Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is Adobe Creative Cloud?
A: Adobe Creative Cloud is a collection of more than 20 Adobe software applications, including Acrobat Pro, After Effects, Animate, Audition CC, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere Pro, and Rush. Design and marketing professors, students, and professionals frequently use the applications to create content for assignments and distribution. For more information about the Adobe Creative Cloud suite of applications, visit What’s included in the Adobe Creative Cloud account.
Q: What is happening to my Adobe Creative Cloud license issued through Penn State on December 17, 2023?
A: To maintain compliance with the University’s contract agreement with Adobe, all current Adobe Creative Cloud licenses issued through Penn State will be suspended on December 17.
Beginning on December 18, faculty and staff who require Adobe software for their teaching, research, or job functions can reorder either Adobe Express, Adobe Acrobat Pro, or Adobe Creative Cloud at no additional cost from Penn State Software by visiting softwarerequest.psu.edu/.
Beginning on December 18, students who require Adobe software for their course curriculum can reorder Adobe Express or Adobe Creative Cloud at no additional cost from Penn State Software by visiting softwarerequest.psu.edu/.
Reorders cannot be requested until December 18. Adobe Creative Cloud will not be granted for personal use.
Q: Is Penn State’s Adobe Creative Cloud license free?
A: Adobe Creative Cloud is available at no additional cost for all Penn State students, faculty and staff, and employees based on academic or workplace needs. If you do not create content for print, video, and digital assignments and distribution, you may not need the full suite of Adobe Creative Cloud applications. Adobe Express, Adobe Acrobat Reader, and/or Adobe Acrobat Pro may better suit your needs.
Q: How do I know if I am eligible to request Adobe Creative Cloud?
A: Adobe Creative Cloud licenses issued by Penn State are based on academic or workplace needs and will not be granted for personal use. Those who require Adobe Creative Cloud for their course curriculum, teaching, research, or job functions are eligible to obtain the software.
Q: What should I do prior to the Adobe Creative Cloud license suspension?
A: All current Adobe Creative Cloud licenses issued through Penn State will be suspended on December 17. You should back up your files to an alternate location prior to the December 17 suspension date. Step-by-Step instructions for Moving Adobe Creative Cloud Content To Your Desktop are available on the IT Knowledge base.
Q: What will happen to my Adobe Creative Cloud files on December 17, 2023?
A: After existing Adobe Creative Cloud licenses issued by Penn State are suspended, all access to the files will be inaccessible until a new license is issued. Those who reorder and obtain a new Penn State-issued Adobe Creative Cloud license will be able to retrieve previously saved files on the Adobe Cloud. Those who do not order and obtain a new Penn State-issued Adobe Creative Cloud license will not be able to access any files previously stored on the Adobe Cloud and should back up their files to an alternate location before December 17. No user files will be deleted until the user is no longer affiliated with Penn State. Step-by-Step instructions for Moving Adobe Creative Cloud Content To Your Desktop are available on the IT Knowledge Base.
Q: Can I purchase a full Adobe Creative Cloud license or individual Creative Cloud product for my personal use?
A: Yes. Adobe has several options available for purchase on their website at Adobe Creative Cloud Plans, Pricing, and Membership for your personal use. You must use a non-Penn State email to place your order(s). Do not use your Penn State email. You should back up any Adobe files you may have under the Penn State license to an alternate location. Step-by-Step instructions for Moving Adobe Creative Cloud Content To Your Desktop are available on the IT Knowledgebase.
Q: If I purchase a personal license for Adobe Creative Cloud, how do I retain my files from my previous Penn State-provided account?
A: To retain your files from your previous Penn State-provided account, you must back up your files to an alternate location prior to the December 17 suspension date. Any files that are not backed up before that date will be irretrievable. Step-by-Step instructions for Moving Adobe Creative Cloud Content To Your Desktop are available on the IT Knowledgebase. After you have created your new personal Adobe Creative Cloud account, you can move these files back to Adobe Creative Cloud storage. Follow the Adobe guide to transfer assets across accounts or profiles.
Q: Can I store sensitive information on Adobe’s cloud-based storage?
A: No, by installing Adobe Creative Cloud applications, you agree you will not store any sensitive data on Adobe online storage.
Q: How do I cancel an existing personal paid account?
A: Per Adobe’s standard terms, individuals are only eligible for a full refund if cancellation is within fourteen days of purchase.
Note: Individual Adobe Creative Cloud customers billed on a monthly plan who are eligible to switch to Penn State’s enterprise coverage are eligible for a waived early termination fee (normally 50 percent of the remaining contract value). In order to waive this fee, users will need to contact Adobe customer support via chat or phone.
Q: Do I need an Adobe Creative Cloud license if I just need to view, sign, create, and edit PDF documents?
A: No. The ability to modify or digitally sign a PDF can be accomplished without an Adobe Creative Cloud license using either the free Adobe Acrobat Reader (view, sign, print, share, and annotate PDFs) or Adobe Acrobat Pro (view, sign, create, edit, print, share, and annotate PDFs). Refer to FAQs, “What is Adobe Acrobat Reader?” and “What is Adobe Acrobat Pro” for product details.
Q: What is Adobe Acrobat Pro?
A: Adobe Acrobat Pro is the complete PDF solution. It includes the same features as Adobe Acrobat Reader as well as advanced PDF and e-signature features such as turning scanned documents into editable, searchable PDFs, comparing PDFs to review differences, redacting sensitive information from PDFs, and editing text and images in a PDF.
Adobe Acrobat Pro will be available to Penn State faculty and staff at no additional charge on softwarerequest.psu.edu beginning December 18, 2023.
Q: What is Adobe Acrobat Reader?
A: The free Adobe Acrobat Reader enables you to view, print, share, annotate, and digitally sign a PDF form or document without the need for the full suite of Adobe Creative Cloud. More information about Adobe Acrobat Reader is available on the Adobe Acrobat Reader FAQs. Acrobat Reader is free desktop software available on Adobe’s free PDF Reader download page.
Q: What is Adobe Acrobat Sign?
A: Adobe Acrobat Sign is a cloud-based e-signature service that allows users to send, sign, track, and manage signature processes using a browser or mobile device. It is part of the Adobe Document Cloud suite of services. Adobe Acrobat Sign is not part of Penn State’s enterprise-wide Adobe Creative Cloud offering and is only available for eligible users who need to sign official University contracts.
Q: What is Adobe Express?
A: Adobe Express is a browser-based online app that works well for projects that do not require significant customization. Adobe Express gives novice users the ability to quickly create webpages, graphics, infographics, presentations, resumes, reports, generative AI, and video stories easily by providing access to design templates, themes, and layouts that allow you to plug in your content. Adobe Express is great for creating social media posts, marketing posters or flyers, and simple photo editing and videos. Adobe Express does not include an online version of Photoshop.
Adobe Express will be available to Penn State Account holders at no additional charge on softwarerequest.psu.edu beginning December 18, 2023.
Q: What do I do if I’ve reordered my license, but I don’t see my files or don’t seem to have proper access to the software?
A: Please log out of the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app and log back in.
Q: What do I do if I was able to successfully log in to Adobe Creative Cloud, but I’m only seeing the “free trial” option and not the “install” option?
A: If you don’t see the “install” option, please view these instructions on Adobe’s website.
Q: Can I install Adobe Creative Cloud on more than one system?
A: Yes, you can install it on up to two systems. Just be aware that if you disable cloud storage synchronization, the data files created on each system will not be automatically updated on all systems; they will only be stored locally.
Q: How do I transfer/migrate files from one account to another?
A: Follow this step-by-step guide to use Adobe Creative Cloud to migrate, or transfer, assets.
Q: What happens when I graduate?
A. You will be able to take all of your content with you by migrating your content from your school account to a new personal account. Please be advised that you will not be able to reverse this migration once it is initiated. Visit graduation.adobe.com to get started.
Q: What happens to my account when I leave the University?
A: First and foremost, make sure to back up all of your Adobe Creative Cloud data files locally. Once your Penn State Access Account is deactivated, you will no longer be able to log in to the Adobe Creative Cloud applications with your University email address. If you would like to continue using Adobe Creative Cloud after your departure, Adobe has several options available for purchase.
Q: How can I change the language of my Adobe Creative Cloud software?
A: If you’d like to change the language of your software, please view this Adobe article for step-by-step instructions. For more FAQs, please visit Adobe’s website.
Q: How can I use Adobe Stock?
A: Everyone at Penn State can have access to use Adobe Stock images of charge. Details can be found in this Using Adobe Stock tutorial.
Q: How do I install Adobe Creative Cloud?
A: Please see the installation instructions on this website for more information on installing Adobe Creative Cloud as either a Penn State student or faculty member.
Q: Why is installation taking a long time?
A: If you’re installing Adobe Creative Cloud over a wireless Internet connection, the process might take longer than usual. You can use a wired Internet connection for a quicker installation time.
