premiere pro help

Your GPU acceleration likely got disabled.

To fix it:

1. Go to File → Project Settings → General, and set Renderer to Mercury Playback Engine GPU Acceleration (Metal).

2. If it’s greyed out, reset Premiere’s preferences or start a new project.

3. Clear the media cache.

4. Ensure Premiere Pro has Full Disk Access in macOS settings.

5. Lower playback resolution and match sequence/footage settings.

6. If still lagging, reset preferences (hold Option+Shift on launch).

This usually restores GPU use and fix

es lag or sync issues.

If Premiere 'sees' a GPU it can use, it does. The user doesn't have the choice to turn it off any more. Only possibility is per 'launch' of Premiere, if you hold down the shift key while launching, As then you get a dialog of options, one of which is to go 'software only', which leaves the GPU out.

But on the next launch, it will revert to using the GPU as it normally does.

As to import delays, and playback issues of lag and sync, that isn't a GPU thing. Something else is off.

Please use the free MediaInfo and post a screenshot of the properties of your media in tree view:
https://mediaarea.net/en/MediaInfo

Many users are having issues with VFR. If the file is variable frame rate, use Handbrake to convert to constant frame rate before importing into Premiere Pro:
https://handbrake.fr/downloads.php
Here is a tutorial:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=34&v=xlvxgVREX-Y

Shutter Encoder may also be used to convert to Constant Frame Rate:
https://www.shutterencoder.com/en/

What are the complete computer specs, including hard drives (how many, what kind, what is on each, what capacity, and how full)?

If NVIDIA graphics, make sure to use a Studio Driver from NVIDIA (NOT a Game Driver).

Check the Audio Hardware Preferences. Default Audio Input should be set to No Input.