Error 146 occurs during Adobe Premiere Pro installation when files cannot be moved or copied, typically due to background processes or permission issues. This comprehensive guide will help you resolve the problem step by step.
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What is Adobe Premiere Pro Error 146?
Error 146 is an installation error that occurs when Adobe products cannot move or copy necessary files during the installation process. The primary causes include:
- Background Adobe processes that are still running
- Installation path and permission issues
- Corrupted installation files from previous attempts
This error is particularly common when installing large Adobe Creative Suite applications like Premiere Pro, Photoshop, and After Effects. Following the correct troubleshooting sequence typically resolves the issue.
1. Force Restart Creative Cloud App
This is the simplest first step. Completely close and restart the Creative Cloud desktop application to clear any temporary conflicts.
- Click the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner of Creative Cloud app
- Select "Quit Creative Cloud"
- If a restart popup appears, click "Relaunch"
- After the app fully restarts, retry installing Premiere Pro
2. Terminate All Adobe Processes
If restarting the Creative Cloud app doesn't work, you'll need to manually terminate all background Adobe processes that might be interfering with the installation.
Windows Users
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
- Go to the Processes tab
- Find and select the Adobe processes listed below
- Click "End Task" for each process
macOS Users
- Press ⌘ + Space to open Spotlight
- Search for and open "Activity Monitor"
- Find the Adobe processes listed below
- Select each process and click "Force Quit"
Adobe Processes to Terminate
3. Rename Adobe Program Folders
Incomplete Adobe installations can conflict with new installations. Instead of deleting, safely backup existing folders by adding .old to their names.
Windows Path
macOS Path
Folder Renaming Examples
4. Reset Installation Location to Default
Installing Adobe products on external drives or non-standard paths significantly increases the chance of Error 146. Always use the default installation location.
- Launch the Creative Cloud desktop app
- Click the Settings gear icon → "Preferences"
- Select "Apps" from the left menu
- In the "Install Location" section, choose "Default location"
- Click "Done" or "Save"
- External hard drives or USB drives
- Network drives or shared folders
- Paths with special characters or spaces
- Very deep folder structures (more than 5 levels)
5. Run Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool
If all previous methods fail, use Adobe's official Cleaner Tool to completely remove all Adobe-related files and registry entries from your system.
How to Download and Run Cleaner Tool
- Download "Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool" from Adobe's official website
- Run as Administrator (Windows) / with sudo privileges (macOS)
- Select language → English
- Choose "CC Apps" from the options (recommended). Select "All" only if needed
- Restart your system after cleanup completes
After Running Cleaner Tool
- Restart your computer
- Re-download and install Creative Cloud desktop app
- Sign in with your Adobe ID
- Begin fresh installation of Premiere Pro
6. Check Installation Logs
If Error 146 persists after trying all solutions, examining installation log files can help identify the specific cause of the failure.
Windows Log Paths
macOS Log Paths
Key Log Files for Error 146
- AdobeSetup.log — Complete installation process
- CreativeCloudInstaller.log — CC app installation
- PDApp.log — Individual app installation
Common Error Messages and Solutions
- "Permission denied" / "Access is denied": Permission issue → Run installer as administrator and ensure default installation path
- "File in use" / "Process busy": Another Adobe process is using files → Terminate processes in Task Manager or restart system
- "Path not found": Installation path issue → Change to default location in Creative Cloud preferences
- "CC Installer errors": Repeated failures in CreativeCloudInstaller.log → Run Cleaner Tool and reinstall CC app
Quick Troubleshooting Checklist
Follow these steps in order to resolve Error 146. This sequence solves 99% of cases.
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✓
Force restart Creative Cloud app → If this fails, proceed to next step
- ✓
- ✓
- ✓
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✓
Check log files (AdobeSetup / CreativeCloudInstaller / PDApp)
Success Rates by Step
- Steps 1-2: Resolves approximately 60% of cases
- Steps 3-4: Resolves approximately 85% of cases
- Step 5 (Cleaner Tool): Resolves approximately 95% of cases
Reference: Based on Adobe Official Documentation
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