Adobe Photoshop now runs natively on Windows on ARM, catching up to Apple’s M1

By Arif Bacchus Published May 17, 2021

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Photoshop is now fully compatible with Windows 10 PCs like the Surface Pro X that are powered by ARM-based architecture. Adobe announced the news on a support page, noting that as of May 2021, the software now runs natively on 64-bit Windows 10 ARM devices.

Now that Photoshop runs natively on Windows 10 on ARM devices, there should be some performance gains for these Windows users across the board. It no longer runs under emulation, which had severely limited the speed and efficiency of some process-intensive tasks.

Recommended Videos

Photoshop landing as an optimized Windows 10 on ARM app on devices like the Surface Pro X is a huge creative boost for the platform, which is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets like the 8cx Gen 2. That is because Microsoft is promising better app support, and even beta-testing some changes on the platform. Windows 10 on ARM has lagged behind the success Apple has seen with its own ARM-based M1 chip.

Since Photoshop is a heavy hitter in the app world, there’s now the chance that other app makers could follow suit and update their apps for Windows 10 on ARM, too. Otherwise, there are no real differences between the native and nonnative versions of Photoshop.

Adobe didn’t provide any performance gain figures or statistics. There are, though, some minor missing features. This includes the ability to import, export, and playback embedded video layers, and use the shake reduction filter.

Adobe notes this on its support page, as well as a short list of known issues regarding installation, printing, and freezing. There are workarounds for each issue, so it’s best to check the support page if you’re encountering problems after installing the latest versions of the application.

Adobe also suggests running at least Windows 10 64-bit v19041.488.0, and having either 8GB or 16GB of RAM for the best experience. Missing features will come in subsequent releases, according to Adobe. You can update your Windows 10 version by going to Windows Update and pressing Check for Updates.

Adobe first beta-tested Photoshop for Windows 10 on ARM at the end of last year. The company also rolled out similar ARM-based support for Apple’s M1 Macs earlier this year in March.

Former Computing Writer

Arif Bacchus is a native New Yorker and a fan of all things technology. Arif works as a freelance writer at Digital Trends…

Topics

Branded Content

Before You Pay More for DDR5, Think About How Much Memory You Need

The MSI Cubi 5 1MA makes a strong case for looking beyond the newest specs

MSI Cubi 5 1MA compact mini PC with Intel Core processor

There is an easy trap to fall into when buying a new PC. The newer specification usually sounds like the better one, so choosing DDR5 memory over DDR4 can seem like an obvious upgrade. But with memory prices climbing to unusually high levels, it is worth asking whether you will actually benefit from paying more for that extra speed.

For many people buying a PC primarily for work, the answer comes down to how they use it. Everyday tasks such as browsing, email, spreadsheets, presentations, and video calls generally do not need the extremely high memory bandwidth DDR5 offers. Having enough RAM to keep several of those tasks running comfortably can be far more relevant.

Computing

Adobe Acrobat’s latest update could make working with PDFs considerably easier

New Acrobat features make it easier to understand, refine and present information in PDFs

Page, Text, Clapperboard

PDFs remain one of those unavoidable parts of working life. Reports, research papers, presentations, proposals, financial documents and client material still tend to arrive as PDFs, and the real problem is rarely opening or reading them. It is dealing with everything that comes after: finding the useful information in a lengthy document, understanding it quickly and eventually turning it into something presentable.

Adobe Acrobat is addressing both sides of that process with its latest update, introducing Stylize and Generate Report. The features are designed for people who spend a lot of time working with documents but do not necessarily want to spend equally long making those documents easier to understand or better looking. The good news for anyone looking to try them is that Adobe is offering free, unlimited access to these capabilities, so you can explore what they can do without immediately adding another subscription to your list.

Computing

The 5 Best Motherboards for AMD Ryzen 9000-Series Gaming PCs

From white showcase builds to no-nonsense gaming rigs, these five boards cover a wide range of needs

Gigabyte B850 AORUS ELITE WIFI7 and MSI MAG B850 TOMAHAWK MAX WIFI motherboards

AMD’s Ryzen 9000-series processors have made the AM5 platform an increasingly attractive choice for gaming PCs, but picking the right motherboard can be almost as important as picking the CPU itself. The motherboard determines everything from memory and storage support to connectivity, expansion, networking, and how much room you have to tune your system. For most gamers building a new Ryzen 9000-series PC, B850 is a particularly interesting sweet spot. It brings modern connectivity and PCIe 5.0 support without the enthusiast-level investment tied to AMD’s most expensive platforms.

1. ROG STRIX B850-F GAMING WIFI7 NEO