Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update Version 1607 Link [upd] Jun 2026
If you see an error message stating that it means your current operating system version is too old to support the version of Photoshop you are trying to install or run. Modern versions of Photoshop (starting from release 19.1 in 2018) officially require version 1607 as the bare minimum, with newer versions of Photoshop often requiring version 1809 or higher. Why This Requirement Exists
Enterprise and LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) users often cannot update their OS due to IT policies, effectively locking them out of newer Photoshop versions until the entire organization upgrades. Legacy Hardware:
This means that every copy of Photoshop running today—even on Windows 11—is technically standing on the shoulders of that 2016 update. Microsoft never removed or changed those specific GDI calls, because Adobe threatened to break compatibility forever. If you see an error message stating that
This comprehensive guide explains why this compatibility block exists, how to identify your system version, and how to resolve the issue to get Photoshop running smoothly. Why Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Version 1607
When launching Adobe Photoshop—particularly or later—many users encounter an error stating that the application requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) or later. This requirement was established because Adobe aligned its software compatibility with Microsoft’s support lifecycle, which phased out earlier versions of Windows 10 like build 1511. Why You See the Version 1607 Error Legacy Hardware: This means that every copy of
Before downloading any updates, verify exactly which version of Windows 10 your PC is running.
The error "Adobe Photoshop requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update version 1607" is not a bug; it is a hard stop to protect you from a broken experience. The solution is simple: upgrade your Windows foundation. Why Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Version 1607 When
This message appears because Adobe has progressively dropped support for older Windows 10 builds. To ensure stability, security, and access to modern GPU-accelerated features, Photoshop now requires a minimum Windows 10 version — specifically the or any newer version (e.g., 1809, 1909, 21H2, 22H2).
If you are on an older version of Windows 10 (such as version 1507 or 1511), Photoshop will block the installation or fail to launch. 2. Step 1: Check Your Current Windows Version
: Starting with Photoshop CC 19.1, Adobe updated its requirements to follow Microsoft’s support lifecycle, which dropped support for Windows 10 versions 1511 and earlier.
If you try to run modern Photoshop on Windows 10 version 1511 (the "November Update"), the brush tool lags by 200ms, the pen pressure fails, and the layer thumbnails render as corrupted green squares. Adobe realized it was cheaper to hard-block the install than to support Microsoft's broken legacy code.