UCSC Adobe Creative Cloud Software Update

Update: Adobe Creative Cloud licenses were removed from all campus users on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. This includes access to Adobe Acrobat. Please review the following info to restore your access to this software/service.

UC Santa Cruz now uses a “just-in-time” licensing model for Adobe Creative Cloud, meaning licenses are only assigned when someone actively uses the software – saving the campus money! 

Any faculty, staff, or student who wants to use Adobe Creative Cloud is required to activate their license by logging in with their UCSC CruzID account and password and clicking on an activation link. The process helps the campus reduce costs while ensuring that Adobe stays available to everyone who needs it. Your data stored in the Adobe Cloud storage will not be removed or affected by license changes. 

What to expect

Campus Adobe Creative Cloud licenses will be removed from all users twice a year, once in September (this already happened Sept. 2) and again in March. You will need to then activate a license. 

How to activate your UCSC Adobe license

Refer to the following help articles:

• Get Started with Adobe Creative Cloud
• Activation: Faculty and Staff
• Activation: Students

If you have any questions or need assistance, get a help request started or call us at 831-459-4357.