Fixing Adobe Creative Cloud Error 191 on Windows 11 (2025)

If you're stuck with Error 191 during install or update of Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop, here’s how I solved it—tested on Windows 11 (2025).

🧠 What is Error 191?

It means:

• Creative Cloud is flagged as essential and protected.

• Previous install is broken or stuck.

• Remnants or system rules block reinstallation.
  

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✅ Step-by-Step Fix (Correct Order)

🔄 Step 1: Use Adobe Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool

Run Adobe’s official cleanup tool to remove broken installs.

1. Download here:👉 Adobe Cleaner Tool

2. Run as Administrator.

3. Choose "Creative Cloud" option.

4. Restart your computer.
   

🔁 Step 2: Reinstall Adobe Creative Cloud (Before Deleting Anything Else)

⚠️ This step must happen now. If you delete system folders first, the installer may fail to run correctly.

1. Go to: 👉 Download Creative Cloud

2. Install it clean—don’t open it yet.
   

🛑 Step 3: End All Adobe Processes

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and kill:

• Adobe

• CCXProcess

• CoreSync

• Any other Adobe background tasks
  

🧹 Step 4: Delete All Adobe Remnant Folders

📁 Delete these Update Remnants manually:

4.1. Delete Adobe Installer Logs and Caches

These are where update temp files and logs are stored.

Delete:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\OOBE
C:\Users\<YOUR_USERNAME>\AppData\Local\Temp\Adobe\*

🔍 The OOBE (Out of Box Experience) folder is often the culprit in blocking reinstalls.

4.2. Clear the Update Database

Delete:

C:\Users\<YOUR_USERNAME>\AppData\Local\Adobe\AAMUpdater
C:\ProgramData\Adobe\AAMUpdater

💡 If a folder doesn’t exist—no problem. Delete what’s there.

✅ Step 5: Launch Creative Cloud — It Will Work

Now open Creative Cloud. It may ask to update—and this time it should succeed.