Adobe ID failure takes Creative Cloud down for nearly 24 hours

Subscribers have been unable to sign in to any Adobe services, including Creative Cloud — which allows users to "rent" access to the company's suite of creative applications — since Wednesday evening, leaving many who depend on the company's offerings in the lurch.

Problems began to pile up for Creative Cloud beginning around 3:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on Wednesday, when some users found themselves unable to download applications. That was followed by an issue with modifying team accounts, failures affecting the ability to purchase new Creative Cloud subscriptions or create new Adobe IDs, and finally the sign-in problem.

Adobe has been largely silent on the subject since Wednesday evening, save for a handful of apologetic tweets and a promise to "restore as soon as possible." The root cause appears to be a failure of the Adobe ID system, which is to Adobe's products what the Apple ID is to Apple devices and services.

Because Creative Cloud applications require users to be online to verify their subscription, subscribers who already have the software installed may be able to work around the authentication problems by taking their computer offline before opening the applications.

Adobe stopped offering standalone versions of their popular Creative Suite last year, forcing those who wished to upgrade to the newest edition to purchase it on the Creative Cloud subscription model. Many users criticized that decision, often citing potential scenarios much like this one.

52 Comments

captmrgnx 9 comments · 10 Years

About 10 years ago

This is completely unacceptable. Looks like software renting may have some serious drawbacks after all.

genovelle 1481 comments · 16 Years

I do not believe in subscription only anything. Especially if it is used to run a business. Too many possible breaking points. Internet failure on location, by the internet service provider, or a issue like this on software provider side. This includes all of your assets being inaccessible. Unacceptable!

p5cho6 5 comments · 10 Years

I never believed in cloud software subscriptions... I will never "subscribe" to office365 or any other service that directly screws over the consumer and requires a damn internet connection to use the software that I paid money for.