A developer has submitted patches to Wine that fix the Adobe Creative Cloud installer, allowing direct installation of Photoshop 2021 and 2025 on Linux without needing a Windows virtual machine. These updates address long-standing issues with HTML, JavaScript, and XML handling in Wine. The changes represent a significant step for Linux users reliant on Adobe's creative tools.
For years, Linux users have faced challenges running Adobe Creative Cloud applications due to compatibility issues with the installer, which has not worked properly since Adobe's 2018 updates incorporating embedded Internet Explorer components unsupported by Wine. Wine, a compatibility layer for running Windows software on Linux, previously required workarounds like installing Photoshop in a Windows virtual machine and copying files to a Linux prefix.
Developer PhialsBasement has submitted a set of patches to Wine that resolve these problems by fixing HTML rendering, JavaScript handling, and XML parsing. The XML tweaks ensure compatibility with stricter Linux parsers like libxml2, while JavaScript improvements support the installer's licensing and user interaction logic. As a result, the Adobe Creative Cloud installer now completes successfully on Linux, enabling direct setup of Photoshop 2021 and 2025.
PhialsBasement describes Photoshop 2021 as running 'buttery smooth' on Linux with these patches. Reports on Photoshop 2025 show mixed results, with some users experiencing less seamless performance. However, the ability to install without Windows access marks a commendable advancement.
These patches are not yet integrated into official Wine releases; users must compile Wine from source using the developer's GitHub repository to test them. Adobe does not officially support Linux, so ongoing compatibility depends on community efforts. This development benefits creative professionals and PC enthusiasts exploring Linux for gaming and workflows, reducing barriers to adopting the operating system. Alternatives like GIMP and Krita remain options, but for those tied to Adobe's ecosystem, the patches shorten the list of reasons to avoid Linux.
The patches were submitted around January 18, 2026, highlighting ongoing open-source progress in bridging Windows-only software gaps.
