Should You Upgrade to Photoshop Elements 2024?

By far the most common question I get about Photoshop Elements each year is whether or not to upgrade each year. Let's look at your current version and your photo editing needs to see if you should upgrade. Watch my video to see what I recommend.

You can see all the new features in my Photoshop Elements 2024 review, the highlights this year are:

1. New interface for options of light and dark UI
2. New Guided Edits
3. Moving Elements
4. New features in the companion apps
5. Automatic syncing of your photos to the web

In the US, Photoshop Elements costs $99.99 and the upgrade saves you around $20. You can upgrade from any previous version of Photoshop Elements, not just the most recent version.

Photoshop Elements is sold on a perpetual license, so once you have a bought it you can use it as long as like. Many people don't upgrade every year and so make a big saving compared to monthly fees for Photoshop CC.

For recent versions, you'll have a free Adobe login and you can always find your licence key and the software downloads there if you need to reinstall it.

Is Your Computer Ready?

Windows

Photoshop Elements requires Microsoft Windows 10 (version 22H2) or Windows 11 (version 22H2); 64-bit versions only.

Mac

Photoshop Elements needs macOS 12, macOS 13 (13.4 or later)

Should You Upgrade?

Once you have checked that you are able to run the newest version on your computer now, we can see if you should upgrade!

Upgrade if you are using a version without a year in the name.

If you have Photoshop Elements 15 or earlier, it's time to upgrade! So many new features have been added in the last 5 versions. Plus, the program is now designed for 64-bit systems and make better use of your RAM.

Photo Editing

If you use Photoshop Elements to edit your photos and have Photoshop Elements 2018 or older, I'd recommend upgrading this year. There are now 62 guided edits, layer groups, adjust facial features, support for HEIC and HEVC files and performance improvements galore.

Upgrade from Photoshop Elements 2018 or older.

Moving Photos

In Elements 2023, Adobe introduced Moving Elements, a feature that will allow you to bring a touch of movie magic to any photo. Select the area to animate, choose the direction, adjust the speed, and then save your photo as an MP4 or GIF to share on social. In 2024, there were even more improvments.

Upgrade from Photoshop Elements 2022 or older for the moving photo enhancements.

Video Slideshows

You can create video slideshows in Photoshop Elements, and this year several new animated slideshow styles to choose from in Photoshop Elements. If you often make slideshows, this is the year to upgrade.

Upgrade from Photoshop Elements 2020 or older for improved video slideshows.

Video Editing

I don't teach Premiere Elements at DigiScrap HQ, but if you would like to do more than just create slideshows with your family video, I do recommend Premiere Elements.

If you use the video editor regularly, this version is worth the upgrade, there's a host of new features:

• Native Support of Apple Silicon
• Automatic Highlights
• Artistic effects for your videos
• New audio tracks
• New slideshow templates
• Faster launch times

Upgrade from Premiere Elements 2019 or older.

Photo Organizer

If you use the Organizer 2018 or earlier, this year is the year to upgrade! You'll have maps, and improved people view, automatic catalog backups.

Automated Video Tagging: Organizer can automatically add keyword tags (smart tags) to videos. When you search for a tag in a video, the video will play from the point

Consider upgrading from any previous version if you find that Organizer is a little slow for you (and you have a minimum of 8Gb of RAM). There are big performance improvements each year, plus you can just convert your existing catalog for use in the newer version.

Upgrade from Photoshop Elements 2018 or older.

Web Companion & Phone Apps

If you want to upload your photos, edit on the web or access your photos on different devices you'll want to upgrade to Photoshop Elements 2024.

Adobe has taken Photoshop Elements to the web. In the Web Companion you can view and download photos and videos, plus make slideshow and photo collages. If you purchase Photoshop Elements 2024, you automatically have access to Elements Web Companion. Elements Web can be accessed at http://elements.adobe.com/. You can watch my video here for more information.

You can also use the mobile app on Android and iOS to upload phone photos and sync them to your Cloud storage.

Upgrade from Photoshop Elements 2022 or older.

Where to Purchase Photoshop Elements

You can purchase Photoshop Elements from Amazon here. To get upgrade pricing, head to Photoshop Elements & Premiere Elements from Adobe.

Happy upgrading!

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