Content Highlights
Adobe Photoshop CS6 is a legacy version of Adobe's professional image-editing software. Photoshop CS6 was originally released in 2012 and was designed for Windows XP SP3, Windows 7 SP1, and Windows 8. It was available for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows systems. This page provides information about the legacy Photoshop CS6 installer and its original features and system requirements.
Looking for a newer version? You can also check Adobe Photoshop CC 2017.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 is a classic version of Photoshop that introduced several important improvements to photo editing, retouching, design, and workflow. Although it is no longer a current Photoshop release, some users still look for CS6 because of its familiar interface, lower system requirements, and traditional desktop workflow.
Photoshop CS6 should be treated as legacy software. Adobe's current Photoshop releases have much newer system requirements and features, so CS6 should not be presented as a current or officially supported solution for Windows 10 or Windows 11.
| Icon | Version | Year | Status | Resource |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Photoshop 2026 | 2026 | Current | Download |
| Photoshop 2025 | 2024 | Previous / LTS | Guide |
| Photoshop 2024 | 2023 | Previous | Guide |
| Photoshop 2023 | 2022 | Older | Guide |
| Photoshop 2022 | 2021 | Older | Guide |
 | Photoshop 2021 | 2020 | Legacy | Archive |
 | Photoshop 2020 | 2019 | Legacy | Archive |
| CC 2019 | 2018 | Legacy | Archive |
 | CC 2018 | 2017 | Legacy | Archive |
| CC 2017 | 2016 | Legacy | Archive |
 | CC 2015 | 2015 | Legacy | Archive |
| CC 2014 | 2013 | Legacy | Archive |
 | CS6 | 2012 | Legacy | Compatibility |
 | CS5 | 2010 | Legacy | Compatibility |
 | CS4 | 2008 | Historical | History |
 | CS3 | 2007 | Historical | History |
 | CS2 | 2005 | Historical | History |
 | CS | 2003 | Historical | History |
 | 7.0 | 2002 | Historical | History |
 | 6.0 | 2000 | Historical | History |
 | 5.0 | 1998 | Historical | History |
 | 4.0 | 1996 | Historical | History |
 | 3.0 | 1994 | Historical | History |
 | 2.0 | 1991 | Historical | History |
 | 1.0 | 1990 | Historical | History |
Adobe Photoshop Old Versions
If you are looking for an older Photoshop release, these versions may also be useful:
Adobe Photoshop CC 2017
Adobe Photoshop CC 2015
Adobe Photoshop CC 2015 introduced several workflow and design improvements over earlier Creative Cloud releases.
Adobe Photoshop CC 2014
Adobe Photoshop CC 2014 is another earlier Creative Cloud version for users who need an older Photoshop release.
Adobe Photoshop CS6
You are currently viewing the Photoshop CS6 legacy version page.
What's New in Adobe Photoshop CS6
Photoshop CS6 introduced a number of significant improvements to image editing, retouching, cropping, blur effects, performance, and workflow. Some of the notable features are described below.
Content-Aware Move Tool
The Content-Aware Move tool lets you move or extend selected objects within an image while Photoshop automatically fills the area left behind. Its Move mode is useful for repositioning objects, while Extend mode can expand or contract elements such as hair, trees, and buildings.
Content-Aware Patch Tool
Photoshop CS6 enhanced the Patch tool with a Content-Aware option. It can synthesize nearby image content to replace unwanted areas while allowing you to control the source area used for the repair.
Photographic Blur Gallery
The Blur Gallery introduced three photographic blur effects: Field Blur, Iris Blur, and Tilt-Shift. These filters provide on-canvas controls for creating depth-of-field effects and adjusting the position and intensity of blur.
Adaptive Wide Angle
The Adaptive Wide Angle filter helps correct distortion caused by wide-angle and fisheye lenses. It allows you to draw constraints over architectural lines and other elements so Photoshop can correct perspective and lens distortion.
Improved Crop Tool
The redesigned Crop tool provides a live preview while cropping and makes it easier to straighten, rotate, reposition, and adjust the crop area. The crop interface also provides overlays and flexible aspect-ratio controls.
Mercury Graphics Engine
Photoshop CS6 introduced the Mercury Graphics Engine, which uses GPU acceleration for supported operations. This helped improve the responsiveness of features such as Liquify, Puppet Warp, Crop, and some image-editing operations on compatible hardware.
New Dark User Interface
Photoshop CS6 introduced a darker default interface with multiple interface color options. Users could choose between different shades from the Photoshop preferences to customize the appearance of the workspace.
Background Save and Auto-Recovery
Background saving allows Photoshop to save large documents without requiring the application to remain unavailable during the entire save process. Auto-recovery can also help restore work after an unexpected application failure.
Improved Video Editing
Photoshop CS6 expanded its video capabilities with a redesigned Timeline panel. Users could work with video clips, transitions, effects, audio tracks, text, images, and Smart Objects within the Photoshop workspace.
Lighting Effects Gallery
CS6 introduced a redesigned Lighting Effects workspace with improved performance and on-canvas controls. The 64-bit version provided access to the updated Lighting Effects gallery for supported systems.
Oil Paint Filter
The Oil Paint filter can be used to create a painted appearance from photographs and other images. It provides controls for adjusting the stylized brush and lighting effects applied to the image.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 Features
- Content-Aware Move tool
- Content-Aware Patch tool
- Field Blur, Iris Blur, and Tilt-Shift
- Adaptive Wide Angle filter
- Mercury Graphics Engine
- Redesigned Crop tool
- Improved Liquify performance
- New dark user interface
- Background saving
- Auto-recovery options
- Improved Lighting Effects gallery
- Oil Paint filter
- Improved video editing and Timeline workflow
- Improved text and typography controls
- Layer search and filtering options
These features are specific to the Photoshop CS6 generation and should not be confused with features introduced in later Creative Cloud releases.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 System Requirements
Adobe's original system requirements for Creative Suite 6 list Windows XP with Service Pack 3 and Windows 7 with Service Pack 1, with CS6 applications also supporting Windows 8. These are historical requirements for the original CS6 release and should not be interpreted as official support for modern Windows versions.
- Processor: Intel Pentium 4 or AMD Athlon 64 or later
- Operating system: Windows XP SP3, Windows 7 SP1, or Windows 8
- RAM: 1 GB minimum
- Hard-disk space: At least 1 GB available space for installation
- Display: 1024 × 768 minimum resolution
- Graphics: OpenGL 2.0-capable system with compatible graphics hardware
- Architecture: Photoshop CS6 was available in 32-bit and 64-bit Windows configurations
Adobe no longer treats Photoshop CS6 as a current Photoshop release. Modern Photoshop versions have substantially different hardware and operating-system requirements, so users should not assume that CS6 is officially supported on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Adobe Photoshop CS6 User Interface
Photoshop CS6 introduced a darker interface and several workspace improvements while retaining the familiar Photoshop tool and panel layout. The interface provides access to layers, brushes, adjustments, filters, paths, channels, and other editing tools from the main workspace.
File Format Support
Photoshop CS6 supports common image and design formats, including PSD, PSB, JPEG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, GIF, PDF, and several additional formats. PSD and PSB are particularly important for preserving Photoshop layers and editable project information.
Download Adobe Photoshop CS6
Adobe Photoshop CS6 is a legacy desktop application rather than a current Photoshop release. The software was originally sold as commercial software and should not be described as a permanently free version. If you already have a legitimate CS6 license or an installer obtained through an authorized source, use that license and installation media according to Adobe's terms.
For users specifically looking for the legacy Windows installer:
Download Adobe Photoshop CS6 for Windows (32-bit & 64-bit)
Because CS6 is an old application, compatibility with modern Windows versions can vary. For a newer Photoshop experience, consider moving to a later Creative Cloud release instead.
Photoshop CS6 vs. Newer Versions
Photoshop CS6 uses the traditional perpetual-license era of Photoshop and does not include many of the newer Creative Cloud features introduced after its release. Later Photoshop versions added substantial improvements in areas such as cloud workflows, modern camera support, artificial intelligence features, advanced selection tools, and compatibility with newer operating systems.
If your main reason for choosing CS6 is its lightweight legacy workflow, it can still be useful on compatible older Windows systems. If you need modern hardware support, current camera formats, security updates, or newer Photoshop features, a current Photoshop release is the better option.