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kv16
kv16
Participant
April 9, 2026
Question

Media and Audio relinking premiere pro taking approx 1hr on Macbook Pro

  • April 9, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 8 views

constant relinking media and preparing audio when opening a project, for me this project was created on a portable HD via Macbook Pro M4 Max 64GB and this project hasn't been opened on another device so the path has stayed the same since creation, I have followed the clear cache, resaved media etc which I have found online, this is the first project this has been an issue for me, any new updates people may have. thanks

    1 reply

    Conrad_C
    Community Expert
    Conrad_CCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    April 9, 2026

    This might not be the answer, but just in case…

     

    Is the media that the project links to stored in any folders that are managed by a cloud syncing service, such as Apple iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Microsoft OneDrive, or Dropbox? 

     

    If they are, is that cloud sync service set to save local space by storing all files only in the cloud? If so, this could potentially lengthen relink times especially if the original media files are very large. Reading them may require waiting for them to temporarily download.  

     

    Another way this might happen is, in iCloud Drive settings, if Desktop & Documents Folders are enabled for iCloud sync, and Optimize Mac Storage is enabled. This may force some files off the Mac to the cloud only, and if those files are linked to from a project, again they may need to be temporarily downloaded for reading during a relink, slowing down the whole process. But this is probably not the cause if all original media is on an external volume.

     

    What is the connection type for the portable hard drive connector and cable? USB 3.x 5Gb/sec or 10GB/sec, 40Gb/sec USB 4 or Thunderbolt 3 or 4, or faster?

    kv16
    kv16Author
    Participant
    April 11, 2026

    thanks Conrad.

    all folders are on a HD and not connected to any cloud storage or synced system.

    have tested this with multiple drives, samsung T7, lacie rugged and seagate drives, the drive itself doesn’t change the process much, seagate being the slowest, lacie than T7 speed wise, all take a significant time to relink media, all via laptop, unless there’s premiere pro setting specific for a macbok pro..? Have used my M4 Max and a new M5 same process.

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