with Microsoft’s lifecycle. Older versions of Windows 10 (like 1507 or 1511) are no longer supported by Microsoft or Adobe. Driver Compatibility Run Windows Update, let it download version 22H2,
The Anniversary Update introduced updated APIs for graphics handling, specifically regarding DirectX 12 and GPU acceleration. Photoshop utilizes the GPU to process images much faster than the CPU can. The older versions of Windows 10 had buggy or incomplete implementations of these graphics libraries. By requiring the Anniversary Update, Adobe ensured that the code they were writing would actually work as intended, reducing the number of "crash on startup" errors that plagued earlier versions.
If your hardware cannot handle newer Windows updates, you can install a version of Photoshop compatible with older Windows builds. Open the desktop app. Find Photoshop in your list of apps. : Newer Photoshop versions rely on modern Windows
Go to and click Check for updates . Note: As of 2024, Microsoft no longer officially supports Version 1507 or 1511. You should be offered a much newer version, likely 22H2 or similar.
When Adobe released Photoshop CC 2017 and subsequent versions, they drew a line in the sand. They dropped support for the earlier versions of Windows 10. This was not a decision made to force users to buy new hardware; it was a decision rooted in software engineering efficiency and security.
If your current Windows installation is corrupted (DLL errors, blue screens, update loops), you cannot update. You must do a clean install.