How do you fix a failed installation of Photoshop?

By Alton AlexanderUpdated on June 4th, 2022

If you see the error "Installation Failed", it means that the installer was unable to copy some files to their intended locations. This is usually because another program is using those files or because your computer doesn't have enough permissions to write to those locations.

There are a few things you can try to fix this issue:

Quit all other programs and try installing again
Restart your computer and try installing again
Try installing to a different location (e.g. your Desktop or Documents folder)
If you're on Windows, try running the installer as an administrator
If you're on macOS, try changing the permissions of the destination folder to allow read/write access for everyone

Users typically search for a solution by asking about:

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Contents:

1. Try reinstalling Photoshop from the original installation media

Verify that the Adobe Photoshop installation is indeed corrupt.
Remove any Adobe Photoshop installed files and folders from your hard drive.
Burn the Adobe Photoshop installation media to a CD or DVD.
Insert the installation media into your computer and follow the on-screen instructions to install Adobe Photoshop.
If Photoshop installation fails, reinstall Photoshop from the original installation media.

2. If you installed Photoshop from a digital download, try redownloading the installer from the Adobe website

Go to the Adobe website and select the product you want to install (Photoshop, Photoshop Elements, or InDesign).
On the download page, select the installer you want to download.
When the installer appears, click the download button.
If you have an account, enter your login information.
If you don't have an account, create an account and enter your name and email address.
Click the download button to download the installer.
After the installer finishes downloading, double-click it to open it.
Click the Install button to install Photoshop.
If you're prompted to update your software, click the Update Now button.
When the installation is complete, click the Finish button.

3. Try running the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool to resolve installation problems

Go to the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool website and sign in.
Click on the "Start" button in the top left corner of the screen and choose "Cleaner."
On the "Select Cleaner To Run" screen, select "Photoshop."
On the "Select Files and Settings" screen, select the files and folders you want to clean.
On the "Cleaner Progress" screen, you will see the progress of the cleaning process.
When the cleaning is complete, you will be prompted to restart your computer. Do so and then try installing Photoshop again.

4. Temporarily disable any security software, such as antivirus or firewall, that may be blocking Photoshop from installing properly

Open Windows Firewall with Advanced Security.
In the Firewall with Advanced Security window, click on the Rules tab.
In the Rule Sets window, click on the Add Rule button.
In the Add Rule window, in the Action category, click on the Enable Rule button.
In the Rule Type window, click on the Port category.
In the Port list, click on the Photoshop port.
In the Protocol list, click on the TCP port.
In the Next Rule window, click on the OK button.
In the Firewall with Advanced Security window, click on the OK button.
Close the Windows Firewall with Advanced Security window.
Restart your computer.
When your computer restarts, Photoshop should be installed correctly.

If you didn't find success with an option above, then try:

Make sure you have enough free space on your hard drive for Photoshop to install and run properly.
Check for updates to your operating system and install any that are available.
If you're still having trouble, contact Adobe customer support for help.

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