Photoshop Error 16 — What It Means & How to Fix It

What Does This Error Mean?

Adobe Photoshop Error 16 means Photoshop cannot verify its license. This happens because the Adobe licensing service on your computer does not have the right permissions to run. The fix is usually as simple as adjusting folder permissions or running a repair tool — you do not need to reinstall.

Affected Models

Adobe Photoshop CC
Adobe Photoshop 2020
Adobe Photoshop 2021
Adobe Photoshop 2022
Adobe Photoshop 2023

Common Causes

The SLStore and Adobe PCD folders do not have the correct permissions, preventing the licensing service from accessing them
A Windows or macOS update changed folder permissions and broke Adobe's licensing access
Photoshop was installed without administrator rights, leaving licensing files incomplete
A third-party uninstaller or system cleaner deleted or modified Adobe licensing files
Multiple Adobe products installed at different times have conflicting licensing data

How to Fix It

On Windows, navigate to C:\ProgramData\Adobe\SLStore. Right-click the SLStore folder, select Properties > Security > Advanced.

ProgramData is a hidden folder. To see it, open File Explorer, go to the View tab, and check 'Hidden items'.
In the Advanced Security Settings, click 'Change permissions'. Make sure 'Administrators' has Full Control and 'Users' has Read & Execute. Click Apply.

If the permissions are already correct, move on to the next step.
Do the same for C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe PCD. Right-click > Properties > Security > Advanced and set the same permissions.

Both the SLStore and Adobe PCD folders need correct permissions for licensing to work.
Right-click the Photoshop shortcut and select 'Run as administrator'. If Photoshop opens without Error 16, the permission fix is working.

If running as admin works, you may want to always run Photoshop as admin until you confirm the folder permissions are fully corrected.
If the error persists, open Creative Cloud, go to the Apps tab, find Photoshop, click the three-dot menu, and choose Repair.

The Creative Cloud Repair function re-registers Photoshop's license files without a full reinstall.

When to Call a Professional

Error 16 is a well-documented Adobe issue with a specific fix. If the permission fix below does not work, contact Adobe Support and reference Error 16 — they have a dedicated process for this. Do not use third-party 'Photoshop activation' tools found online — these are often malware.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Error 16 often appear after a Windows update?

Windows updates sometimes reset folder permissions as part of security improvements. When this happens, the Adobe licensing folders lose the permissions they need. The fix is always the same: restore the correct permissions to the SLStore and Adobe PCD folders.

I see Error 16 on my Mac. Is the fix different?

On Mac, the fix is similar but uses different folder paths. Open Terminal and run: sudo chmod -R 777 /Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/SLStore Then run: sudo chmod -R 777 /Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Adobe\ PCD Enter your Mac password when prompted.

Will fixing Error 16 delete any of my Photoshop files or settings?

No. The fix only adjusts folder permissions — it does not change, delete, or modify any Photoshop files, your custom settings, brushes, presets, or documents. Everything stays exactly as it was.