User Guide Cancel

Create Named User Licensing Packages

Applies to enterprise & teams.

Note:

Availability Of user-generated packages

Starting December 2023, only packages aligned with Adobe's Enterprise & Teams support policy will be available on the Packages tab of the Admin Console.

This will help optimize the performance and load time of the Packages tab.

Introduction

Named user licensing is the default and most popular licensing method to deploy and use Adobe Creative Cloud and Document Cloud products. It is designed for the network-connected scenario where app licenses are managed based on individual user requirements. Using named user licensing, you can provide your end users with the full functionality of the software and services. Users can access all the available apps and services based on your organization's entitlements.

Learn about the various options to deploy and deliver apps and updates to your end users.

Acrobat Classic version can now be included in Named User Licensing packages. This will provide customers with a stable release Acrobat version that provides the ability to limit feature updates while still receiving security and platform enhancements. For more, see Document Cloud Product Tracks.

Self-service packages

Like millions of Adobe users, you can allow your creatives to install applications and updates via the Creative Cloud desktop app. It reduces IT overhead and ensures that your creatives have access to all the tools they need and receive updates when they are released.

Managed packages

With Managed packages, you can decide what gets deployed and when it gets updated. You can create the packages that contain the latest or archived versions of Adobe products. You can then deploy these packages to the user's computers in your organization. You can even perform silent and custom deployment where no inputs are required from your users during installation.

If you plan to use Managed packages, you can:

  • Create a Managed Package with elevated privileges turned on.
  • Create pre-configured packages using Adobe Templates.
  • Create customized packages that contain any one or more of the following:
    • Adobe apps and services
    • Configuration options
    • Marketplace plugins

Use this package to maintain greater control of the Adobe applications and updates that your users can install.

Note:

To create packages that include products such as Adobe Captivate and Adobe Presenter that are not part of Creative Cloud or Document Cloud, customize the available Adobe Templates. You cannot use the following procedure.

  1. Sign in to the Admin Console and navigate to the Packages > Packages.

  2. Click Create a Package.

  3. Choose Managed Package and click Next.

    Managed package

  4. On the Configure screen, select the required options:

    • Choose a Platform: Choose the operating system and the processor support from the following:
      • macOS (Universal)
      • macOS (Intel)
      • macOS (Apple Silicon)
      • Windows (64-bit)
      • Windows (32-bit)
      • Windows (ARM)
    Note:

    A package made for one operating system and architecture type, cannot be deployed on another.

    • It's necessary to create separate packages for Windows 64-bit, Windows 32-bit, and Windows ARM devices.
    • It's necessary to create separate packages for macOS (Intel) and macOS (Apple Silicon) devices. Alternatively, you can create a macOS (Universal) package, and use this to install apps on both macOS (Intel) and macOS (Apple Silicon) machines.
    • Language: Select the language in which to create the package.
    • Use OS Locales: Enable this option to create a package that deploys in the OS language of client machine. The OS language is the default fallback language in which the package is deployed.
  5. Click Next.

  6. On the Choose Apps screen, click next to the corresponding applications to include them in the package, and then click Next.

    Click Next on this step if you need to create a lightweight package (without Adobe apps) that includes either or both of the following:

    • Configuration options
    • Marketplace plugins
    Choose applications

    Note:

    If you deploy an application which has special system requirements on an unsupported machine the installer will fail. If required, see the system requirements for the application you are installing.

    Optionally, you can filter down the list of Available Applications to choose from.

    Latest versions: Display the latest version of all available applications.

    Long-term supported versions: Display Adobe's long-term supported versions.

    Beta apps: Display available beta apps. Learn more.

    Older versions: Display a list of previous versions of the apps. View versions that don't receive security or feature updates.

    Filter available applications

    Optionally, you can filter down the list of Available Applications to choose from.

    Latest versions: Display the latest version of all available applications.

    Long-term supported versions: Display Adobe's long-term supported versions. To know what versions are supported for your Creative Cloud plan, review the Creative Cloud Support policy

    Beta apps: Display available beta apps. Learn more.

    Older versions: Display a list of previous versions of the apps. View versions that don't receive security or feature updates.

    Filter available applications

    App Add-ons: Certain Adobe apps come with Add-ons. So, when you add an app that includes one or more Add-ons, you have the option to include the add-ons in the package you're creating. By default, Add-ons are not included in the package.

    App Add-ons

  7. (Not currently available for Windows ARM devices) On the Choose Plugins screen, search and select plug-ins to include in the package, and click Next.

    You can select the Show Compatible Plugins Only check box to display the plug-ins that are compatible with the apps in the package. This filter doesn't appear if you only have the Creative Cloud desktop app in your package.

    To view the list of selected plug-ins, click Selected Plugins.

    Note:

    The plug-ins that you include in the package do not necessarily need the supporting application to be part of the same package. You can include plug-ins and extensions for apps that are previously installed on your users' computers. Also, if a computer does not have the targeted application for a plug-in, the plug-in is not installed on the computer.

    Choose plugins

  8. On the Options screen, choose the required options and select Next.

    If you've not selected any apps and have selected one or more plugins, then you have the following options:

    • Create a plugin-only package by keeping the Configuration Options turned off.
    • Create a plugin and configuration package by turning the Configuration Options on.

    To create a configuration-only package, no apps or plugins should be selected. In this case, the Configuration Options switch will not be available, and the Configuration Options screen will be visible.

    Creative Cloud Desktop Options:

    • Enable self-service install: Allow users to install and update applications from Apps panel in the Creative Cloud desktop app. Learn more.
    • Allow non-admin to update and install apps: Enable self-service for end users who do not have administrative privileges, to install, and manage their applications and updates. Learn more.
    • Disable auto-update for end users: Ensure that end users will not be able to automatically update their applications via the Creative Cloud desktop app. Learn more.
    • Enable self-service plugin install: Allow end users to install and update plug-ins from the Marketplace tab in Creative Cloud desktop app. If deselected, the users can't browse or install any plug-ins using the Creative Cloud desktop app. Whenever you toggle this option, users must quit and relaunch. Alternatively, they must sign out and sign back into the Creative Cloud desktop app for the changes to reflect. Learn more.
    • Disable file syncing: Suppress the automatic syncing of files to client systems. Useful when you are installing packages in a test environment where you want to suppress file syncing. Read more on disabling file syncing. This option is available for Creative Cloud subscribers in commercial and educational organizations only. It is not available for subscribers in government organizations.
    • Enable browser-based login: By default, users must sign in using the Creative Cloud desktop app. Choose this option to redirect users to sign in via the browser. Learn more.
    • Enable install of beta apps: Enables end users to install and update beta apps from the Creative Cloud desktop app. This means that end users can then go to the Creative Cloud desktop app and install or update these apps. Learn more.
    • Install package to custom install directory: Enables you to install the apps in this package to a custom install directory. The directory is defined in the Packages > Preferences tab in the Admin Console. Learn how to set the Preferences.

    Also read about other customization options, in Creative Cloud app & services | Customizations.

    Management Options:

    • Enable Remote Update Manager: Enables the use of Remote Update Manager. Adobe Remote Update Manager lets you remotely run the updater on the client with the benefit of executing as an administrator. Learn more.
    • Redirect to internal update server: Enables you to redirect all updates for this package to an internal update server. The internal server details are specified in an override XML in the Packages > Preferences tab of the Admin Console. Learn how to set the Preferences.
    • (Not currently available for Windows ARM or macOS (Apple Silicon) devices) Create a folder for extensions and include the UPIA command-line tool: This option is enabled if you have plug-ins in the package. It creates a subfolder in the package folder to include extensions to install with the package. For more, see Manage Extensions in packages.
    • Install package to custom install directory: Enables you to install the apps in this package to a custom install directory. The directory is defined in the Packages > Preferences tab in the Admin Console. Learn how to set the Preferences.
  9. On the Finalize screen, specify the following:

    Package name: Enter the name of the package.

    Create flat package: If you have chosen a macOS platform, you have the option to create flat packages. This option is selected by default. For more details, see Creating flat packages.

    Review the included applications and configuration for this package before building the package.

    Click Create package.

    You are returned to the package list when the package creation process begins.

    If the package is built successfully, you are prompted to download the package.

    Also, the Download link is available in the Actions column of the corresponding package row. So you can download the package later. 

    A package is available in the Admin Console for up to three days. To check the time remaining to download a package, click  to the right of the package name.

If the package that you've created, contains one or more apps that have been rolled back owing to a bug or issue which needs to be fixed, this package displays as Revoked. You will be unable to download this package.

Also, if you have previously downloaded a package that contains a revoked app, you should not deploy it. You should create and deploy a new package with a non-revoked version of the app. 

Corrupted package

The downloaded package file is a .zip file format.

If you double-click to unzip the package file, you may encounter the following, Unable to expand error on macOS 10.14 and prior versions.

This is because the macOS Archive Utility does not support the unzipping of large files that are zipped using the Zip64 mode.

Error 1 - Operation not permitted

To unzip the file, open the terminal in the folder where you've downloaded the file and run the unzip command:

unzip <file name>.zip

Packageinfo.txt

The package that you download, contains a Packageinfo.txt file. This file has the information such as the following about that package:

  • Package Name
  • Package Type - Self Service or Managed
  • Platform
  • Locale
  • Creative Cloud desktop app version
  • Package Configurations
    • Remote update manager - Enabled or Disabled 
    • App Panel - Enabled or Disabled
    • Beta App Download - Enabled or Disabled
    • Browser Based Auth - Enabled or Disabled
    • Files Panel - Enabled or Disabled
    • Market Panel - Enabled or Disabled
    • Use OS Locale - Enabled or Disabled

The PackageInfo.txt file is for informational purposes only.

Acrobat-only packages

If your organization has a Document Cloud-only entitlement on the Admin Console, you can create Acrobat-only packages.

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