Export panel does not open – Premiere Pro 26.0.1 (Mac)

I want to clearly explain the issue, because this is not a user error and not a misunderstanding of export settings.

Context:

• Premiere Pro Export panel does not open at all (Cmd+M, Export tab, File > Export > Media, Quick Export → all non-functional).

• Therefore, Media Encoder is the only available export path.

• Projects are large (4K, long-form documentary).

Problem 1 – Object Mask ignored
When using Object Selection (AI mask):

• The mask is visible in the timeline and visible in Media Encoder preview.

• During export, Media Encoder shows the warning:
  “Some object masks are offline and will be ignored.”

• Result: the mask is not applied in the exported file.

There is no export option (MXF advanced, ANC/VBI, GOP settings, identity metadata, alpha options, etc.) that affects or fixes this behavior.

Problem 2 – Media Encoder instability
When exporting long sequences that contain Object Masks:

• Media Encoder crashes unexpectedly (“Sorry, an error occurred”).

• This happens even when preview playback is correct.

• The crash disappears only when exporting very short sequences.

Confirmed workaround (but inefficient):

• Isolate clips with Object Mask into a separate short sequence.

• Export that sequence to QuickTime ProRes 4444 with alpha.

• Re-import and replace those clips in the main timeline.

• Final export in MXF works only after all Object Masks are eliminated.

This confirms:

• The issue is not MXF.

• The issue is Object Mask + Media Encoder on long timelines.

• The warning and crashes are caused by unresolved AI mask data stored in the project.

Conclusion:

• There is currently no reliable professional workflow when:

  • Export panel is broken

  • Object Masks are used

  • Media Encoder is required

• This forces heavy manual workarounds and breaks standard In/Out export workflows.

This needs:

• Either proper Object Mask baking support in Media Encoder

• Or a fix for the Export panel regression

• Or at least clear documentation that Object Masks are not supported in Media Encoder exports.

​@faouzi vision,

Thanks for the detail and what you’ve tried. Not Mac and can’t test. But I had some of these problems a version or two back.

> Export panel still does not open at all.

Since recent posts may not be migrated to the New Forum, what other versions had this problem for you?

Which of these methods do not work:

Ctrl+M or whatever shortcut you have set? Clicking on the Export mode tab? File → Export → Media? Quick export button?

File → Export → Send to Media Encoder is what works?

Stan