How to Troubleshoot Error 16 in Photoshop or After Effects
Question details
The user needs to resolve an Error 16 message that appears when attempting to open Adobe Photoshop or After Effects.
- Product
- Adobe Photoshop and After Effects
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Launching Adobe creative applications for design or video editing work.
- Observed behavior
- The application fails to start and displays a Configuration Error 16, indicating a permissions or licensing folder issue.
Ensure you are logged into your computer with an administrator account, as fixing Error 16 requires making changes to system folder permissions.
Update Permissions for Adobe Licensing Folders
Error 16 is a configuration error indicating the application cannot write to Adobe's SLStore or Adobe PCD folders. Updating permissions for these directories usually resolves the issue.
To properly validate your software license, Adobe applications require read and write access to specific system folders. If these permissions are altered by an OS update or system migration, Error 16 occurs.
Open File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac) and navigate to the Adobe SLStore and Adobe PCD folders. On Windows, they are typically found in 'C:\ProgramData\Adobe\SLStore' and 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe PCD'.
Right-click the SLStore folder and select 'Properties' (Windows) or 'Get Info' (Mac).
Go to the 'Security' or 'Sharing & Permissions' tab. Ensure that Administrators and System accounts have 'Full Control' or 'Read & Write' privileges.
Click 'Apply' to save the changes. Repeat this exact process for the Adobe PCD folder, then restart Photoshop or After Effects.
Run the Application as Administrator
A quick workaround to bypass basic permission restrictions is to launch the application with elevated administrator privileges.
Post in the Correct Adobe Support Community
If troubleshooting folder permissions does not work, you should seek help in the dedicated product forums rather than the Acrobat services forum.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What causes Error 16 in Adobe Photoshop or After Effects?
Error 16 is a configuration error that occurs when the application lacks the necessary read and write permissions for Adobe's central licensing folders (SLStore and Adobe PCD) on your system. This prevents the app from verifying your license.
Can I fix Error 16 by simply reinstalling the software?
Reinstalling Photoshop or After Effects often does not fix Error 16 because the folder permission restrictions on your operating system typically remain unchanged during a standard reinstallation. Manually updating the folder permissions is the recommended solution.
Where can I find the Adobe SLStore and PCD folders on Windows?
On Windows, the SLStore folder is usually located at 'C:\ProgramData\Adobe\SLStore', and the PCD folder is at 'C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\Adobe PCD'. Because 'ProgramData' is a hidden folder, you may need to enable 'Show hidden files' in File Explorer.
Why was my Error 16 question rejected in the Acrobat forum?
Acrobat.com services forums are strictly dedicated to Acrobat-specific document and cloud issues. Since Error 16 in Photoshop or After Effects is a localized application licensing issue, it falls outside their scope and must be addressed in the respective creative app support communities.
