This guide explains why this happens and how to resolve it quickly. Why This Error Happens
: Older builds like 1507 or 1511 lack critical security patches and may contain vulnerabilities—such as heap buffer overflows—that newer versions address. Impact on Users and Enterprise
If you're unsure about your current Windows 10 version or need help updating, follow these steps: This guide explains why this happens and how
For persistent update failures, perform an "In-Place Upgrade Repair" using Microsoft's official Media Creation Tool. This keeps all your files and apps intact while updating the OS.
Press the on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box. Type winver into the box and press Enter . A window titled "About Windows" will pop up. This keeps all your files and apps intact
If your system is completely broken or unable to update due to deep registry errors, backing up your data and performing a clean installation of a modern Windows 10 or Windows 11 build will instantly resolve the Adobe compatibility block. Troubleshooting Common Update Failures
This guide explains why this error happens and provides step-by-step solutions to fix it. Why Does This Error Occur? A window titled "About Windows" will pop up
: Users on older versions frequently encounter blocking errors stating, "Adobe Photoshop requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) or later. Upgrade for free to a newer version to run Photoshop" .
LTSB/LTSC editions are designed for mission-critical systems where stability is paramount, so they intentionally do not receive feature updates for years. This makes them excellent for running industrial equipment but incompatible with modern consumer software like Adobe Creative Cloud.
The error message "Adobe Photoshop requires Windows 10 Anniversary Update (version 1607) or later" is a direct compatibility statement from the Adobe Photoshop installer. It indicates that the version of Photoshop you are trying to install or update is not designed to function on the current version of your Windows 10 operating system. In many cases, a related installation failure can also manifest with the somewhat generic message "Sorry, installation failed. System requirements not met. (Error Code: 190)". This is essentially the same underlying problem: your OS version is on Adobe's list of unsupported or problematic systems for modern Photoshop releases.
Look for (or a higher number, such as 1709, 1809, 20H2, 21H1, etc.).