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Todd_Morgan
Todd_Morgan
Legend
March 19, 2026
Question

How to save project file to previous app version? 2026 to a 2025 file?

  • March 19, 2026
  • 3 replies
  • 82 views

After working, foolishly, on a new project in the latest upgrade (26.0.2) and masking is a mess, so need to save it out to previous 2025 version - is this possible?

    3 replies

    Todd_Morgan
    Todd_MorganAuthor
    Legend
    March 20, 2026

    Sorry - I thought I posted in PR forum… this new forum set up is a mess too.

    Warren Heaton
    Community Expert
    Warren HeatonCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    March 22, 2026

    When you have a chance, jump over to Premiere Pro user forum and upvote the feature request to be able to be able to open a Premiere Project in an older version of Premiere.

    I’ve voted for it and would love to see File > Save as Copy > Premiere 25.x or Premiere 24.x in Premiere just like we see it in After Effects.

     

     

     

     

     

      Warren Heaton
      Community Expert
      Warren HeatonCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 19, 2026

      Adding a screenshot to go with ​@ShiveringCactus‘ reply.

      The current version of After Effects can save back to then prior two major releases.
       

      Pictured:  File > Save As > Save a Copy As 25.x or 24.x in After Effects 26.x.

       

      Todd_Morgan
      Todd_MorganAuthor
      Legend
      March 19, 2026

      no option exists - windows OS

      Warren Heaton
      Community Expert
      Warren HeatonCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      March 20, 2026

      This YouTube video (How to use New versions project files and presets in older after effects versions | Tutorial by Lucky Tutorials) shows at one minute and 33 seconds what it should look like under the File pulldown menu for Windows.

       



      Pictured:  File > Save As > Save a Copy As 23.x or 22.x in After Effects 24.x for Windows.

       

       

      If my installation of After Effects was missing these options for Save a Copy, I would uninstall After Effects with the option to remove settings disabled, restart, and then reinstall After Effects.

        ShiveringCactus
        Community Expert
        ShiveringCactusCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        March 19, 2026

        From the file menu, you should be able to choose Save A Copy As and select v25.   If you need to save to an older version again, I think you have to choose Save as XML, but you should be fine for v25 for now.

          Todd_Morgan
          Todd_MorganAuthor
          Legend
          March 19, 2026

          no option to save to older version

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