For content creators, having the Adobe suite on Mac is essential. Adobe forced previous versions to buy, but we can continue using it for free with Adobe 2025 and macOS 13 or later. In this update, Lucid Gen will guide you through installing Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, Lightroom, Premiere, Audition, Animate, After Effects, Media Encoder, and many other Adobe applications.
Download the complete Adobe suite for Mac
Here’s what you need to know to install Adobe for Mac. Note that macOS versions lower than 13 won’t work with this tutorial.
| macOS | 13 (Ventura) and up |
| Adobe Version | 2025 |
| Chip | Intel and ARM |
| SIP and Gatekeeper | Force shutdown |
Download CleanMyMac, and AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool first. These are the tools you need to install Adobe for Mac for free.
- AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool: Helps you safely uninstall old Adobe applications on Mac.
- CleanMyMac: Helps you clean up any leftovers after uninstalling old Adobe on Mac.
The list of installation files that Lucid Gen shared includes the following Adobe applications for Mac:
- Adobe Acrobat
- Adobe After Effects
- Adobe Animate (coming soon)
- Adobe Audition
- Adobe Bridge
- Adobe Character Animator (coming soon)
- Adobe Illustrator
- Adobe InCopy
- Adobe InDesign
- Adobe Lightroom
- Adobe Media Encoder
- Adobe Photoshop
- Adobe Premiere
Prepare before installing Adobe
Please note that this part is essential; it determines whether you will install Adobe for MacBook smoothly. So you need to follow it completely. This tutorial is done on macOS Sequoia (15.2) and is 100% successful.
Turn off Gatekeeper
Not only Adobe but to install any application outside the App Store without paying, you must disable Gatekeeper. If you cannot disable Gatekeeper on macOS Sequoia, the installation process will require more steps; I will guide you thoroughly.
Clean up anything related to old Adobe
If you have installed any Adobe applications on your Mac before, then to install Adobe applications for Mac, you need to remove and clean up everything related to the old Adobe.
Step 1: Open AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool and click on the Clean All button. This is a safe way to uninstall all Adobe applications completely. However, you must manually restore the hosts file on Mac because the Fix Host File feature does not work well.
Step 2: Remove any remaining Adobe sync applications using CleanMyMac. Go to Uninstaller and search for Adobe to remove all remaining applications.
Step 3: Delete empty folders related to old Adobe. Although you have used the two tools above, you must manually delete anything associated with Adobe in the folders below if you find it.
- /Applications
- /Applications/Utilities
- /Documents
Step 4: Restart your computer.
If you complete all the above preparation steps, Lucid Gen believes that 90% of you will successfully install the entire Adobe suite for Mac. Now, we must go through the installation steps for each Adobe application.
Get Adobe for Mac for free
Step 1: Install Adobe Creative Cloud on Mac. In version 2024, we cannot install Creative Cloud but must use AntiCC. But in version 2025, we will use Creative Cloud.
Step 2: Grant permission to open the Adobe Creative Cloud installation file. If you have successfully disabled Gatekeeper with macOS lower than Sequoia, it will not be as complicated as this.
- Click Done with a warning; do not Move to Trash.
- Open Settings > Privacy & Security > Security. Click the Open Anyway button.
- Click Open Anyway on the new warning.
- Enter the password to unlock the device and OK.
Step 3: Install Adobe Creative Cloud as usual. Click the Continue button, and enter the password to unlock the device when prompted and OK. You need to install it; opening the application to log in is unnecessary.
During the installation process, select Keep to keep the installation files. We will delete them manually after everything is done.
Step 4: Open the installation file of an Adobe application. Right-click on the Install file and select Show Package Contents.
Browse through the Contents > MacOS folder and open the Install file to install.
Step 5: Grant permission to open the Adobe application installation file. The steps are similar to step 2.
Step 6: Click Continue to install Adobe on Mac; after installation is complete, click Close. If there is a warning, enter the password to unlock the computer and OK.
Once you’ve installed an Adobe app for Mac, you don’t need to open it yet.
Lightroom needs to see this
Lightroom requires opening and logging into any account.
Step 7: Open the Patch file. You may need to unzip the zip file on your Mac.
Open the Patch.pkg file
Acrobat needs to see this section
Acrobat will have 2 Patch files:
- No Account Patch V1: No need to log in to an account; you can use it offline.
- With Account Patch V2: You must log in to an Adobe account but can use AI features.
Step 8: Grant permission to open the Patch file if you have problems disabling Gatekeeper.
Step 9: Proceed to patch Adobe. Check the name of the Adobe application you are installing. Select the Clean Hosts file if you have previously patched another Adobe application.
After patching, you can select Move to Trash and delete the remaining installation files on your device.
Once you have installed Adobe for Mac, you can delete all downloaded installation files and enjoy Adobe applications on your MacBook.
Go to the Welcome interface and start your design work.
Lightroom needs to see this.
Lightroom may give an error warning after patching, but only for the first time must you click Reopen or reopen Lightroom.
The premiere needs to see this part.
Premiere won’t have a Welcome screen, but you can still use it by clicking File on the menu bar and opening your project.
How to handle errors during installation
Failed with error code 183
Delete or rename the Photoshop folder in the Application, restart and reinstall.
Failed with error code 146
- Vào /Applications/Utilities/Adobe Sync/.
- Rename the CoreSync folder to CoreSync_1.
- Restart your device and reinstall the app installer.
Failed with error code 107
This error is due to Intel machine not being compatible with the installer, please comment to let me know.
The premiere was not showing when it opened.
Premiere won’t have a welcome screen when you first open it like other Adobe applications, but it still displays a menu at the top. You can use the menu to open or create a project and continue using it.
We can’t verify your subscription status.
This error is due to you patching another Adobe application. Restore the host’s file and try to install it again. After successfully logging in to the Adobe applications, then patch each application.
Install files cannot be opened because they are from an unidentified developer.
Use Terminal to fix by typing the command xattr -cr(space) Then, drag and drop the file and enter it.
Photoshop shows a black window when saving the file
Press Command Option Shift and start Photoshop, then select Yes.
Conclusion
Older versions of Adobe are no longer free, and the Adobe suite is no longer free on older macOS. So upgrading to macOS 13 (Ventura) or later is a must, and Lucid Gen would like to express our condolences to those who cannot upgrade to macOS. If you want to upgrade macOS, uninstall all Adobe first. Otherwise, you may encounter errors with Adobe applications that you cannot resolve.
After successfully installing the full MacBook Adobe suite and saving a lot of money, consider donating to Lucid Gen to develop and continue updating newer Adobe versions.
If you encounter any problems during the installation process, please read each step carefully in the article, and do not hesitate to leave a comment below the article. Please provide specific information, such as the name of the Adobe application, the chip, and the MacOS, so we can better support you. I wish you a successful installation!
But how to solve my problem with InDesign 17.4?
It is a white installation file. When I click it there is an error message: The file may be damaged. Tried xattr -cr trick, doesn’t work either.
Please advice.
Figured it out.
Thank you, everything works!
Hi,
Now I’m trying to install InDesign 17.4. It is a white installation file. When I click it there is an error message: The file may be damaged. Tried xattr -cr trick, doesn’t work either.
Please advice.
There is AntiCC 1.7.dmg inside the installation. Should I install it as well? I have CC installed already.
If you have installed Creative Cloud, you do not need to use AntiCC.
Hi! When I download the programs and I want to open them they keep asking for the keychain password. When I decline this there will immediately open another pop up with the same question.
Hello, please select always allow.
Password is needed to select “Always allow” even after Patch is installed for Lightroom. Where can we get the password or is there something wrong with the installation.
Hello, enter the password to open the Mac and click the Always allow button.
Hi,
I do not have any Zii file in the zip. Instead there was: Photoshop 23.5.2 PATCH. I have installed it. Is it ok? Can I safely open Photoshop now?
2022 version does not need Zii. Just follow the steps of 2022 introduction.
Also the password for AI 2022.zip doesn’t match. Could you please check?
Sorry for the last message. The pass works. My mistake.
By the way, Photoshop works fine. Thank you!!!
Could you point me to where the password can be found? Thank you!
Hi,
Should I install Creative Cloud first? If yes, where can I get it? I’m trying to install 2022 versions for M1.
Could you please give me the link?
Do I need any patch for creative cloud itself?
No, just disable auto update in it’s Preference
In creative cloud I switched off Always keep creative cloud up to date
and paused Syncing
Should I do something else?
Sorry for that many questions, just want to make it right.
I do not have Zii file in the zip. Instead I have Photoshop 23.5.2 PATCH. So I run it, and it was successfully installed. Is it all? Can I use Photoshop now?
Thank you!
Hi! Trying to install the Adobe Package says: “Failed to launch task: The file “Setup” doesn’t exist”. how can I solve this? Thanks.
Hello, can you provide me what is Adobe app you face this problem? (Name and version)
Please ensure that you have installed Creative Cloud before installing any Adobe app.
Hello,
I’m sorry but i dont have facebook and i don’t want to suscribe… Would be any possibility for you to share the link? Thks a lot
Yes, now you can download without Like my Facebook page. Reload the post and try again.
Please disregard this question. My brain was floating in the clouds!
Let me just say thank you so much!
So after getting enough sleep, I tried to understand the instructions again. I even watched the YouTube video even I don’t understand the language you are using and realized that the interphase is different because I am using M1. I followed some steps above to realize that I gotta skip that and go to M1 instructions. I recommend that you arrange the step by step *without other inserts* to help dumb people.
I got this error when opening the app:
DYLD, [0x2] Wrong architecture
I right click the app the get info and check the OPEN WITH ROSETA
All works perfectly
I follow all the steps and it worked with premiere pro and bridge, but when I complete the installation of lightroom and open it, it is asking if I want the free trial. When I click on ”no” the program shuts down.
Question: Can this be done later after my Adobe subscription expires? I currently have one to all of the software but Adobe is literally robbing people now of money. So I want to try your method after my official subscription expires. I just want to know if I need to do a clean install for this method to work or if I can still do this with Adobe CC and all the programs already running on my system.
I am running a Mac M1 Mini with Ventura 13.0
Hello,
You need to uninstall current Adobe app, clean cache data with CleanMyMac, restart your Mac and then try my method.
Sounds amazing.
So after having a successful reinstall of your method, what things would I need to be careful of? For example, would Adobe still try to “update” the software through their updates? I assume an “update” might break this method (just like how Apple updates can lock up a jailbroken iPhone)
Or as I believe you mentioned, to just add their updates once a year, right?
And if you do the updates once a year, does it mean the process has to be done all over again?
And have you had any problems with this method and adding extensions and plugins such as AEScripts, etc?
Of course, I assume any cloud-saving file methods would not be possible along with Adobe’s fonts?
I know. A lot of questions but thank you for taking your time to answer. 🙂