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Unlicensed Fix — Mac

Stop Adobe's "unlicensed app" warnings on macOS using hosts blocking, firewall tools, or manual methods.

What's Happening

Adobe includes a background component called Adobe Genuine Service (AGS) with its apps. It periodically verifies your license by contacting Adobe's servers. When it detects a non-genuine installation, you'll see warnings — and eventually the app may stop working entirely. This happens because:

  • The app can still reach Adobe's validation servers
  • A macOS or Adobe update re-enabled background checks
  • Adobe Genuine Service is running and reporting your install
Before starting: Disconnect VPNs and proxies — they route traffic around local blocks. If you activated with MacKed or another tool that includes its own blocker, check that tool's docs first — it may already handle this.

Method 1 — Automatic Hosts Blocker (Easiest)

A lightweight background utility that syncs a maintained blocklist of Adobe validation addresses to your hosts file. Run it once and it updates automatically.

1
Download the blocker utility. Get it from the maintained source at a.dove.isdumb.one/list.txt (this is the blocklist the tool syncs).
2
Run the utility. Open the downloaded app/script. macOS may ask you to approve it in System Settings → Privacy & Security — allow if prompted.
3
Let it run in the background. On startup it pulls the latest blocklist, writes entries into /etc/hosts, and refreshes every 30 minutes. If the list can't be fetched, your existing entries stay untouched.
4
Restart Adobe apps. Quit every Adobe app completely, then reopen. The popup should stop appearing.

Method 2 — Radio Silence Firewall

macOS doesn't offer simple per-app outbound firewall rules out of the box. Radio Silence is a lightweight third-party tool designed exactly for this — one click blocks an app from making any network connections. LuLu is a free alternative if you prefer Objective-See's firewall.

1
Install Radio Silence. Download, drag to Applications, launch, and complete activation if prompted.
2
Turn it on. Make sure the main toggle shows On. Radio Silence only blocks apps you explicitly add.
3
Block Adobe apps. Click Block Application, browse to each Adobe app — After Effects, Premiere Pro, Photoshop — and select the .app bundle. Repeat for every Adobe app.
4
Close Radio Silence. Rules stay active in the background — no need to keep the window open.
Still seeing the popup? Add a second layer: open System Settings → Network → Firewall → Options, add the Adobe app, and set it to Block incoming connections.

Method 3 — Manual Hosts File

Edit the hosts file yourself — same blocklist as Method 1, but you maintain it manually.

1
Open hosts file. Terminal: sudo nano /etc/hosts. Enter your Mac password — Terminal won't show characters as you type.
2
Add the blocklist. Arrow key to the bottom. Paste IP entries from a.dove.isdumb.one/list.txt. Copy only IP and hostname lines — skip headers.
3
Save and exit. Ctrl+X, then Y, then Return.
4
Flush DNS. sudo killall -HUP mDNSResponder
5
Restart. Reboot your Mac, then open the Adobe app. If the popup returns later, refresh the blocklist.

Still Seeing the Popup?

  • On a VPN? VPNs bypass local DNS and firewall rules. Disconnect, verify, then reconnect.
  • After an update? Updates can restore services or add new validation addresses. Re-run Method 1 or refresh your hosts entries.
  • Creative Cloud installed? CC runs its own validation services. Uninstall CC if you don't need it, or add it to your Radio Silence block list.
  • Only one app affected? Check if shared background processes like Adobe Desktop Service or AGS are still running. Block every Adobe-related process you find.