Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update -version 1607- May 2026
The error message "Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607)" typically occurs when your operating system's build is older than the minimum version required for modern Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
Microsoft released the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607, codenamed "Redstone 1") in August 2016. Since then, Adobe has moved its support baseline to newer versions of Windows 10 and 11 to leverage updated hardware drivers and security protocols like TLS 1.2. Why This Requirement Exists
Modern API Support: Newer Photoshop versions rely on system-level features like advanced GPU acceleration and the latest DirectX 12 drivers, which are not available in older Windows builds.
Security: Older versions of Windows 10 (pre-1607) lack critical security patches and support for current encryption standards required to connect to Adobe's servers for activation and updates.
Feature Compatibility: High-efficiency formats like HEIF/HEVC and AI-driven features (e.g., Generative Fill) often require specific Windows 10 versions, such as 1903 or later. How to Check and Update Your System
If you are seeing this error, your current Windows 10 build is likely 1507 or 1511. Upgrading Windows 10 OS form V1607 to anything higher
Before troubleshooting, confirm which version of Windows 10 you are currently running: Press the Windows Key + R. Type winver and press Enter. Check the "Version" number in the window that appears.
If it is lower than 1607 (e.g., 1507 or 1511), you must update Windows to run modern Photoshop versions.
If it is higher than 1607 (e.g., 1909, 21H2, 22H2) and you still get the error, proceed to the "Fixes for Modern Windows" section below. 2. How to Update Windows (If version is < 1607) The error message "Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10
If your system is out of date, standard Windows Updates might fail. Use these official tools:
Windows Update Assistant: Download the Windows Update Assistant from Microsoft to force a manual upgrade to the latest stable version (currently 22H2).
Free Up Disk Space: Updates often fail if there isn't enough room. Ensure you have at least 20–30 GB of free space for the installation to take effect. 3. Fixes for Version 1607+ (When error persists)
If you already have a newer version of Windows (like 21H1 or 22H2) but Photoshop still shows the error:
Run as Administrator: Right-click the Photoshop executable and select Run as Administrator.
Check Compatibility Mode: Right-click the Photoshop shortcut, go to Properties > Compatibility, and ensure "Run this program in compatibility mode for" is unchecked. Sometimes users accidentally set it to Windows 7 or 8, which triggers version errors.
Creative Cloud Cleaner: If a previous installation was corrupted, use the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to remove leftover files before a clean reinstall. Summary of System Requirements (Current Versions)
Modern versions of Photoshop (v25.x and later) have moved far beyond version 1607: Minimum Requirement Operating System Windows 10 64-bit (version 22H2) or later RAM 8 GB (16 GB recommended) Graphics Card GPU with DirectX 12 support and 1.5 GB VRAM Fix 4: Registry Edit (The "Force" Method) Disclaimer:
For a step-by-step walkthrough on how to fix this specific version error using the Windows Update Assistant:
Fix 4: Registry Edit (The "Force" Method)
Disclaimer: This is risky. Only do this if you are 100% sure your OS is actually newer than 1607 but the installer is throwing a false positive.
- Open
Regeditas Administrator. - Navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion - Find the
CurrentBuildstring. - If your build is 19045 (Windows 10 22H2) but the error persists, you do not change the build number. Instead, check
EditionID. If it saysEnterpriseS(LTSC), see Fix 3.
4. What Happens If You Try on an Older Version
- Installer failure – explicit error message:
“Photoshop requires Windows 10 version 1607 or later” - Silent crash – if forced, features using DirectX 12 or Windows Ink will cause immediate crashes
- Missing GPU options – Preferences > Performance will show limited/no GPU acceleration
How to Resolve This Requirement
If you are encountering this message, you cannot install the newer versions of Photoshop without updating Windows.
- Update Windows: Go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. Install all available updates. Windows 10 version 1607 is from 2016; any current version of Windows 10 (like version 21H2 or 22H2) satisfies this requirement.
- Hardware Limitation: If your hardware cannot support newer versions of Windows 10, you must install an older version of Photoshop (Photoshop CC 2018 or earlier), though Adobe has discontinued technical support and updates for these versions.
The error "Adobe Photoshop requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) or later"
typically appears when your current Windows build is outdated and no longer supports the specific requirements of modern Adobe Photoshop . This requirement was notably introduced starting with Photoshop CC 2018 (version 19.1) Why This Requirement Exists Unsupported Architecture
: Older versions of Windows 10 (like 1507 or 1511) lack the system components and security protocols needs for modern feature updates. Operating System Drift
: Microsoft no longer provides security or feature support for these very old builds, so Adobe aligns its software requirements with Microsoft's support lifecycle. How to Resolve the Error
If you see this message, you must update your operating system. Modern Photoshop (version 25.x) now requires Windows 10 version 21H2 Adobe Help Center Verify Your Current Version , and press Check if your version is below 1607 (e.g., 1507 or 1511). Run Windows Update Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates Use the Update Assistant If standard updates fail, visit the Microsoft Download page Update Now to use the Windows 10 Update Assistant Hardware Check Ensure your hardware meets the other minimums: a 64-bit processor , at least 8 GB of RAM DirectX 12-compatible GPU Current Version Requirements (2024-2026) Open Regedit as Administrator
While the 1607 requirement was the initial hurdle, current versions of Photoshop have moved even further ahead: Photoshop Version Minimum Windows 10 Requirement Photoshop 2024/2025 Version 22H2 or higher Photoshop 25.x Version 21H2 or later Photoshop CC 2018 Version 1607 (Anniversary Update) hardware specifications can handle the latest Windows 10 update?
Compatibility update for installing Windows 10, version 1607
Method 1: Windows Update This update is available through Windows Update. It will be downloaded and installed automatically. Microsoft Support Photoshop CC 2018 Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Edition
While the phrase "Adobe Photoshop requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) or later" was a prominent system requirement for Photoshop CC 2018 (version 19.x)
and subsequent early versions, it is now an outdated baseline. Modern versions of Photoshop have significantly higher requirements. Current Windows Compatibility (2025/2026)
The most recent releases of Photoshop generally require much newer builds of Windows 10 or 11 to function. Udemy Blog Standard Requirement: Most recent versions (e.g., Photoshop 2024/2025) require Windows 10 64-bit version 22H2 or higher. Historical Context:
Version 1607 (Anniversary Update) was the minimum for Photoshop CC 2018. If you are seeing this specific error today, you are likely trying to install an older legacy version of the software on an extremely outdated operating system. ARM Devices:
For those on ARM-based hardware, the requirement is typically Windows 10 64-bit version 20H2 How to Resolve the Requirement Error
If you encounter a message stating a specific version is required, you can take the following steps: Photoshop requires windows 10 (version 1607) or later. 15-Apr-2019 —