UPDATE FEBRUARY 1, 2019: Lightroom 6 is no longer for sale on Adobe.com. It appears to still be available on B&H and on Amazon. I really don’t recommend purchasing it though, since as things break with operating system updates, etc, they will not be fixed. As an example, the Map module no longer works because of a change made at Google. Lightroom 6 also doesn’t support any new cameras introduced in 2018 and 2019.
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If you don’t want to subscribe to the Creative Cloud Photography Program ($9.99/mo) in order to get the latest version of Lightroom (Classic 7), but you want to get as up-to-date as possible, you can still purchase both the upgrade and full versions of the perpetual (stand-alone) Lightroom 6.
Here’s how you can find Lightroom 6 on Adobe’s website:
- Visit the Adobe.com product page.
- In the Search box, type “Lightroom 6”. That will bring up the option:
- Click on Buy now, and then choose the upgrade and indicate what version you are upgrading from:
Note that Lightroom 6 does not include the features introduced during the Lightroom 6 product cycle that were for Creative Cloud subscribers only – dehaze, guided upright, local blacks and whites, and panorama boundary warp, and it does not include features introduced in Lightroom Classic 7 (which is subscription-only) – performance improvements, range mask, an embedded previews workflow and other miscellaneous changes..
Lightroom 6 received its last update on December 19, 2017 with support for new cameras, new lens profiles and bug fixes. Development has now been permanently frozen.
Its been a great ten year run with Lightroom. I calculated my cost after the first license — i.e., taking into account buying an upgrade to the perpetual license once very 18 to 20 months — to be about $3 a month. While the new features sound cool, it’s hard to justify paying $10 a month (plus more depending on cloud storage needs) for essentially the same functionality.
Looks a whole lot like Apple’s free PHOTOS app can actually do most of the core Lightroom work including managing huge library, developing RAW files, etc.,all very fast and easy.
I won’t pretend that the subscription is the right answer for everyone, Danial, but to use Lightroom Classic you don’t need additional storage, so it would be $10/month, period. You’d get LR Classic, Photoshop, and 20 GB for month for shared Creative Cloud files or for checking out the new cloud-based LR CC. If you sync from Classic to mobile and web, that doesn’t count towards your storage, so you could potentially sync your entire catalog at no additional charge. (Smart previews are synced, not originals.)
Just got an e-mail note from you Laura on the upcoming webinar, and I won’t know until Saturday if the timing will work for me or not…so I may be late at registering. I’ve got Lightroom 6, and my photography is ‘hobby’ related basically, so it’s doubtful that I’d need the additions of the newer Classic. Of course it would be nice, but not really needed I doubt. I’ve never taken any Lightroom course as of yet, so I’m still feeling my way around with LR6, as I tend to spend more time using some of the Macphun applications, as I enjoy the HDR functions, grab a preset or two, and then dial in to my liking. I really should get some Lightroom training in, so when time allows, I’ll quite possibly do just that! Thanks.
Thanks for your note, Dale. I hope you can make it. Forgive me, but of course I can’t resist plugging my Lightroom CC/6 and 5: The Fundamentals & Beyond video series – one of several advantages over in person training is that you can do it at your own pace as you have time.
Thanks Laura! I’ll definitely keep it in mind for when things settle down here and I have some time to watch/listen/learn! As it is now with my LR6 I can import images, and get them into the Develop module, but from there, it’s more ‘playing around’ as I’m unsure of where to go, as I’ve never tried masking, or layering, so I can just move the sliders around and hope for the best. I’m sure there are others out there doing the same thing, thus the importance of getting the training you mention!
Will contact you once I get things settled, and thanks for the reply!
Thank you for the expiration on how to Buy the Perpetual-Version Lightroom 6, but in the Italian version. after you click in the search box “buy”, next page is for buying the annual plan:
Lightroom CC plan with 1TB
Piano Lightroom CC con 1 TB
Piano annuale, pagamento mensile
Subtotale € 9,99 /mese
IVA 22% € 2,20 /mese
TOTALE€ 12,19 /mese
IVA inc
I’m sorry to hear it doesn’t work in Italy, Alberto. I’m afraid I don’t have time to look for it now, but I do hope to return to this once the crunch subsides.
Hi Alberto, be careful that Lightroom CC plan with 1 TB is a very basic cut down version with lots of stuff missing in develop and import/export. It’s worse than version 1.
Regards
Laura is a great instructor – and I know as I am also an instructor! I am recommending her Saturday morning presentation however, a number of people in my photo group are attending a presentation elsewhere that morning. Maybe you can record the presentation for later viewing?
Thanks
Thank you, Lynette – I do plan to record it.
Hi Laura,
Here is a question I have not seen addressed anywhere:
Under the subscription model, what happens to accessing any keywords, collections, star ratings, and even editing changes entered in Lightroom once a person cancels their subscription?
In other words, if a photographer has LR for say 20 years and builds up a catalog of 50,000 images, all nicely edited and annotated, but then cancels the LR subscription due to a change in finances, interests or age, is everything except the original as-shot image lost?
Hi Ted, first, Adobe’s policy is that you can continue to use Lightroom “indefinitely” for free – you’ll just be locked out of making further edits in the Develop module. Second, you can save to XMP – but that doesn’t capture collections, step-by-step history, virtual copies, and pick and reject flags. Of course you have to pick up a software program that can read and properly interpret the XMP information.
Thanks for your quick response Laura. It sounds to me like, for long-term users who build up a library using the subscription model and then find they need to cancel at some point, Adobe is saying we will take care of you and allow you access to your past work, “sort of” and “maybe”. After all, Adobe already used the word “indefinitely” to describe how long the perpetual version would be available, and we know how that turned out. Lightroom is fabulous software, unfortunately I think Adobe as a company has come under the control of the accountants and money spinners. Like others, I will use my existing perpetual licence until it dies, then switch to another supplier.
I don’t see the post-cancel scenario that way, Ted – there’s no “sort of” or “maybe” – you can use Lightroom for free but will be locked out of future edits. (If new management takes over 5 years from now and changes this, so be it – but you can always save your work to XMP and go elsewhere. XMP just can’t capture things that span images (e.g. collections) and fields not supported by the protocol.)
Hi Laura, Ive been with LT since ver 1 and loved it but now I’m on 6 it is very slow snail pace. I would subscribe if Adobe charged for LT alone as I do not need or want PS. I have PSE and I hardly use it mainly standby for layers. I also have other plug-ins like Luminar, ON1 and others so do not need PS and not want to spend time learning it. Shame but there you have it i will trudge on till LT finally dies, Adobe should really care about their loyal users who only want LT and do something about it they will loose customers like myself. Thanks for your emails and notifications. Take care.
I hear you, Vic, and if it doesn’t sadden Adobe to lose customers like you, it saddens me.
Hi Laura, thanks for your reply. I also noticed that Adobe do a subscription for LR CC which I would have joined but looking at it they stripped it of a huge amount of stuff that I use. It would be like going back before ver 1 and the price is the same but get all that web space that I don’t need. Looks lie they are pushing old LT users to LT Classic CC which we don’t want. I do think though despite what their competitors are saying now, it will not surprise me that they will follow Adobe and they go subscription only in the near future. Decisions Decisions!!!
Regards.
Hi Laura, yesterday I purchased a LR6 upgrade to LR5.7 and downloaded the file LR6_LS11.exe as well as receiving the 24 digit key. I already had LR CC Classic and LR 5.7 installed. When the so called LR 6 upgrade was installed I ended up with LR CC again> Any ideas about this please.
Regards
I’m sorry, Graham – I can’t troubleshoot installation issues. I’d suggest posting on lightroomforums.net or on the Adobe Lightroom forum.
I currenty have a light room 6.1 CD copy that is on file with Adobe, I have misplaced the CD and ADOBE says I can down load the copy using the registration numbers registered. Unfortunately I only get cc and have been unsuccessful in downloading. Do you know HOW. They offer no phone support????
Hi Harry, there’s a recent post on my blog about how to revert to an old version of Lightroom – read that for how to find the Lightroom 6 download.
Hello Laura,
thanks for all that you do & have done for us Lightroom users over the years.
Although I really like using Lightroom, I am not a fan of the changes that Lightroom has implemented lately and plan to stay with this last stand alone version (6.14).
My question is; now that the last update has been released for (6.14) Lightroom 6 (2015) If I need to reload lightroom 6 in the future will I be able to install up to the latest update or just to the base release. In other words will the 6.14 update continue to be available?
thanks again,
Floyd
You’re welcome, Floyd! 6.14 will continue to be available. If you have to reinstall, you’ll install 6.0, and then the 6.14 patch.
Typing in Lightroom 6 in search box does not work for ordering standalone version.
Hi Kim, it’s no longer available on Adobe.com – please read the first paragraph, where I provided an update.