Adobe Photoshop Requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update Version 1607 — Link

You clicked the installer, waiting to start your next creative project, but instead, you got a roadblock. A system compatibility error pops up stating that .

There is a specific, little-known knowledge base article (Adobe KB220415, now deleted) that explained the technical link:

Click on the button at the top of the page to download the Windows 10 Update Assistant . Run the downloaded .exe file. You clicked the installer, waiting to start your

In other words, forcing Photoshop to run on an older version of Windows 10 would be like trying to install a modern 4K video game on an old graphics card without the necessary drivers—it simply won't work. Adobe must follow Microsoft's lead in this area; when Microsoft ends support for an older OS version, Adobe can no longer guarantee compatibility and begins to phase it out.

Version 1607 introduced critical under-the-hood features that Photoshop 19.1 required to function, including improved support for High-Density Monitors (HiDPI) Microsoft Surface Dial The "Hard Block": Run the downloaded

It's important to understand that different versions of Photoshop have different system requirements. This is where much of the confusion arises:

With version 1607, Microsoft introduced a new API set called and updated GDI+ to handle high-DPI displays (Retina/4K screens) without turning text into a blurry mess. They also fixed a decade-old bug where GDI objects would leak memory if used across multiple virtual desktops. You clicked the installer

This issue happens because modern versions of Adobe Creative Cloud applications require updated system files, security protocols, and architecture that are only present in newer builds of Windows. If your operating system is outdated, or if Photoshop incorrectly detects your current version, the installer halts.

Click the button at the top of the page to download the Windows 10 Update Assistant . Run the downloaded tool ( Windows10Upgrade.exe ). The tool will scan your PC. Click Update Now to confirm.

The easiest way to get past version 1607 and straight to a fully compatible version of Windows is through the built-in update utility. Click the and select the Settings (gear) icon. Navigate to Update & Security . Click Windows Update on the left sidebar. Click the Check for updates button.