Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update Version 1607 Link Info
Solved: Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) – Direct Download Link & Fix Guide
If you are reading this, you have likely just tried to install a newer version of Adobe Photoshop (particularly Creative Cloud versions from 2018 to 2022) and were greeted by a frustrating, blocking error message:
"Adobe Photoshop requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) or later."
You clicked "OK," but Photoshop closed. No installation. No workaround inside the app. Just a digital brick wall.
This article is your complete solution. We will explain exactly why this error happens, how to check your current Windows version, and—most importantly—provide the official direct link to download the required Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) so you can finally install and run Adobe Photoshop. You clicked "OK," but Photoshop closed
Step 5: Immediately Run Windows Update
After installing 1607, open Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and check for updates.
- Why? Because the base 1607 is old. You want the latest version of Windows 10 (22H2) which also meets Photoshop's requirement. Upgrading to 22H2 from 1607 is fast and supported.
Part 5: Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I just download Photoshop CS6 or an older version to avoid this requirement? A: Yes, but Adobe no longer supports CS6 (ended in 2017). More importantly, CS6 will not run reliably on modern hardware with high-DPI screens. You need version 1607 to run any Photoshop release from 2018 onward (including the current 2025 versions).
Q: Is there a "portable" Photoshop crack that skips the version check? A: Do not attempt this. Cracked versions that bypass the OS check almost always corrupt the GPU drivers leading to "Unrecoverable error" crashes. The version check exists because Photoshop will literally break on old Windows builds. 2020 before running the Adobe installer
Q: I have Windows 11. Do I need Version 1607? A: No. Windows 11 is build 22000+. It exceeds the requirement. If you see this error on Windows 11, run Windows Update to install the latest cumulative update.
Q: The download link keeps giving me Windows 11 instead of 1607. A: Microsoft aggressively pushes Windows 11. Use the Windows 10 Media Creation Tool, run it, select "Create installation media for another PC," and uncheck "Use recommended options for this PC." Then select "Windows 10" and "Version 1607" from the dropdown (if visible). If not visible, use the Rufus tool to download the ISO manually from Microsoft's servers using the script feature.
1. The "December 2022" Certificate Expiration
Older installers of Photoshop CC 2018/2019 check for a specific digital certificate that expired. Workaround: Set your system clock back to January 1, 2020 before running the Adobe installer, then change it back after install. open Settings >
What is Version 1607?
Released in August 2016, the Windows 10 Anniversary Update (build 14393) wasn't just another bug fix. It was a tectonic shift for developers. Microsoft introduced the Windows Ink platform and, more critically, overhauled the Windows Graphics Device Interface (GDI) .
The Solution: Updating Windows
The only official way to resolve this error and install the desired version of Photoshop is to update your Windows operating system.