Premiere projects saved in v25.6.0 cannot be opened in other v25.x versions

So I was one of the few who updated to 25.6 and I ended up converting a project before hearing that I shouldn't. I'm still pretty early on (assembly phase) in what will end up being a documentary short (8-12 min). After the issues became clear, I rolled back to PP 25.5, but of course my project file didn't open in it. I downloaded PP Beta and I've been able to continue working on the 25.6 project in there, but I'm concerned that the project file will end up breaking down the road since it was never supposed to be converted in the first place. Anyone have any thoughts on that here? There doesn't seem to be an easy to way convert the project file back down to PP 25.5. I tried using the export as Final Cut XML tool, but I've gotten pretty terrible results - the first try only imported a fraction of the files and sequences, and the second try didn't even work at all (import error message in PP 25.5). I've already wasted quite a bit of time on this so I may just need to keep using PP Beta.

Ann Bens,

When you followed this YouTube video, how did you accomplish the archive step?  The default archive in Mac OS doesn't have an "Extract Here" option.

Hi @Anatoliy5E1B - If you need to get your timeline back into version 25.5, try exporting it as an FCP XML or AAF, then import that file into a Premiere Pro 25.5 project.

@Anatoliy5E1B,

> The beta version opens it as empty project.

Sorry to hear it. That sounds like something more than just needing to downgrade the project.

Stan

If you follow the instructions to the letter, it works

Used it many times

Open a New Premiere Pro Project on an Older Version -Mac - YouTube

Open a New Premiere Pro Project on an Older Version - Windows - YouTube

@Stan Jones 
I can not open the project at all. The beta version opens it as empty project. Tried @Tarveil's recommendation, but it didn't work out. 

Now what do i do. i worked on the 25.6 version from the last 2 days and now i cannot revisit the older project files because i reverted back from 25.6 to 25.5
After Effects still shows that there is a 25.6 version ready to install. i do not know if i should install it or no.

i got to know about this issue when i was trying to import clips in after effects with dynamic link.
now i have 3 hours of progress lost.
helpe me find a solution for reverting the version of the project file

@Anatoliy5E1B,

Beyond.

This is what I find as the official recommendation from Adobe on downgrading a project:

https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/using/video/backward-compatibility-video.html

It would only be helpful if you can work in the current version to export EDL.

Be sure to keep backups of every project step until you get this sorted.

See @Tarveil's response with a link to a video describing a was to downgrade a project file.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-bugs/issue-with-25-6-update/idc-p/15589859#M57813

And see @Ann Bens' comment on masking:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-bugs/issue-with-25-6-update/idc-p/15590060#M57851

You can also install the Beta separately from the Release version, to try to continue editing your project there, or export EDL/XML etc. You can install the newest version Beta 26.0.0 (which is the new project file version 44), or the previous Beta 25.6.0 which saved projects in the newer version when the new masking was enabled.

I generally do not recommend the Beta for production work, but you face poor alternatives. See my post here regarding some issues in using the Beta:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-beta-discussions/new-beta-uninstall-reset-or-just-update/m-p/15577497#M12541

@jamieclarke Is there a better staff recommendation for someone who did significant work in the new version?

Stan

my project was wiped out because of this. Since I was working on it in version 25.6 I have saved it in that version. Tried the dynamic link with After effects and didn't work, thats why I decided to downgrade both programs. Now when I try to open the project it says that it has been saved in newer version. Tried with changing the version to 1, but nothing works, it opens empty project file. 

Multiple issues with Premiere Pro 25.6 (Build 116) and Media Encoder 25.6 (Build 98) - Win11 Pro : drag & drop not working + masking prompt loop

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing several issues since updating to the latest versions of Premiere Pro and Media Encoder.
My versions are:

Premiere Pro 25.6 (Build 116)

Media Encoder 25.6 (Build 98)

1. Drag & drop from Premiere to Media Encoder no longer works
If a project has been saved in Premiere 25.6, I can no longer drag & drop it into Media Encoder.
The only method that works is using “Send to Media Encoder” inside Premiere.
This is a real problem when exporting a large batch (e.g. 30+ video variations), since I have to send them one by one.

2. Media Encoder refuses to open the Premiere project
If I try to open the Premiere project directly from Media Encoder, I get the message:

“A newer version of Adobe Premiere Pro is required to open this project.”
Both apps are updated (25.6), but Media Encoder still refuses to open the project.

3. Endless loop with the “Enable new masking” prompt
Every time I launch Premiere, I get this dialog:

“Would you like to enable the new masking feature?”
If I click Enable, Premiere restarts… and shows the exact same prompt again.
This happens indefinitely.

I have to click Ignore to continue — but Premiere still saves projects in the latest format, which then causes incompatibility with Media Encoder (issue #1).

Is anyone else seeing this behavior?
Any workaround until Adobe addresses it?

Thanks,
— Sébastien