Participant

WAV files not playing in last 2 versions of Premiere

DACB · 2026-02-18T10:15:44+00:00

Issue – The last 2 versions of Premiere (at least) have had issues with WAV files playing, and after trying many different things to fix it, I’m sure it must be a bug in the software introduced with the updates. When importing WAV files into the timeline they will play for a while, and then after short period, or a few moves of the playhead, they will stop. In text based editing, transcribing does not recognise that there is any audio there at all. Opening old files that had perfectly functioning audio previously, now plays no audio despite the files still being there. Adobe can find the files on my PC (I checked through reveal in explorer), and clearing the media cache and resetting to default settings has not changed this. The files do not work when using render and replace, or if opened in Audition from Premiere.MP4 and MP3 sound work fine. To begin with the clips have a waveform in Premiere but this disappears when the file is saved and then reopened. Steps to reproduce – 1) Import a WAV file into a new Project’s timeline. The audio plays fine if I press play and then touch nothing and let it play though. 2) If I move the playhead 5 times, whilst paused and then play, it stops the audio. 3) Also I tried waiting 5 seconds in between each of stopping, moving the playhead and playing, and this stopped the audio after just two moves of the playhead. 4) If I wait 5 seconds before clicking to move the playhead, then press play via the spacebar, it does play the audio. If I then click to move it again it stops playing the audio. 5) Opening files made with previous versions of Premiere Pro when the audio did work seems to be intermittent. Yesterday the audio didn’t play, for any WAV files, today it does for any which haven’t been rendered and replaced, even with the above moving of the playhead. New WAV files imported also played, until I edited the clip length by dragging the end. Expected result – The audio should play normally Actual result – The sound stops playing and there is nothing in the audio indicators Screen recording – If you think it might be helpful, include a recording of your screen, showing the issue. Adobe Premiere Pro version – Premiere 26.0 Operating system – Windows 11- latest updates installed GPU driver version (Windows only) – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti driver 560.94 Comparative information helps us understand more about when the issue occurs: Does it affect all projects or only some projects? All projects Does it affect new projects? Yes When did the problem begin? With version 25 as far as I am aware

Forum|Forum|20 hours ago
February 18, 2026
4 replies
11 views

Issue – The last 2 versions of Premiere (at least) have had issues with WAV files playing, and after trying many different things to fix it, I’m sure it must be a bug in the software introduced with the updates. When importing WAV files into the timeline they will play for a while, and then after short period, or a few moves of the playhead, they will stop. In text based editing, transcribing does not recognise that there is any audio there at all.

Opening old files that had perfectly functioning audio previously, now plays no audio despite the files still being there. Adobe can find the files on my PC (I checked through reveal in explorer), and clearing the media cache and resetting to default settings has not changed this.

The files do not work when using render and replace, or if opened in Audition from Premiere.MP4 and MP3 sound work fine.

To begin with the clips have a waveform in Premiere but this disappears when the file is saved and then reopened.
Steps to reproduce – 1) Import a WAV file into a new Project’s timeline. The audio plays fine if I press play and then touch nothing and let it play though.
2) If I move the playhead 5 times, whilst paused and then play, it stops the audio.
3) Also I tried waiting 5 seconds in between each of stopping, moving the playhead and playing, and this stopped the audio after just two moves of the playhead.
4) If I wait 5 seconds before clicking to move the playhead, then press play via the spacebar, it does play the audio. If I then click to move it again it stops playing the audio.
5) Opening files made with previous versions of Premiere Pro when the audio did work seems to be intermittent. Yesterday the audio didn’t play, for any WAV files, today it does for any which haven’t been rendered and replaced, even with the above moving of the playhead. New WAV files imported also played, until I edited the clip length by dragging the end.
Expected result – The audio should play normally
Actual result – The sound stops playing and there is nothing in the audio indicators
Screen recording – If you think it might be helpful, include a recording of your screen, showing the issue.
Adobe Premiere Pro version – Premiere 26.0
Operating system – Windows 11- latest updates installed
GPU driver version (Windows only) – NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti driver 560.94
Comparative information helps us understand more about when the issue occurs:
- Does it affect all projects or only some projects? All projects
- Does it affect new projects? Yes
- When did the problem begin? With version 25 as far as I am aware

MyerPj

Community Expert

I gave it a try, but I couldn’t get it to happen. (Win-25H2, PP 26.01)

IanB_360

Community Manager

Hi @DACB
When you stop hearing the audio play, in the mixer panel, are any levels bouncing? Is this only happening to specific .wav files? Does the audio cut out in other media files, such as MP4 or .mov? How many audio tracks do you have in the sequences? Can you share some of the .wav files that aren't playing back for you? I sent you a direct message.
Here to help.
Ian