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This how-to article is to guide faculty and staff through downloading and installing the Creative Cloud desktop application as well as the apps included in their license level.
Overview
Think of Adobe Creative Cloud as the central "App Store" for Adobe applications.
Using it, you can:
- See the Adobe applications and products available to you based on your licensing
- Install Adobe applications on your computer
- Manage app updates
If you're having challenges launching an Adobe app (ex. Adobe Acrobat) you'll want to check that you're logged into the Creative Cloud app properly because it controls access to the other Adobe applications.
Download and install the Creative Cloud application
- Go to the Adobe CC download center
- Select Download Creative Cloud
- Save the installer to your downloads folder
- Go to your downloads folder and open the installer
- Follow the prompts to complete installation
Logging into Creative Cloud
- Launch the Creative Cloud desktop application
- Type "mtholyoke.edu" into the email field and select the small blue Continue button to be redirected to the Blue and White MHC login screen
- DO NOT USE the social sign in options (details in Gotchas & pitfalls section below)
- Enter your MHC username (no @mtholyoke.edu) and password and select Login
- If prompted, complete Duo verification
- If prompted, select Company or School Account
Installing Adobe apps
- Go to the Apps tab using the menu on the left
- Find the app(s) you want to install (that are available with your license), and select Install
Apps that you already have installed will have a button that says "Open" next to them. Apps that are web-based will have an "Open in browser" button next to them.
Gotchas & pitfalls
"Try/Buy" instead of "Install"
If you have the standard faculty/staff Adobe access, you will see a "Try/Buy" button for any apps that aren't included in your licensing. The only apps that are available with your licensing are Acrobat, Adobe Express, and Adobe Firefly.
If you have the full Adobe Creative Cloud license and are still seeing "Try/Buy" buttons, try logging out and back in being very careful to follow the log in instructions above. More detailed troubleshooting steps.
Social sign in
On the sign-in screen, you'll see options to continue with Apple, Google, and Facebook.
Avoid selecting these (especially Google) because you can inadvertently create a second account unaffiliated with the MHC enterprise license which will then prompt you to "Try/Buy" the Adobe products instead of installing them for free.
Organizational vs personal account
You may be prompted after signing in to select "Company or School Account" or "Personal Account". Please select "Company or School Account".
New employees
Access to the default faculty/staff Adobe licensing is provided when you become an employee at MHC. Please note that Adobe access provisioning is manual and new employees may not be immediately granted access to the software. If this persists more than a week after your first day, please create an Adobe support ticket.