First released in 1990, Adobe Photoshop has gone through more revisions than most novels. Complicating matters, Adobe has transitioned from a sequential, numeral-based version system to one that includes letters and numbers. Although the system can be confusing, finding your version number for Adobe requires only a brief search in a few reliable places.
While Adobe Loads
If you're in a hurry, run the program. Almost every version of Photoshop presents a splash screen that displays while the program is loading. This splash screen typically tells you the wider version number, such as "CS4." It also includes smaller lettering with the specific version number, such as "14.102.1124." This screen disappears after the program finishes loading.
Within the Program
If you didn't catch the version number on the splash screen, you can find it after Photoshop has loaded. Open the "Help" menu, and you'll find an option named "About Adobe Photoshop." On a Mac, select "About Photoshop" from the Photoshop menu. Click on that menu item, and it presents the same screen of information shown when the software first opened.
Using Windows
If you can't open Adobe Photoshop, you can also find the version number within the Windows control panel. Swipe down on the right side or bring your mouse to the upper-right corner and drag down to reveal the charm bar. Cick "Settings." In the space that appears, click "Control Panel." In the Window that opens, click on "Programs" and then "Programs and Features." In the list that appears, look for Adobe Photoshop and you'll find the specific version number.
