Disable Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service: A Step-by-Step Guide to Stop Annoying Pop-ups

We often use Adobe software for various creative and business purposes, knowing that it comes with a feature called Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service. This service is designed to ensure that users are operating genuine and authentic Adobe software. It performs checks to validate whether the Adobe software we use on our systems is licensed and not counterfeit or tampered with.

Sometimes, however, there can be legitimate reasons for wanting to disable the Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service. Performance issues, interruptions, or false positives where legitimate software is incorrectly flagged can lead us to consider disabling the service. It’s vital to note that disabling such features should be done carefully, acknowledging the risks, including potential vulnerability to software piracy and the loss of certain Adobe-provided services and updates.

Understanding Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service

Before we discuss the specifics, it’s important to understand what Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service is and the potential implications of disabling this service.

Purpose of Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service

Adobe’s Genuine Software Integrity Service operates in the background to verify the authenticity of Adobe software. Its primary function is to protect Adobe’s intellectual property and ensure that all users are running genuine, non-pirated Adobe software. Here’s a breakdown:

This service reinforces Adobe’s commitment to security and protection of intellectual property. It supports property protection technologies that deter the use of fraudulent software, which often lacks the security features and updates of genuine products.

Risks of Disabling the Service

While users may consider disabling the Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service for various reasons, such as system resource conservation, doing so comes with risks. Here’s what we should be aware of:

Disabling the service may seem like a simple way to free up system resources or avoid annoying pop-ups, but it circumvents important security measures and potentially violates Adobe’s terms of use. It could compromise both the functionality and privacy of our devices by exposing them to the risks associated with unverified software.

Disabling on Windows

We understand the importance of system performance and smooth operation of software like Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, and others in the Adobe suite. Disabling unnecessary services, especially when they’re causing issues, can help in running these heavy applications more efficiently on Windows 10 and other versions. Let’s walk through the exact steps to disable the Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service.

Using Task Manager

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to launch Task Manager.
2. Go to the Processes tab.
3. Find Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service or AGSService.exe.
4. Right-click on it and select End Task.

Using Services.msc

For a more permanent solution:

1. Press Windows + R, type “services.msc”, and press Enter.
2. Scroll down to Adobe Genuine Software Integrity Service.
3. Right-click and select Properties.
4. Under the General tab, find Startup type and set it to Disabled.
5. Click Apply then Ok.

Using Command Prompt

To remove the service from the system:

This command directly uninstalls the Adobe service in question from the system services list, ensuring it doesn’t run on startup or in the background.

Disabling on Mac

In managing the workflow on Mac, it’s essential to understand the uninstallation process for Adobe Genuine Service for performance and updates to our installed apps. Here, we’ll walk through the steps using Finder and system tools, or Terminal for users comfortable with command-line tasks.

Using Finder and System Library

We start by opening the Finder app. Navigate to the Applications folder, then dive into Utilities where we’ll find the Adobe Genuine Service. If there’s an Adobe clean-up utility available, running it will initiate the uninstallation process. Should that not be an option, we’ve to head to the Library folder.

To access the Library folder, open Finder and press ‘Shift + Command + L’. Here, we look for the ‘AdobeGCClient’ folder. Once located, we drag this to the Trash, prompting for the administrator password to confirm the action. Remember, messing with the Library can affect other parts of macOS, so we should proceed with caution.

Using Terminal Command

For those of us familiar with Terminal, we have a quick command at hand. First, we open Terminal from Applications or Spotlight. Once it’s up, we enter the command to disable the AdobeGCClient:

sudo launchctl disable system/com.adobe.agsservice

Then we input our administrator password when prompted. It’s critical to ensure the command is typed correctly to avoid unintended consequences. After this, the Adobe Genuine Service should not run on startup, and this should partially disable the service’s intrusive checks.

Though this doesn’t remove the service completely, it stops it from actively running. To remove it entirely would require deleting the service files from the system Library, which is a more invasive step and should be done with thorough knowledge of Mac’s file system.

After Disabling AGSS

When Adobe Genuine Software Service (AGSS) is disabled on your device, you may stop receiving the error message regarding the Adobe software verification failure. However, it’s important to be aware of the potential consequences and the best practices to ensure continued security while using Adobe apps.

Potential Consequences

Best Practices for Continued Security