Switch Photoshop from PC to MAC

[mmcireland]

January 2, 2011 at 11:11 am

I am considering changing from a PC to a MAC Book Pro, does anyone know if it is possible to install my windows version of CS5 on a MAC or would I have to purchase a new copy of CS5?

[clami79]

January 2, 2011 at 11:23 am

Windows programs will not install on a Mac because they are different files. You will need at least to download the Mac version of Cs5 from the adobe site and possibly use the same serial number. However i have a funny feeling that it won’t be accepted.
A friend of mine has a mac and she runs both the apple and windows operating systems on it, in that case you could install cs5 on the windows side using your original serial number.
I know that there are plenty of Mac users on this forum, hopefully they can tell us a bit more
You could always send an email to adobe support just in case

[ANDYwithCAMERA]

January 2, 2011 at 12:55 pm

Looks like it wouldn’t work from reading this http://forums.adobe.com/message/1328542″ onclick=”window.open(this.href);return false;

[mmcireland]

January 2, 2011 at 3:04 pm

Thanks, there seem to be a numbe of different views on how to do this when I follow the link above. I’ve sent a mail to Apple, I’ll update when/if I get a response. Seems crazy if they don’t let you, especially as they do allow it for Lightroom, but they are effectively a monopoly so get away with it.

[Kbeg3]

January 2, 2011 at 3:19 pm

I made the switch last year from PC to Mac, I was running CS4 on my PC. Just downloading the Mac version and using your existing serial number won’t work as far as I know. What I did was ring Adobe and explained what I wanted to do, they sent me a form I had to fill out and sign saying I would destroy my PC version of CS4. The mac Mac version was posted out to me after that, there was a €10 shipping fee if I remember correctly. Certainly beats having to buy the whole thing again though. Hope this helps.

[mmcireland]

January 2, 2011 at 3:23 pm

Sounds good, thanks.

[brendancullen]

January 2, 2011 at 3:33 pm

If you have a DVD version (as opposed to the downloadable file) – it should have both the PC & MAC versions.

Generally you can install a copy of most software on two home systems.

Use the same serial number.

There is a ‘licence deactivation’ in the HELP section of CS5.

If your DVD has the mac version – and the serial / activation process works smoothly – then no need for this step.

Bren