Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update -version 1607- [verified] Jun 2026
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
For specific installation failures, Adobe Support can offer specialized solutions for your setup. Conclusion
Navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and click "Check for updates." Method A: Use the Standard Windows Update Click
If your system is genuinely outdated, you need to bring it up to speed. Method A: Use the Standard Windows Update Click the and select the Settings gear icon. Go to Update & Security > Windows Update . Click Check for updates .
Adobe Photoshop relies heavily on modern OS frameworks to handle advanced AI tools, GPU acceleration, and efficient scratch disk management. When the Adobe Creative Cloud installer checks your system, it looks for specific Windows build numbers. If your operating system is below , the installer will immediately halt the process to prevent stability issues and crashes. Why Version 1607 Matters Adobe Photoshop relies heavily on modern OS frameworks
Upgrading past Windows 10 Version 1607 is only the first hurdle. To run modern versions of Photoshop smoothly without stuttering or scratch disk errors, verify your machine meets Adobe’s baseline hardware standards: Hardware Component Baseline Requirement Recommended Specification Intel or AMD processor with 64-bit support; 2 GHz or faster Intel or AMD processor with SSE 4.2 or later System RAM 8 GB minimum 16 GB or 32 GB for heavy RAW workflows Graphics Card DirectX 12 compatible GPU with 2 GB VRAM 4 GB or more VRAM for 4K displays Hard Drive Space 20 GB available SSD space Fast internal NVMe SSD for scratch disk usage Alternative Workarounds for Legacy Hardware
The requirement for Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) primarily impacts Adobe Photoshop CC 2018 (version 19.1) Method A: Use the Standard Windows Update Click
While not a "feature" users see, this is the technical root cause.
Adobe follows Microsoft's support lifecycle. When Microsoft stops supporting an older Windows version, Adobe typically does as well.
Click the button to download the Windows 10 Update Assistant. Run the downloaded .exe file.
"Adobe Photoshop requires Windows 10 Anniversary update (version 1607) or later. Upgrade for free to a newer version to run Photoshop" Adobe Photoshop CC 2017