Relaunch the Creative Cloud app and attempt the Photoshop installation again. Solution B: Manually Update Your Operating System

If winver showed that you are already running a modern version of Windows, the installer is being tricked by a compatibility setting.

When you see this message, it’s because your operating system does not meet the minimum requirement for the version of Photoshop you're trying to install. The message specifically references "Version 1607" (also known as the Windows 10 Anniversary Update), an update for Windows 10 that was released in August 2016.

Photoshop CC 19.0 and 19.0.1 can run on Windows 10 version 1511, but Photoshop CC 19.1 and later strictly require version 1607 or higher. Modern Standards:

Press Win + R , type winver , and hit Enter. If your version is lower than 1607, you must update.

For years, Photoshop had run on older builds like Windows 10 version 1511. However, following Microsoft’s lead in ending support for aging operating systems, Adobe raised its minimum requirements. This wasn't just a recommendation—it was a hard wall. If you tried to launch the new update on an older Windows version, the software simply refused to open. Common Fixes for the Error

Right-click on the desktop shortcut (or the Photoshop.exe file inside your installation folder). Select Properties from the context menu. Switch to the Compatibility tab.

Click after the tool scans your system compatibility.

Starting with Photoshop CC 2018 (version 19.0), Adobe began leveraging modern Windows APIs that simply did not exist in older builds. Specifically:

Look for the registry strings named and ReleaseId .

The best solution is to ensure your Windows is fully up to date, which will likely take you well beyond version 1607 to modern versions like 20H2, 21H1, or 22H2. Go to > Update & Security > Windows Update . Click Check for updates . Install all available updates. Step 3: Use the Windows Update Assistant

To install and run the latest versions of Adobe Photoshop, your system must meet the minimum Windows version requirement.

Depending on your current system setup and administrative privileges, use one of the following methods to resolve the installation block.

: Newer versions of Photoshop leverage system-level improvements found in version 1607 and higher, such as better high-density monitor support and updated graphics processor (GPU) handling.