How to Use the Adobe Asset Migration Tool (2026 Version)

Following the retirement of Creative Cloud Synced Files, Adobe introduced the Asset Migration Tool to help individual creators and enterprise teams transition legacy cloud assets into modern storage environments. The utility scans your local and cloud-based file records, detects orphaned sync directories, resolves broken asset dependencies, and transfers files into Adobe Cloud Documents, Creative Cloud Libraries, Frame.io, or localized team storage.

Fast Fix

Open Creative Cloud Desktop, go to Files, and select Asset Migration Assistant (or launch AdobeAssetMigrator.exe from your enterprise package). Choose your source archive folder (Creative Cloud Files), select your destination target (such as Cloud Documents, Frame.io, or Local/NAS Directory), and click Analyze and Migrate. The tool moves assets and writes a validation log to confirm file integrity.

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Quick Status Snapshot

• Purpose: Batch-migrating retired Creative Cloud Synced Files to modern destinations.
• Target Layer: File system pointers, cloud storage endpoints, and local project asset links.
• Privilege Level: Local Administrator for batch file moving; Admin Console access for enterprise tenant migrations.

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What the 2026 Migration Tool Does

Before the end-of-life of Creative Cloud Synced Files, assets were mirrored between a local drive folder (Creative Cloud Files) and Adobe cloud storage servers. When background sync was deactivated, local files remained intact on the user’s hard drive, but remote sync stopped, severing cloud-sharing links and automated off-site backups.

[Legacy Synced Files Archive]
       │
       ▼
[Adobe Asset Migration Tool]
       │
       ├── Reads legacy sync metadata & validates checksums
       ├── Detects linked dependencies (InDesign links, Premiere media)
       │
       ├───► Target Option A: Cloud Documents (.psdc, .aic)
       ├───► Target Option B: Creative Cloud Libraries (Design systems/styles)
       ├───► Target Option C: Frame.io Storage (Video editing & review)
       └───► Target Option D: Local Server / NAS (Standard file paths)

The 2026 version of the tool automates three critical tasks:

1. Metadata Preservation: It carries over file version history, tags, and creation dates to the new destination.
2. Path Re-linking: It scans active InDesign documents and Premiere Pro project files to re-target internal links to the new asset location.
3. Collision Handling: It detects duplicate filenames created during previous sync disconnects and resolves naming conflicts automatically.

If you are unsure where your local files were archived after synchronization ended, consult Where are my Files? Locating the ‘Creative Cloud Files’ Archive.

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Step-by-Step: Running the Migration

Step 1: Pre-Migration Health Check

Before launching the tool:

1. Confirm that you have sufficient disk space. Migrating to another local directory or staging a large upload requires free storage equal to the size of your asset archive.
2. Close all running Adobe creative applications (Photoshop, Illustrator, Premiere, InDesign) to release active file locks.
3. If video production assets make up the bulk of your archive, consider setting up a dedicated workspace first by reviewing How to Migrate Adobe Assets to Frame.io Storage.

Step 2: Configure the Migration Source and Destination

1. Launch the Adobe Asset Migration Tool:
   • Individual Users: Open Creative Cloud Desktop, navigate to Files, and select Launch Migration Assistant from the banner notification.
   • Enterprise Users: Run the tool provisioned by your IT department via the Command Prompt or Terminal.
2. Under Source Directory, verify that the path correctly targets your legacy sync folder:
   • Windows: C:\Users\<Username>\Creative Cloud Files
   • macOS: /Users/<Username>/Creative Cloud Files
3. Select your Destination Type:
   • Cloud Documents: Ideal for native .psd, .ai, and .xd assets that benefit from cloud auto-saving.
   • Local / Network Shared Drive: Best for raw camera assets, font libraries, and multi-app design folders.
   • CC Libraries: Recommended for logos, color palettes, and reusable brand assets.
4. Click Scan & Analyze.

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Adobe Asset Migration Tool (2026)                        │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Source:      C:\Users\Editor\Creative Cloud Files        │
│ Destination: D:\Production_Archive\                      │
│                                                          │
│ Scan Results:                                            │
│ • Total Files: 4,820 (142 GB)                            │
│ • Broken Pointers: 12                                    │
│ • Naming Conflicts: 3 (Auto-resolved)                    │
│                                                          │
│   [ View Log ]                         [ Start Migration]│
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Step 3: Execute Migration and Verify Receipts

1. Click Start Migration.
2. Do not sleep, restart, or disconnect your computer from the local network during transfer.
3. Once completed, inspect the summary screen. If any items report an error, click Export Error Log.
4. The generated CSV will flag specific files that failed to move, usually due to Windows path-length limits (exceeding 260 characters) or unreadable file permissions.

If you have thousands of individual raw assets stored in the cloud that never downloaded locally before synchronization ended, see How to Batch Download Your Adobe Cloud Assets in 2026.

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Fixing InDesign and Premiere Link Breaks Post-Migration

Moving your files to a new local or cloud destination changes their absolute file paths.

• InDesign Projects: If documents open with missing link indicators (red question marks), use the automatic path-remapping feature detailed in Moving InDesign Links from Cloud Sync to Local Server Paths.
• Premiere Pro Sequences: If footage appears offline after running the migration tool, relink the root folder through the Link Media dialog using the new destination path.

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Hard Stops

• Do not delete the original Creative Cloud Files archive folder immediately after the migration completes. Keep the local archive directory as a read-only backup for at least 30 days until you have opened and verified all critical production files in their new destinations.
• If the migration tool fails with an “Access Denied” error on specific folders, the operating system may have retained outdated security permissions on the legacy sync directories. Follow Troubleshooting ‘Access Denied’ on Archived Cloud Folders to reset ownership before restarting the migration.