# How to install Photoshop on Apple silicon Mac: step by step for version 27.11 > Learn how to install Photoshop on Apple silicon Mac with Creative Cloud, check version 27.11, and handle Rosetta and Intel copies. URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/install-on-an-apple-silicon-mac-in-photoshop Updated: 2026-11-08 To install Photoshop on an Apple silicon Mac, sign in to the Creative Cloud desktop app, find Photoshop in the Apps list, and choose Install. Photoshop 27.11 needs macOS 14.0 or later, and Rosetta only matters if an app is marked Intel-only. ## Quick answer - Check first: an Apple silicon Mac running macOS 14.0 or later for Photoshop 27.11. - Install through the Creative Cloud desktop app, starting with the 7-day free trial or your existing plan. - Confirm the install with Photoshop > About Photoshop and look for version 27.11 or later. - Use Get Info (⌘I) to spot Intel-only apps. Install Rosetta only when macOS or the app asks for it. Applies to: Photoshop 27.11 on Apple silicon Macs running macOS 14.0 or later. Time: 25 min. Difficulty: Easy. ## What you need - An Apple silicon Mac with an M-series chip - macOS 14.0 or later for Photoshop 27.11 - An Adobe ID, or a new one created during sign-up - Free room on the startup disk for the app and scratch files ## How to Install Photoshop on an Apple silicon Mac in Photoshop on a Mac 1. **Confirm your chip and macOS version.** (Apple menu > About This Mac) Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose About This Mac. Check that the chip is an M-series chip, not an Intel processor. Then check that the macOS version is 14.0 or later, which Photoshop 27.11 requires. If either check fails, stop and update macOS first. Tip: To update macOS, open System Settings, go to General, then Software Update. 2. **Start the free trial or sign in.** On Adobe's Photoshop trial page, click Start Free Trial. Choose a plan type, pick a plan and billing option, enter your email and billing details, and set a password. If you already have a Creative Cloud plan, sign in with that Adobe ID instead. Tip: The trial converts to a paid membership after 7 days unless you cancel, so note the date. 3. **Download the Creative Cloud desktop app.** (Finder > Go > Downloads) Shortcut: ⌥⌘L. Go to adobe.com/creativecloud/desktop-app.html and click Download Creative Cloud. When the download finishes, open the installer from your Downloads folder and follow the prompts. Enter your Mac user name and password if asked. Tip: Keep the installer in Downloads until the install is complete, in case you need to run it again. 4. **Sign in to Creative Cloud.** Open the Creative Cloud app and sign in with the Adobe ID you used for the trial. If the app asks to update itself, let it finish. Wait for the Apps list to load before you look for Photoshop. Tip: If Photoshop is missing, check that the trial and the sign-in used the same Adobe ID. 5. **Find Photoshop in the Apps list.** In the Creative Cloud window, find Photoshop in the Apps list. Adobe changes labels between releases, so the layout on your screen may differ. Look for the Photoshop name with a button to install or open it. Tip: If the list is long, scroll until you see the Photoshop name. 6. **Click Install.** Click Install next to Photoshop. If Creative Cloud asks for a language or install location, keep the defaults unless you have a reason to change them. Enter your Mac password if the installer asks for it. Tip: Change the install location only if your startup disk is short on space. 7. **Wait for the install to finish.** Creative Cloud shows the install progress. Keep the Mac plugged in and connected to the internet. Do not quit Creative Cloud or shut down the Mac until Photoshop shows as installed. Tip: If the progress stops moving for a long time, read the troubleshooting list below before you force quit anything. 8. **Open Photoshop from Applications.** (Finder > Go > Applications) Shortcut: ⇧⌘A. In Finder, go to Applications and double-click Photoshop. The first launch can take longer than later ones. Sign in if the app asks you to. 9. **Check the version number.** (Photoshop > About Photoshop) With Photoshop open, choose Photoshop > About Photoshop. Read the version number. On the current release, it should read 27.11 or later. Tip: If the number is older, quit with ⌘Q, open Creative Cloud, and check for updates. 10. **Check whether the app is Intel-only.** (Finder > File > Get Info) Shortcut: ⌘I. In Finder, select Photoshop in Applications and press ⌘I to open Get Info. Look at the Kind line. If it says Application (Intel), that copy is Intel-only and needs Rosetta. If Intel does not appear, Rosetta is not needed for that copy. Tip: Check each older copy you find, not only the new one. 11. **Install Rosetta only if it is needed.** (Applications > Utilities > Terminal) Shortcut: ⌘Space. Install Rosetta only when macOS or the app asks for it. Click Install and enter your Mac user name and password. Alternatively, open Terminal and run softwareupdate --install-rosetta, press Return, and follow the prompts. Tip: Use Spotlight with ⌘Space to find Terminal quickly. 12. **Remove an old Intel copy.** (Finder > File > Move to Trash) Shortcut: ⌘⌫. If you copied an older Intel copy of Photoshop onto this Mac, select it in Applications and check Get Info first. When you are sure it is the old copy, press ⌘Delete to move it to the Trash. Leave your Adobe preferences alone at this step. Tip: Keep the new copy from Creative Cloud. Deleting the wrong one means another install. 13. **Open a test file.** (File > Open) Shortcut: ⌘O. In Photoshop, choose File > Open or press ⌘O, then open any image. Check that the tools respond and the canvas redraws without lag. If Photoshop crashes at launch, read the troubleshooting list before you reinstall. ## What you need before you install Photoshop Photoshop on an Apple silicon Mac installs like any other app, but the checks come first. Open the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. Look at the chip line. Apple silicon Macs show an M-series chip. Intel Macs show an Intel processor, and this guide covers Apple silicon only. Next, check the macOS version. Photoshop 27.11 needs macOS 14.0 or later. If your Mac runs an older version, update it before you start. Software Update lives in System Settings under General. Updating first avoids a failed install halfway through. - An Apple silicon Mac with an M-series chip - macOS 14.0 or later for Photoshop 27.11 - An Adobe ID, or a new one you create during sign-up - Free room on your startup disk for the app and scratch files - A stable internet connection, because the install downloads from Adobe You also need an Adobe ID. Adobe creates one when you start the free trial. If you already have an account, sign in instead. Adobe lists a 7-day free trial for the Photoshop desktop app, and that is the trial you will see first. - **US$22.99/mo** Photoshop standalone on an annual plan billed monthly, per Adobe's product page ([source](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html)) - **7-day** Free trial for the Photoshop desktop app before the plan converts to paid ([source](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/plans.html)) - **14.0** Minimum macOS version listed for Photoshop 27.11 ([source](https://www.cgchannel.com/2026/10/adobe-releases-photoshop-27-11/)) - **June 2023** When Apple finished moving the Mac lineup to Apple silicon ([source](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_silicon)) ## Disk space and scratch files on install day Photoshop uses free disk space as scratch space when it works with large files. A nearly full startup disk slows Photoshop down once it runs. Before you start, open Finder, select your startup disk, and check how much room is left. If you already see scratch disk warnings, read [the guide on Photoshop scratch disks being full](https://www.lazur.app/for/designers/problems/photoshop-scratch-disks-full-mac-fixes) first. ## Install Photoshop through the Creative Cloud app ![Designer working on a Mac laptop, getting ready to install Photoshop on an Apple silicon Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/install-on-an-apple-silicon-mac-in-photoshop/how-to-install-photoshop-on-apple-silicon-1-59fd97.jpg) Photoshop installs through the Creative Cloud desktop app. A top-voted answer on the Adobe Community forum says the same, though it comes from a user, not from Adobe staff. Adobe's Creative Cloud download page links to a Download Creative Cloud button, but it does not list Mac install steps. The steps below start with the download and end with a working copy. Adobe changes its install screens between releases. Labels such as Install, Open or Download may read differently on your screen. Pick the closest label, and read each dialog before you click. Check the name on the tile too, because Adobe also lists a Photoshop beta app. ### Starting the free trial On Adobe's free trial page, click Start Free Trial and choose a plan type. Adobe lists individuals, students and teachers, and teams. Pick a plan and billing option, enter your email and billing details, and set a password. Then find Photoshop and click Download. The trial covers the desktop, web, iPhone and iPad apps. ### Signing in if you already pay If you already have a Creative Cloud plan, skip the trial and sign in with that Adobe ID. Use the same ID inside the Creative Cloud app. A mismatch between accounts is easy to miss, and it can make Photoshop look missing from the Apps list. ## What Photoshop costs after the trial Adobe lists Photoshop standalone at US$22.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly, or US$263.88 a year prepaid. Creative Cloud Pro is listed at US$69.99 a month at the regular rate. Prices change, so check Adobe's pricing page before you commit. Set a calendar reminder on the day you start. The trial converts to a paid membership after 7 days unless you cancel. Cancel early if you do not want the plan, and keep the confirmation email. ## Check Rosetta and Intel-only apps Rosetta 2 translates Intel-only apps so they run on Apple silicon. Apple says Universal and Apple silicon apps do not need it. You can check any app's type in Finder. Select the app and press ⌘I to open Get Info. An Intel-only app shows Application (Intel) on its Kind line. ![Apple laptop open on a desk, the kind of Mac where you install Photoshop](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/install-on-an-apple-silicon-mac-in-photoshop/how-to-install-photoshop-on-apple-silicon-2-75d299.jpg) If macOS asks you to install Rosetta, click Install and enter your Mac user name and password. You can also run softwareupdate --install-rosetta in Terminal. Apple says Rosetta is available on Apple silicon Macs running macOS 27 or earlier. Old copies add confusion. An Intel copy of Photoshop carried over from an older Mac can make it hard to tell which version you are opening. The Adobe Community answer says to uninstall Intel copies before you install from Creative Cloud. Check Get Info first, so you delete the right copy. ## Check the version after install Open Photoshop from the Applications folder. Choose Photoshop > About Photoshop and read the version number. On the current release, it should read 27.11 or later. If it shows an older number, quit with ⌘Q, open Creative Cloud, and check for updates. The full check is in [how to check your Photoshop version](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/check-your-photoshop-version-in-photoshop). A quick note on dates. CG Channel reported that Photoshop 27.11 came out on October 6, 2026. Adobe's documentation calls it the September 2026 release. The version number is the reliable check, so use it instead of the month. ## Mistakes people make on install day - Quitting Creative Cloud while the install is still running. - Following an old forum post with menu names that have since changed. - Assuming Rosetta is needed for every app instead of checking Get Info first. - Deleting an Intel copy before confirming which copy is the new one. - Forgetting the trial end date and getting charged for a plan you did not plan to keep. Most of these come from rushing. Read each screen, check the version number, and keep one clean copy of Photoshop in Applications. ## When the install stalls or shows an error Adobe's help site lists numbered install errors. Write down the exact code before you search, and read the official explanation first. A fix from an old forum post may match a different release. Start with three quick checks. Restart the Mac, confirm free room on the startup disk, and make sure you signed in with the same Adobe ID. A restart and a fresh sign-in can clear a stuck install, though not every time. ## What to do after Photoshop opens Open a test file with File > Open or press ⌘O. Check that the tools respond and the canvas redraws. If Photoshop crashes at launch or acts strange, the preferences file may be the cause. Read [how to reset preferences in Photoshop](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/reset-preferences-in-photoshop) before you delete anything. ## Why older guides mention Rosetta first Apple finished moving the Mac lineup to Apple silicon in June 2023, according to Wikipedia. Some older guides were written for Intel Macs, so they lead with Rosetta. Check the chip and the Kind line, then follow the steps that match your Mac. ![Graphic designer at a computer editing images in Photoshop on a Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/install-on-an-apple-silicon-mac-in-photoshop/how-to-install-photoshop-on-apple-silicon-3-c5374d.jpg) ## Shortcuts - Open Downloads in Finder: ⌥⌘L - Open Applications in Finder: ⇧⌘A - Get Info for the selected app: ⌘I - Move the selected item to the Trash: ⌘⌫ - Open Spotlight to find Terminal: ⌘Space - Open a file in Photoshop: ⌘O - Quit Photoshop: ⌘Q ## If it does not work - **Photoshop does not appear in the Apps list** Sign in with the Adobe ID you used for the trial, and check that macOS is 14.0 or later. Quit and reopen Creative Cloud, then wait for the list to reload. If Photoshop still does not show, check your account type on Adobe's help site. - **Get Info shows Application (Intel)** That copy needs Rosetta. Install Rosetta when macOS asks, or remove the Intel copy and install the current build from Creative Cloud. - **The install stops or shows an error code** Write down the exact code and search for it on helpx.adobe.com, where Adobe lists numbered install errors. Restart the Mac and confirm free room on the startup disk before you retry. - **About Photoshop shows an older version** Quit Photoshop, open Creative Cloud, and check for updates. Reopen Photoshop and check the number again under Photoshop > About Photoshop. - **Photoshop crashes or acts strange after install** Restart the Mac first. If the problem continues, reset preferences using the steps in [how to reset preferences in Photoshop](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/reset-preferences-in-photoshop). Back up anything you want to keep before you delete files. - **The trial ended and a charge appeared** Check your Adobe account for the plan that is active. The trial converts to a paid membership after 7 days unless you cancel, so cancel early if you do not want the plan. ## With Lazur Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download - “Where's the Install button for Photoshop?”: Lazur circles the Install button for Photoshop and labels it, so you can find it without hunting. (Points at it) ## FAQ ### Do I need Rosetta to install Photoshop on an Apple silicon Mac? Only if the copy you have is Intel-only. Select the app, press ⌘I, and read the Kind line. Apple says Universal and Apple silicon apps do not need Rosetta, and macOS offers to install it when an Intel-only app needs it. ### Which macOS version does Photoshop 27.11 need? Photoshop 27.11 is listed as compatible with macOS 14.0 or later. Check your version under the Apple menu in About This Mac, and update in System Settings under General if you need to. ### Can I install Photoshop without the Creative Cloud desktop app? The top-voted answer on the Adobe Community forum says to install from inside Creative Cloud. I did not find official Adobe steps for a different route, so start with the Creative Cloud app. ### How much does Photoshop cost on Mac? Adobe lists Photoshop standalone at US$22.99 a month on an annual plan billed monthly, or US$263.88 a year prepaid. Prices change, so check Adobe's pricing page before you buy. ### Is there a free version of Photoshop? Adobe lists a 7-day free trial for the Photoshop desktop app. Its plans page does not list a free Photoshop plan. The free plan on that page belongs to Adobe Express. ### Is the web version of Photoshop the same as the desktop app? No. Adobe says the web version has the most commonly used editing tools, but not every desktop feature. Pick the desktop app for full-scale work. ### Why do the steps on my screen look different? Adobe changes its install screens between releases, and labels move. Use the closest label, read each dialog, and check the version number at the end. ## Sources 1. [Adobe Photoshop (product page)](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop.html), Adobe, checked 2026-11-09 2. [Compare Photoshop plans (Adobe)](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/plans.html), Adobe, checked 2026-11-09 3. [Adobe Photoshop free trial and download](https://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/free-trial-download.html), Adobe, checked 2026-11-09 4. [Creative Cloud desktop app (Adobe)](https://www.adobe.com/creativecloud/desktop-app.html), Adobe, checked 2026-11-09 5. [About the Rosetta translation environment (Apple Support)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/102527), Apple, checked 2026-11-09 6. [Adobe releases Photoshop 27.11 (CG Channel)](https://www.cgchannel.com/2026/10/adobe-releases-photoshop-27-11/), CG Channel, checked 2026-11-09 7. [Adobe Community: Photoshop w/o Creative Cloud desktop app on Apple silicon M1](https://community.adobe.com/questions-617/adobe-photoshop-w-out-creative-cloud-desktop-app-on-apple-silicon-m1-554623), Adobe Community (user forum), checked 2026-11-09 8. [Apple silicon (Wikipedia)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple_silicon), Wikipedia, checked 2026-11-09