Exit code 6 or Exit code 7 installation errors | CS

Last updated on Mar 28, 2025 | Also applies to Adobe After Effects CS5, Adobe After Effects CS5.5, Adobe Dreamweaver CS5, Adobe Dreamweaver CS5.5, Adobe Fireworks CS5, Adobe Illustrator CS5, Adobe InCopy CS5, Adobe InCopy CS5.5, Adobe InDesign CS5, Adobe InDesign CS5.5, Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5, Adobe Premiere Pro CS5.5, Contribute CS5, Creative Suite CS5, Creative Suite CS5.5, Creative Suite CS6, Encore CS5, Flash Catalyst CS5, Flash Catalyst CS5.5, Flash Professional CS5, Flash Professional CS5.5, Photoshop Elements, Premiere Elements, Soundbooth

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Exit code 6 or exit code 7 during installation

When installing a Creative Suite (CS5, CS5.5, CS6) application, Photoshop Elements, or Premiere Elements, you receive one of the following errors:

Exit Code: 6
Exit Code: 7

These codes indicate that the installation finished with errors.

Try the following solutions in order. Stop when you've successfully installed your app.

Installing Creative Cloud?

For help resolving an exit code 6 or exit code 7 error you receive while installing a Creative Cloud product, see Exit code 6 or Exit code 7 install errors | CC.

Solution 1: (Windows only) Repair Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages

Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
Check for Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Packages installed.

Note:

You can search your Adobe main install log file to find the exact version of the Microsoft Visual C++ Redistributable Package that caused the error. Then, either repair or reinstall only that version.
One by one, right-click each version, select Change, and click Repair in the next window.

Note:

If Change isn't available for a version, you can uninstall and then reinstall the files. Visit the Microsoft Download Center to download a new copy of the redistributable package installation files.
Restart your computer.
Reinstall your Adobe application.

Solution 2: Rename Adobe folders in the Applications or Program Files folder

Note: Before attempting this solution, make sure that you have attempted to uninstall the programs you're trying to install.

Often, files left over from previous install attempts can lead to read or write file system errors. Check the Applications (macOS) or Program Files (Windows) folders for folders left from a previous installation or update attempt.

Navigate to:

macOS: /Applications

Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\
Look for folders that are clearly named for the applications you are trying to install, and rename them. For example, rename "Adobe Photoshop CC" to "Adobe Photoshop CC old."
Check for a folder named "AdobePatchFiles" and rename it.
(macOS only) Rename the "Adobe" folder in the Applications folder to "Adobe old."
Reinstall the software.
If your installation is successful, confirm that your other Adobe applications are working, and then delete the renamed folders.

Solution 3: Restart your computer in safe mode

Restart your computer following the instructions in one of these documents:

Windows 10 and 11

See Start your PC in safe mode.

macOS

See Start in Safe Boot mode.
Reinstall your Adobe app.

Solution 4: (Windows only) Repair the Microsoft Windows Installer

Right-click the Start menu icon (or press Windows + X).
Choose Windows Terminal (Admin) or Command Prompt (Admin).
Select Yes to the User Account Control request to allow the Terminal app to make changes to your device.
In the Command Prompt window, type sfc /SCANNOW and press Enter.
When the system scan completes, type msiexec/unreg in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
Type msiexec /regserver in the Command Prompt window and press Enter.
Reinstall your Adobe application.

Windows XP/Vista

Download and install the newest Microsoft Windows Installer Redistributable pack. Then reinstall your Adobe app.

Solution 5: Review the installation log file

Exit code 6 and Exit code 7 are generic error codes. To help determine the exact cause of the error, look at the installation log under "There are problems with your installation." The error message describing what went wrong appears below the exit code.

For details on where to find log files and how to review them, see Troubleshoot install issues with log files | CS.

Solution 6: Verify file permissions

These errors can indicate a problem with file permissions. To resolve them, verify that you have read and write access to the necessary files and folders.

Check the main installation log for the error codes and record any file paths associated with the error messages.

Note:

See Troubleshoot install issues with log files | CS for information about opening and reading the log file.
Identify the parent folder (or directory) in the file path for each error message. The parent folder is the folder directly before the final folder in the error message.

Identify the parent folder for each error message.
Close all Adobe applications.
Follow instructions below for your operating system to modify permissions.

Note:

This solution requires administrative privileges on your computer. Log in with an administrative user account.

Choose Start > File Explorer > This PC.
Navigate to the parent folder. For example, Windows (C:) > Program Files > Common Files > Adobe.
Right-click the folder, and then choose Properties.
In the Attributes section, deselect Read-only and click Apply.
Click the Security tab.
Under Group or user names, click System and make sure that Full control is selected in the Permissions section. If it is not selected, do the following:
1. Click Edit.
2. In the Permissions dialog box that opens, click System.
3. Under Permissions for System, click the check box in the Allow column next to Full control.
4. Click Apply, and then OK.
Repeat step 6, selecting Administrators under Group or user names.
Repeat the process for any additional paths from the error message logs.
Reinstall your Adobe application.

Navigate to the parent folder.
Control-click the folder and choose Get Info.
In the Sharing & Permissions section, click the Details option, if necessary, to show owner and group options.
Click the lock icon in the lower-right corner. Type your administrator user name and password when prompted.
Give read and write permissions to your user name, system, admin, and everyone.
Click the gear icon, choose Apply to enclosed items, and then click OK.
Close the Get Info window.
Repeat the process on the remaining paths.
Reinstall your Adobe application.

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