Introduction

If you’re a MacBook user and have encountered the error message:

“This unlicensed Adobe app will be disabled soon. Unlicensed apps may contain malware that exposes your files and personal data to security risks.”

…then you’re not alone. This issue generally occurs when your Adobe Photoshop subscription has expired or when the license validation fails due to account or software misconfiguration. The error can cause the app to hang or crash, resulting in loss of unsaved work — which can be incredibly frustrating.

In this article, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step method to fix this problem and get Adobe Photoshop running again on your Mac.

Method 1 to Fix Expired or Unlicensed Adobe Photoshop on Mac

🔧 Step-by-Step: Fix Expired or Unlicensed Adobe Photoshop on Mac

✅ Step 1: Force Quit Adobe Photoshop

If your Photoshop is stuck or frozen, start by closing it completely.
1. Click on the Apple menu () in the top-left corner.
2. Select Force Quit.
3. Choose Adobe Photoshop from the list and click Force Quit.

✅ Step 2: Delete Problematic Adobe License Files

This step involves removing specific folders and license files that may be causing the error. Here’s how:

🛑 Important: Make sure Photoshop is closed before continuing.

1. Open the Finder.
2. Press Command + Shift + G to open the Go to Folder window.
3. One by one, go to the following directories and delete specific folders/files related to Adobe.

Plugins/Extension to Delete

• Go to Finder → Applications → Open Adobe Photoshop Folder → Right-click Adobe Photoshop (2022 in my case) and click Show Package Content → Open Content → Plugins → Required → Extensions → Delete MMXCore.plugin, FastCore.plugin (Note: You can delete other extensions too but make sure you don’t delete any JS files.

✅ Step 3: Restart Your Mac

After deleting the folders:
1. Restart your MacBook to clear any remaining cache or temporary files.

✅ Step 4: Reinstall or Launch Adobe Photoshop

Now that you’ve cleared the corrupted license data:
• Either reinstall Adobe Photoshop, or
• If you already have it installed, try launching it again.

In most cases, Photoshop should now open without the expired license error.

🔄 Method 2: Alternate Fix if Method 1 Doesn’t Work

If Method 1 didn’t resolve the issue, follow these additional steps carefully:
1. Download Adobe Photoshop version 23.4 from my Google Drive.
2. Completely remove all previous versions of Adobe Photoshop from your Mac.
3. Install the new version (v23.4) you downloaded.

After installation:
4. Follow the same steps as outlined in Method 1 to check if the problematic extensions still exist.
5. Turn off Wi-Fi on your Mac.
6. Open Adobe Photoshop and start a new project while Wi-Fi is still off.
7. After about a minute, turn your Wi-Fi back on. Photoshop should now continue to work without any license issues.

✅ Important Tips to Keep Photoshop Running Smoothly
• Do not quit the Adobe Photoshop app once it’s running. • Avoid restarting your Mac. Instead, simply close the lid of your MacBook when you’re done working. This is perfectly safe for your battery and won’t harm your device. • If you quit the app, you’ll need to turn off Wi-Fi again the next time you open Photoshop. • If you restart your Mac, you’ll also need to repeat the process from the beginning — including turning off Wi-Fi and reinitializing Photoshop as before.

So, to keep everything running smoothly, just leave Photoshop open and put your Mac to sleep when not in use.

🎥 Watch These Videos for Visual Guidance:
• Solution 1 – Fixing Adobe Photoshop License Error on MacBook
• Soluton 2 – How to Block Adobe Internet Access Using Mac Apps\
• Solution 3 https://youtu.be/xKPAIZhUSjo

📥 Download Adobe Photoshop (Mac Version)

If you need the installation file for Adobe Photoshop, you can download it from the link below:

👉 Download Adobe Photoshop for Mac (Google Drive)

🛑 Final Tips

• If you have an active Adobe subscription, try logging out and using Adobe without any cloud installation on your device.
• Always back up your work regularly, especially if you’re working on design files.
• Avoid using cracked or unofficial versions of Adobe software (lol), as they may cause additional errors or security risks (lol again).

Conclusion

By following the steps above, you should be able to resolve the unlicensed or expired Adobe Photoshop error on your MacBook. If you continue to experience problems, consider doing a clean reinstall or contacting Adobe support.

If this guide helped you, feel free to check out the video tutorial on my YouTube channel and share this article with others facing the same issue.

Got questions? Drop a comment below or reach out!