Adobe Creative Suite activation: Difference between revisions

Nancy OShea, a Community Expert and Moderator on the Adobe forums, has made the following reference to a method to obtain a new CS3 installer that does not require activation:<ref>https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/cs3-activation-branched-from-cs2-activation/td-p/9689902</ref><blockquote>The correct answer below describes how to obtain a new CS3 installer, a new serial number that does not require activation and the procedures necessary to make it work.   Read them carefully.<ref>https://community.adobe.com/t5/download-install-discussions/cs3-activation-branched-from-cs2-activation/m-p/9689903#M136927</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=12 Aug 2014 |title=Re-activating CS3 |url=https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1545413 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204085848/https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1545413 |archive-date=4 Dec 2014 |via=Adobe forums}}</ref></blockquote>

However, the link she provided to ''"Re-activating CS3(Updated)"'' does not work as of February 17th, 2025. This was archived in 2014.<ref name=":0" />  

As of February 2025, Adobe has shut down the activation servers for:<ref>https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-suite.html</ref>

In addition Adobe has also shut down the deactivation servers for CS6 which prevents users from reinstalling the software or moving the software to a new device. Adobe support is also no longer able to increase the activation limit or remove activated devices.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Solved: activation-deactivation feature for CS6 - Adobe Product Community - 14593664 |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/activation-deactivation-feature-for-cs6/td-p/14593664 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CS6 activation after successful deactivation fails - Adobe Product Community - 14898105 |url=https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/cs6-activation-after-successful-deactivation-fails/td-p/14898105 |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Adobe Community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=adobe perpetual license not being honored class action lawsuit : r/Adobe |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Adobe/comments/1cugh7a/adobe_perpetual_license_not_being_honored_class/ |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-21 |website=Reddit}}</ref>

Many users report never receiving this communication, particularly those who didn't register their products when registration was optional. Without registration, Adobe had no way of having the contact information of these customers who did not complete an optional registration.<ref>https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/activation-server-retirement/m-p/11491977</ref>