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pdk-midwest
pdk-midwest
Participating Frequently
February 13, 2026
Question

Does any version of Elements use the 2021 interface, while handling HEVC h.265 videos?

  • February 13, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 16 views

I’ve been using P-Elements for years, and was comfortable with the 2021 version, but that version cannot handle HEVC h.265 files. So, I upgraded to the 2025 version, but that interface is just so, so totally different, I cannot use it comfortably, or efficiently, and since I’m just an occasional hobbyist who doesn’t do this often, I have found it deeply frustrating, and discouraging, to try to learn a completely new and different interface -- especially since I cannot find any way to move forward or backward by a single frame, before I trim a video (I created a separate post, to try to address that problem).

My question is, if I buy the 2022, or 2023, or 2024 version of Premier Elements, will it be able to handle HEVC h.265 files, while letting me continue to use an interface which is at least similar to the 2021 version?

Or, can anyone give me a complete step-by-step version of where to find (I’m hoping someone can offer an exact link, rather than just some name that I would need to begin searching for, with no assurance it will actually work), and then a step-by-step for how to add some sort of add-on, extension, dll file, or whatever, which will allow me to use the 2021 version to handle h.265 files? 

    1 reply

    S
    Steve Grisetti
    Legend
    February 13, 2026

    Even if you could find a pre-2025 version of the program that edits HEVC, it’s unlikely you’d be able to install it and use it. Adobe removed activation for older versions of the program in an effort to encourage peoplel to upgrade to the latest.

    But if you’re happy with version 2021, you can try installing the Windows HEVC extension (for 99 cents) and see if that helps. https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nmzlz57r3t7?hl=en-US&gl=US

    Otherwise, if you want to continue to edit with 2021, you’ll probably have to either convert your HEVC to more standard MP4s or set your phone to record non-HEVC video.

    pdk-midwest
    pdk-midwestAuthor
    Participating Frequently
    February 14, 2026

    Many thanks for the link. But, I went there, and did everything I could, to find some button or icon that would allow me to actually download the software, and totally failed. Spent 20 minutes, looking, and trying, and saw probably 20 different screens, but no luck. Made sure I was fully signed in, and had a Paypal account linked to my MS Store account. Even found and watched a video, ostensibly showing me how to get it and install it, but that video showed a crucial “click to download” icon that is just plain not there, on any screen I could find. 

    BTW 1: I saw an onscreen AI assistant, on one screen I encountered, which offered to help; but, I only saw it once, and I wasn’t yet ready for it, then, and I could not find it again, when I tried.

    BTW2: it has lousy ratings. Nearly all ratings are the lowest possible.

    BTW3: I was looking, while on a Windows 10 machine. I’ll try again, using a Windows 11 machine. If that doesn’t work, and if no one has any better ideas, I’ll go looking to see if there are any other vendors, offering anything that might help. 

    B
    Community Expert
    Bill SpragueCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    February 14, 2026

    Does anything here help?  https://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-elements/using/hevc-decoding-on-windows.html

     

    It may be tricky to install, but I’ve been able to use several versions of Premiere Elements for HEVC files using the $.99 Microsoft codec.  

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