Last updated on Apr 14, 2025

Use the Creative Cloud Cleaner tool to fix common problems, such as removing old Adobe software, cleaning corrupt installation files, and fixing your host files to connect with Adobe servers.

Note:

For enterprise users, run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool in silent mode to list all the products it can remove.

Run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool on Windows

  1. Download the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool. If prompted, select Save file to download the file on your device.

  2. Right-click the downloaded file and select Run as administrator. If Run as administrator isn't available, double-click AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.exe to run the file.

  3. Select your preferred language by typing E for English or J for Japanese, and then press Enter.

  4. Review the Adobe End User License Agreement. Type y to accept the terms or n to decline and stop the process, and then press Enter.

  5. Type the number corresponding to the apps you want to uninstall or the function you want to carry out, then press Enter. For example, type 3 to uninstall Creative Suite apps and Creative Cloud apps and type 4 to uninstall Creative Cloud apps.

    The Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool on Windows displays the list of apps available for you to uninstall.
    Typing a number will uninstall the corresponding app or carry out the associated function.

  6. To remove an app after selecting an option, type the number corresponding to the app name and press Enter.

    If you are having trouble with file syncing, you might need to remove Adobe Content Synchronizer. To do this, type 1 or 4 and press Enter. Then, type the number corresponding to Adobe Content Synchronizer and press Enter.

  7. Type y to confirm and press Enter.

  8. If you're unable to connect to Adobe's servers, start the process again to fix the host file. After accepting the End-User License Agreement, type 12 to select the host file option, and then type y and press Enter. The Cleaner tool creates a backup of the host file (named hosts_bkup) in the same directory, which you can revert to if a problem occurs.

  9. When you see the message "Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool completed successfully," press Enter and restart your computer.

  10. Once you have successfully run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner tool, install your Creative Cloud or Creative Suite application.

Run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool on macOS

  1. Download the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool.

  2. Double-click the AdobeCreativeCloudCleanerTool.dmg file.

  3. Select your language from the menu in the upper right.

  4. Review the Adobe End User License Agreement, then select Accept to proceed or Quit to decline and end the process. 

    Note:

    The End-User License Agreement is displayed in English or Japanese, depending on the language setting of the Root user account.

  5. Select the apps or functions you want to uninstall from the menu in the upper-right corner. For example, select CC Apps, Creative Cloud & CS6 Products to uninstall Creative Cloud, Creative Cloud apps and Creative Suite products and CC Apps to uninstall a Creative Cloud app.

    The Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool window displays the apps available for uninstallation on macOS.
    Select the apps you want to uninstall.

  6. Select the app you want to clean up from the table, then select Cleanup Selected.

  7. If experiencing file syncing issues, Adobe Content Synchronizer may need cleanup. First, ensure that All is selected in the pop-up menu. Then, choose CoreSync from the list and select Cleanup Selected.

  8. If you're unable to connect to Adobe's servers, select Fix Host File from the table to repair the host file, and then choose Cleanup Selected. The Cleaner tool creates a backup of the host file (named hosts_bkup) in the same directory, which can be restored if needed.

  9. When you see the message "Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool completed successfully," select Quit and restart your computer.

  10. Once you have successfully run the Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner tool, install your Creative Cloud or Creative Suite application.