Can I install my Adobe inDesign CS5 on the new iMac

oneacarp wrote:

Yes, it is possible to install Adobe InDesign CS5 on a new iMac, but you may encounter compatibility issues due to the age of the software and the hardware it's running on. You may need to troubleshoot any errors that arise during installation or usage.

No. It's not, actually.

Yes, it is possible to install Adobe InDesign CS5 on a new iMac, but you may encounter compatibility issues due to the age of the software and the hardware it's running on. You may need to troubleshoot any errors that arise during installation or usage.

Every moment you choose to believe oneacarp is another moment your time is being completely wasted.

It's already been described multiple times why it can't work by everyone else in this topic. And here's another one from me. I've used Adobe products since Photoshop 3.x. That's actual version 3, well before CS3. So yes, I know what I'm talking about.

CS5 will not, in any way, work on any Mac that runs a Mac OS version newer than Mojave. And it will not run on any Apple Silicon based Mac - ever. Period.

An Intel based Mac is a requirement. There is no way around that. CS5 didn't work all that well under Mojave. I had the entire CS6 Master Collection working in Mojave on an Intel based 2018 mini, but even that wasn't easy to get everything functioning.

Any Mac OS after Mojave will only run 64 bit software. CS5, CS5.5 and CS6 had 64 bit apps, but also had a lot of 32 bit dependencies they installed, which is why they won't run on anything later than Mojave. The installers themselves are 32 bit, so they are impossible to use in Catalina or later.

And no, you cannot use a VM to work around this. I've tried it, multiple times. VMware, Parallels and VirtualBox will only allow you to install Apple Silicon native versions of macOS. And since you cannot install Mojave, or any other older Intel based version of macOS in any of these VMs on an Apple Silicon Mac, you can't run CS5, 5.5 or 6, either.

The last test I did was with the free UTM VM software. It can emulate Intel CPUs. I managed to get Windows XP running on my M4 Pro mini in UTM so I could run what is otherwise irreplaceable color management software. It's a bit pokey, but it works.

I also tried installing Snow Leopard Server in UTM just to see if I could run the Mac version of that color management software. But, UTM has no way of emulating a Mac BIOS, or Mac hardware in general. So, even though it can emulate an Intel CPU, it cannot install or run Snow Leopard, or any other Intel based version of Mac OS.

Truly, give up any thought of running CS5 on an Apple Silicon based Mac. It cannot be done.

Absolutely no need for the aggression towards Oneacarp.

Sorry, but I disagree. Posts like that do nothing but push false hope. It was telling that oneacarp said it could be done, but then didn't give any instructions or a link to such. Why would a person insist something is possible, but then not tell you how to do it?

That's a rather common issue on these forums, in particular, when discussing malware. Five, eight or more very experienced Mac users will tell the OP they don't have malware of any kind. Then one person will come in and say, "Yes, you do! Don't believe what the others are saying!"

And who does the OP believe? The one person contradicting everyone else because that's what they already believed coming in, so they only want to listen to the singular (and incorrect) validation they wanted from the start.

By the way, that's not how I read your response. It reads exactly as you stated. You just wanted to know how. But you will never get an answer since it isn't possible.

I did look a little further yesterday, and there are ways to get an Intel version of macOS running on an M series Mac in UTM. But, it takes a lot of monkeying around with extra drivers you need to install. And the result in all the instructions I could find came down to, yes, the OS installs and runs, but is so slow and buggy it's unusable.

If you really want to run CS5, you're going to need an older Intel based Mac. Preferably one that can run High Sierra. That was the last version of macOS that could run 32 bit software without compromise (Apple's words). In Mojave, Apple had already started removing 32 bit code from the OS, so there was no guarantee what 32 bit software would run well, so-so, or not at all.

That means something older than an early 2018 mini, which could run Mojave, which is not a good choice for CS5. The other, and bigger problem will be getting it activated after the installation. It was hard enough getting CS6 installed, activated and the last updaters applied. CS5 may not be possible at all. You'll have to ask Adobe about that.

Ian,

The Affinity v2 applications are currently $69.99 each for macOS. No subscription, and can import/export Photoshop and Illustrator file formats. Don't let the price deceive you about the extensive features of these applications.

Each of the three applications has a free full-feature trial. They are also available in the Mac App Store for automatic updates.

Ian Butterfield wrote:

Allergic? Offensive thank you. Being a 1 parent Daddy and the huge hike in bills, I simply can't afford to pay for Adobe.

The intent was not to cause offense.

When Adobe switched from a one-time purchase model to a subscription model, I saw post after post after post, on another forum oriented towards photography, by photographers who were extremely upset over the change, and often swore that they would not pay the subscription fee.

These were people who might have paid $600 for a one-time-purchase version of Photoshop or $150 for a one-time-purchase version of Lightroom, complaining about Photography Plans that, at that time, started at $10 per month for access to Photoshop + Lightroom Classic. (Adobe has since gotten rid of the $10/month plan that included Photoshop access.)

It seems to me that in many cases, their objections were based on more than "I don't have the money."

Cs5 and cs6 use 32-bit code in their installers - they won’t complete on 64bit only OS hardware

thats probably the hardest brick wall you are hitting trying to install cs6 on any macOS over Mojave 10.14x

but perpetual license photoshop cs6 does indeed install, update correctly and run well on Mojave in a professional environment, huge layered documents, RAW DNG CMYK 16bit…every tool I’ve tried through 2019 hardware

one point, I recall, you would had to have downloaded the installers and updaters before adobe deleted them from their public servers years ago

not sure about cs5

ok I see you were talking about installing INDESIGN CS5 on a new Mac (2020-2025) -- i don't see how that would be possible either as KiltedTim pointed out

InDesign CS6 installs and updates on Mojave 10.14 -- but is not reliable for me on 2017-2019 hardware -- I am able to use it for some simple stuff

oneacarp wrote:

Yes, it is possible to install Adobe InDesign CS5 on a new iMac

Not possible here in 2025. CS5 are 32-bit apps. macOS Mojave on an Intel Mac was the final version of macOS that CS5 could be installed or run on. All new Macs are 64-bit Apple Silicon and come with macOS Sequoia.

Thank you. Yes, wrong direction. Knew I should have looked it up. It gets hard to keep these names straight.

Since CS5 was released in 2010, Mountain Lion would probably be the most compatible OS versions (I wouldn't suggest Lion to anyone). But should still work under Mavericks or Yosemite. After that, it's still worth trying El Capitan, Sierra and High Sierra. May as well use the newest OS release possible if CS5 runs.

Ian Butterfield wrote:

Also, can my very trusty old Mac Pro connect to the new iMac to 'use' the monitor part?

Target Display Mode went away when the first 27" 5K Retina iMac came out in Late 2014 – and never came back. You cannot use a 24" M4 iMac as a hardware monitor for any other device, including a Mac Pro.

See the bad news here: Use your iMac as a display with target display mode - Apple Support

A 24" M4 iMac would be able to act as an AirPlay Receiver for AirPlay to Mac. However, even if your old Mac Pro could use a 24" M4 iMac as an AirPlay display, I doubt if you would find the results satisfactory. The connection would probably be limited to 1920x1080 resolution, with the possibility of lags and artifacts being thrown in. So spending money on a 24" M4 iMac just to use it as an AirPlay display, while leaving the computer part "unused", would likely leave you very, very unhappy. If your goal was to keep using the old Mac Pro, but with an upgraded monitor, you would be much better off purchasing a standalone monitor that was compatible with the Mac Pro.

Reference: Continuity features and requirements for Apple devices - Apple Support

You can get all of the Affinity app as free demos for 7 days at this link: Affinity Free Trial | 7-Days, No ObligationAffinityhttps://affinity.serif.com › en-us › trial

I've been using Photoshop/Photoshop Elements for over 25 years. so I know the layout very well. GIMP can do about all of what Photoshop can but its GUI is different and will take some time learning the curve.

It's the same with MS Office apps. There are expensive and they try to get you into their subscription service. I went with the open source, free LibreOffice. It can open edit and save MS Office documents in MS Office formats or its own format. And the price is right.

No. You're going to have to subscribe or find an alternative. CS5 is like 15 years old now.

gimp that was linked too is a free program

if you don't wish to rent software from adobe then you can try and begin to learn to use that instead

No. Sorry. That won't work on an Apple silicone base Mac.