Before downloading anything, confirm exactly which version of Windows you are running. Press the on your keyboard. Type winver and press Enter .

While version 1607 (Anniversary Update) is the absolute minimum for older CC versions, modern Photoshop releases (2024–2025) now require or Windows 11 . 🛠️ Step 1: Check Your Current Version Before updating, confirm exactly what you are running: Press Windows Key + R . Type winver and hit Enter.

: Windows 10 Anniversary Update (Version 1607) or later (64-bit version recommended). : Intel Core 2 or AMD Athlon 64; 2 GHz or faster. : Minimum 2 GB (8 GB highly recommended). Hard Disk Space

:Go to Start > Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update and select Check for updates . The Anniversary Update should appear as "Feature update to Windows 10, version 1607".

. This version of Windows is the minimum requirement for features like Quick Share. Adobe System Requirements Photoshop CC 19.1+

The error message typically appeared during the launch or installation of Photoshop CC 2018 (version 19.1) and newer releases . Why this happens

The Windows 10 Anniversary Update, also known as version 1607, was released in August 2016. This update brought significant improvements to the operating system, including enhanced security features, new user interface elements, and performance enhancements. Adobe Photoshop, being a resource-intensive application, relies on these updates to ensure stability and compatibility.

There is a specific, little-known knowledge base article (Adobe KB220415, now deleted) that explained the technical link: