Download Adobe Creative Cloud for PC, Windows 11/10 & Mac (Free)

The Adobe Creative Cloud download for Windows 11, Windows 10 and Mac is free from Adobe. The desktop app installs, launches and updates Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and the rest of Adobe’s apps.

This guide covers the right installer for your computer, setup on Windows and Mac, winget and the Microsoft Store, requirements, and fixes when Creative Cloud will not install.

Which Adobe Creative Cloud download do you need?

Adobe serves one small installer per platform. Match your computer to a row.

Adobe’s download page detects your system and hands you the matching file. Both files are small because they fetch the full app during setup.

Download Adobe Creative Cloud from the official links

Adobe distributes the desktop app from its own site and through Microsoft’s channels. A copy on any other site is repackaged.

1. Creative Cloud desktop app download — Adobe’s download page for Windows and macOS
2. Creative Cloud desktop app overview — the Download Creative Cloud button starts here
3. Direct download links — Adobe’s alternative installers when the normal download fails
4. Adobe Creative Cloud on the Microsoft Store — product XPDLPKWG9SW2WD
5. Creative Cloud plans — subscriptions for the apps the desktop app installs

Adobe asks you to sign in or create a free Adobe account before the setup file finishes installing.

How to install Adobe Creative Cloud on Windows 11 and 10

The installer needs an internet connection the whole way through, because it downloads the app as it runs.

1. Open the Creative Cloud download page in your browser.
2. Sign in with your Adobe account, or select Create an account to make a free one.
3. Wait for Creative_Cloud_Set-Up.exe to save to your Downloads folder.
4. Double-click the file and select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
5. Sign in again if the installer asks.
6. Wait while the installer downloads and sets up the desktop app.
7. Let Creative Cloud open when setup finishes.
8. Select Install next to Photoshop, Illustrator or any other app your plan or trial covers.

The desktop app starts with Windows by default and keeps your installed Adobe apps up to date.

Install Adobe Creative Cloud with winget or from the Microsoft Store

Both routes run the same Adobe bootstrapper. Use winget when you set up several PCs from a script.

1. Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
2. Run winget install –id Adobe.CreativeCloud -e to install the desktop app for all users.
3. Sign in to Creative Cloud when the app opens.
4. For the Store route instead, open Microsoft Store and search for Adobe Creative Cloud.
5. Select Install on the listing and wait for the download.
6. Open Creative Cloud from the Start menu and sign in.

The winget manifest lists the package as an exe installer with a machine-wide scope and the silent switch –mode=stub .

Which Adobe Creative Cloud download do you need for your Mac?

Adobe ships one disk image for macOS. Your macOS version decides which Adobe apps you can install from it.

Open the Apple menu and select About This Mac to read your macOS version.

Double-click the disk image, then double-click Creative Cloud Installer and enter your Mac password when asked.

Is Adobe Creative Cloud free?

Yes, the desktop app is free. Most apps you install through it need a paid plan. A free Adobe account lets you download the desktop app, sign in and use free membership features. Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and the other desktop apps need a Creative Cloud Pro, Creative Cloud Standard, Photography or single-app plan. Adobe offers a 7-day free trial of Creative Cloud Pro. A site offering those apps unlocked for free is distributing pirated, tampered software.

Compare current prices on Adobe’s plans page, because introductory offers change often.

How to check your Creative Cloud version and update it

The desktop app updates itself when it starts, so most readers never need to reinstall it.

1. Press Windows + I and open Apps > Installed apps.
2. Search for Adobe Creative Cloud and read the version under its name.
3. Open Creative Cloud and stay signed in so it can fetch its own updates.
4. Select Updates in the app to update Photoshop and your other installed apps.
5. Or run winget upgrade –id Adobe.CreativeCloud -e in an administrator terminal.

On a Mac, open Creative Cloud from Applications and it checks for updates the same way.

Check the Adobe Creative Cloud requirements before you download

Adobe supports the latest and two previous major versions of Windows and macOS for its 2026 apps.

Each app has its own processor, memory and disk requirements. Check Adobe’s technical requirements page for the app you plan to install.

Press Windows + R, type winver and select OK to read your Windows version.

Fix Adobe Creative Cloud not installing on Windows or Mac

The installer stalls or closes during download

The setup file is a small bootstrapper, so a dropped connection breaks the install.

1. Switch to a stable wired or home network and turn off any VPN.
2. Delete the partly installed setup file from Downloads.
3. Download a fresh installer from the direct download links page.
4. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.

Setup says your operating system is not supported

Adobe’s 2026 apps support only recent Windows 11, Windows 10 and macOS releases.

1. Run winver on Windows, or open About This Mac on macOS.
2. Install pending updates from Settings > Windows Update or System Settings > General > Software Update.
3. Retry the installer after the restart.

Creative Cloud installs but apps will not download or sign in

A security tool or an edited hosts file can block Adobe’s servers.

1. Pause third-party antivirus or firewall software while you install.
2. Follow Adobe’s steps to reset the hosts file.
3. Sign out of Creative Cloud, restart the computer and sign in again.

How to uninstall Adobe Creative Cloud

Remove the Adobe apps first. The desktop app manages them, so it stays until they are gone.

1. Open Creative Cloud and select Apps.
2. Select the three-dot menu next to each installed app and choose Uninstall.
3. Close Creative Cloud once every app is removed.
4. Press Windows + I and open Apps > Installed apps.
5. Find Adobe Creative Cloud, select the three dots and choose Uninstall.
6. Or run winget uninstall –id Adobe.CreativeCloud -e in an administrator terminal.

On a Mac, follow Adobe’s uninstall guide, which uses the Creative Cloud Uninstaller. Files synced to your Adobe account stay online.

Which alternative should you use instead of Creative Cloud?

Each option covers part of what the Creative Cloud apps do, without a full subscription.

Pick a single-app plan when one Adobe app covers your work. The desktop app installs it the same way.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Adobe Creative Cloud download free?

Yes. The Creative Cloud desktop app is free to download from Adobe and works with a free Adobe account. Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere Pro and the other apps it installs need a paid plan, and Adobe offers a 7-day free trial of Creative Cloud Pro.

Where is the official Adobe Creative Cloud download page?

Adobe hosts it at creativecloud.adobe.com/apps/download/creative-cloud, linked from the Download Creative Cloud button on adobe.com. The Microsoft Store listing and the winget package Adobe.CreativeCloud are the other official routes on Windows.

Does Adobe Creative Cloud work on Windows 11?

Yes. Adobe’s 2026 apps support Windows 11 versions 24H2 and 23H2, plus Windows 10 versions 22H2 and 21H2. The video apps, including Premiere Pro and After Effects, support only Windows 11 version 24H2 on Windows.

How big is the Adobe Creative Cloud download?

The Windows setup file, Creative_Cloud_Set-Up.exe, is 2.1 MB, and the Mac disk image is 2.4 MB. Both are small starter files that download the full desktop app during setup, and each Adobe app you add downloads separately.

Is there an Adobe Creative Cloud offline installer?

No. The Windows and Mac installers for the desktop app both need an internet connection while they run. Adobe’s direct download links page offers alternative installers for failed downloads, but those still connect to Adobe during setup.

Is there an Adobe Creative Cloud download for Mac?

Yes. Adobe offers Creative_Cloud_Installer.dmg for macOS from the same download page. Creative Cloud 2026 apps support macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 14 Sonoma, and Adobe lists which apps run natively on Apple silicon.

Does Creative Cloud run on 64-bit and Arm PCs?

The desktop app uses one setup file for Windows PCs, which winget lists as an x86 bootstrapper. Adobe keeps a separate compatibility list for Arm-based Copilot+ PCs that shows which Adobe apps run natively on that hardware.

Is Adobe Creative Cloud safe to download?

Yes, when it comes from adobe.com, creativecloud.adobe.com, the Microsoft Store or winget. Copies on download portals or sites offering Photoshop unlocked for free are repackaged and can carry malware, so avoid them.

What is the latest version of Adobe Creative Cloud?

The winget package for the Windows desktop app is version 6.10.0.252. The desktop app updates itself when it starts, so an installed copy can move past that number without any action from you.

Why is Adobe Creative Cloud not installing?

The usual causes are a dropped internet connection, an unsupported Windows or macOS version, and security software blocking Adobe’s servers. Use a stable network, update your operating system, and run a fresh installer from Adobe’s direct download links page as administrator.

Can you use Adobe Creative Cloud offline?

Partly. You need a connection to install the desktop app and to sign in. Installed apps such as Photoshop run without a live connection, but they still need to reach Adobe from time to time to confirm your plan.

Can I install Adobe Creative Cloud with winget?

Yes. Run winget install –id Adobe.CreativeCloud -e in an administrator terminal to install the desktop app for all users. Run winget upgrade –id Adobe.CreativeCloud -e later, although the app also updates itself.