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636mjk
Participating Frequently
August 8, 2025

Project Manager Issue - An unknown error (-1609629681) occurred during the Project Manager operation

  • August 8, 2025
  • 15 replies
  • 1235 views

August 2025 Issue with Project Manager

 

[PP Version 25.3 – latest version]
[OS Sequoia 15.5 – latest version]

 

I have a large project to offload to a colourist and have tried to use the 'Collect files and copy to a new location' function in Project Manager (File > Project Manager…)

 

After several attempts I am still receiving the "An unknown error (-1609629681) occurred during the Project Manager operation. Please save your project and retry the operation." I have been looking for a solution for days now.

 

Here's what I've tried based on Adobe support and what I've seen on this forum:

 

1. Check available disk space - I have three times what is needed on my external SSD

 

2. Uncheck the following boxes:

  • Include preview files
  • Include audio conform files
  • Export media files to match clip names
  • Exclude unused clips

 

  1. Update OS—latest version OS Sequoia 15.5 

 

4. Update PP—Version 25.3

 

5. Copy sequences into a brand-new project/save/try again—didn’t work

 

6. Try collecting files with only one sequence—only works for some sequences (and can’t determine why, the files are from the camera shot on the same day)

 

7. Ensure no special characters are in file names—checked. No dice.

 

8. Remove braw footage from project—didn’t work, just failed faster!

 

Super frustrating for an app supposably catered to professionals who no doubt use a function like this regularly to transfer GB's and TB's worth of assets. 

 

Just by looking at the forum, I know many people have had this problem recently and over the years.

 

Would appreciate some advice/a solution or even to point out something that I’ve overlooked.

 

Thanks in advance!

    15 replies

    D
    d_7239
    Inspiring
    February 11, 2026

    Thanks for your suggestions. Although they didn’t work for you, this one worked for me!

    Uncheck the following boxes:

    • Include preview files
       
    IngeborgSundin
    IngeborgSundin
    Participant
    February 11, 2026

    Yes, I did that but still same issues unfortunately 

    IngeborgSundin
    IngeborgSundin
    Participant
    February 10, 2026

    Hey, I having the same issue with all my projects (big and small, even just 2 gb) - I tried everything you suggested, tried another computer even and its been going on like this for 1 months now. It is quite frustrating though it slow down my workflow. 
    I use the lates update.

    What can I do?

    E
    emre_6134
    Participant
    November 12, 2025

    I had the same issue, which was persisting repeatedly, I saved the project, Restarted my computer and it worked.

     

     

    Joe Sin
    Joe Sin
    Participant
    November 10, 2025

    I don't have any caption presets (as far as I know) so that's not the issue. Still nothing working. 

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Peru BobCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 10, 2025

    Deleting the caption presets from the project fixed it for one user here:

    https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-bugs/p-project-manager-error-1609498616/idi-p/14955626/p...

    Joe Sin
    Joe Sin
    Participant
    November 10, 2025

    It's unchecked. Still doesn't work.

    Joe Sin
    Joe Sin
    Participant
    November 10, 2025

    Whenever I try to project manage my sequence, I receive error code 1609629681 

     

    Others have had this issue, but their solves—exporting to a standalone sequence—have not worked for me. I have enough space on my local drive and have updated Premiere.  

     

    Peru Bob
    Community Expert
    Peru BobCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    November 10, 2025

    Try unchecking "Include Preview Files."

      A
      Alex R. 143435
      Participating Frequently
      October 16, 2025

      I don't know about you guys, but I had the same error, and I just restarted my Mac and it worked, haha. Wish it were always that easy. 

      All best. 

      jackthegiantkiller
      jackthegiantkiller
      Inspiring
      September 11, 2025

      Thank you for the suggested "Selection as Premiere Project" workaround! It was the only way I could open a brand new working 25.5 project I had exported via Project Manager for a client to test a mogrt. The project only had 3 images, a nested comp and a mogrt, and exporting it via Project Manager, regardless of whatever output options I chose, would result in a corrupted Premiere project. I tried other workarounds but to no avail. Hope this bug can be squashed!

      D
      Community Manager
      Dani_V.Community Manager
      Community Manager
      August 11, 2025

      Thanks for the additional information @636mjk, I completely understand how frustrating this is and the importance of sending a project. Regarding interpreted or modified clips, I only meant if any changes had been made to the clips by right-clicking them in the Project panel > Modify > Audio Channels/Interpret Footage, just to rule out.

      Were you asking about the caption presets beforehand? If they were made for the project, they would show up in the Project panel with a little light gray 'Pr' logo. A few users have been able to delete these from the Project panel to get Project Manager to do the collection again.

      Strangely enough, I managed to get the same unknown error code as you by exporting with not enough storage, but you have the Destination Path set to your external SSD with the space right? Have you seen any other error codes? Are any third-party plugins being used at all?

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