Photoshop Free Download for Windows
What to know before installing the desktop editor on a Windows PC: supported releases, hardware that keeps up, the installation sequence, and the problems people hit most often.
Short answer
Current Photoshop releases are 64-bit only and target supported Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds. Installation runs through Adobe's own installer and needs an Adobe sign-in. Below: the full Windows specification, the setup sequence, and fixes for the four problems that account for most failed installs.
Windows compatibility
Recent releases are 64-bit only and target current Windows 10 and Windows 11 builds. Adobe drops older Windows releases as they leave support, so a machine that cannot take feature updates will eventually be stuck on an older version of the editor too.
The specification below is maintained by this site's owner against Adobe's published requirements. Where a field is blank it has not been configured yet — we would rather show a gap than a guess.
Windows requirements
- Operating system
- Windows 10 (v22H2) or Windows 11, 64-bit
- Processor
- Multicore Intel, AMD or ARM processor with SSE 4.2 / AVX2 support
- RAM (minimum)
- 8 GB
- RAM (recommended)
- 16 GB or more
- Graphics card
- GPU with DirectX 12 support (feature level 12_0), less than 7 years old
- Graphics memory
- 1.5 GB minimum; 4 GB for 4K displays
- Hard disk space
- 10 GB minimum; 100 GB recommended on a fast SSD
- Screen resolution
- 1280 × 800 minimum; 1920 × 1080 or higher recommended
- Internet
- Required for activation, subscription validation and online services
Memory is the usual bottleneck
Layered composites and large RAW files consume memory quickly. If you edit 24-megapixel photographs with a dozen layers, aim for the recommended figure rather than the minimum — the difference is felt on every brush stroke.
Use an SSD for scratch space
The editor writes temporary scratch files while you work. Pointing that at a fast drive with plenty of free space has a bigger effect on responsiveness than most other settings.
Setup
Installing on Windows
Download from an authorized source, then follow the same seven steps used on any platform.
Choose an authorized source
Start from Adobe's own site or another source the software owner has authorized. Check the address bar before you download anything.
Download the installer
Save the installer to a folder you can find again, such as Downloads.
Open the installer
Run the downloaded file and allow it to make changes when your operating system asks.
Sign in when asked
Desktop installation normally requires signing in with an Adobe account so the licence can be applied.
Complete the installation
Keep the installer open until it reports success. Installation time depends on your disk and connection speed.
Launch the application
Open the editor and create a test document to confirm everything works.
Check for updates
Install available updates so you have the latest fixes and security patches.
More detail, including where files are installed, is in the installation guide.
Troubleshooting
Common Windows problems
Four issues account for most installation complaints, and all four have straightforward fixes.
Installer will not start
Right-click the file and choose Run as administrator. If Windows blocks it, confirm the file came from an authorized source before allowing it.
Not enough disk space
Installation needs considerably more free space than the installer size, plus room for scratch files while you work. Free space on the system drive specifically.
Slow performance or lag while painting
Check that your graphics driver is current and that GPU acceleration is enabled in the application's performance settings.
Sign-in loop
Clear the Creative Cloud desktop app's cached session, check your system clock is correct, and retry. A wrong clock breaks certificate validation.
Keeping it updated
Updates arrive through the Creative Cloud desktop application. Install them: besides new features, they carry security fixes for the image-parsing code that opens files from other people. This is one of the practical reasons a modified installer is a poor idea — it cannot receive them. We explain the rest on the cracked software page.