Can't open "saved as" file - original file is fine

Report · Oct 01, 2025

A quick summary of my issue:

I saved a project yesterday.

Today I had an issue with updating PP which first failed and then following a reboot went through successfully.

I can open yesterday’s saved project but when I do a “SAVE AS” if I then close PPBeta and subsequently open the just saved project I get a message “The project appears to be damaged, it cannot be opened”.

The detail:

I have been editing my project for many weeks and had no issues at all.

This morning I opened Adobe Creative Cloud and it told me there was an updated version of Premiere Pro Beta.

I told it to do the update and at something like 62% there was a message that told me that it was running unusually slowly. I left it to run and then it failed.

I thought it sensible to reboot the PC which I did.

This time when I loaded CC it said there were updated to PP Beta and Encoder Beta. I told it to do the updates.

They ran through without issue so PP Beta is on v25.6.0.085 (2025-09-30) and Encoder is on v25.6.0.080 (2025-10-01).

Whilst this was going on; as the drive I use for the cache and raw video was getting fairly full (250Gb free); I deleted a lot of the cached temporary files. It now has 600 Gb free. My plan had just been to re-render everything.

I opened the project I had been editing yesterday; for simplicity call it ProjectA.
It opened fine.
I was told that there were files missing (ie the rendered files) and I told PP to offline them all.
As I always start each day with a new version; I did a Save As ProjectB.
I then closed PPBeta.
When I opened ProjectB; it displayed a message “The project appears to be damaged, it cannot be opened”.

Next test

I opened ProjectA.
It opened fine.
I was told that there were files missing (ie the rendered files) and I told PP to offline them all.
I rendered everything in the timeline and the line turned green
I did a Save As ProjectC.
I then closed PPBeta.
When I opened ProjectC; it displayed a message “The project appears to be damaged, it cannot be opened”.

Next test

I created a new project - ProjectD
Imported ProjectA into the new project
Told it to import everything
I was told that there were files missing (ie the rendered files) and I told PP to offline them all.
I did a Save As ProjectE
Closed PPBeta
Opened ProjectE; it displayed a message “The project appears to be damaged, it cannot be opened”.

Next test

Opened PP again and held the shift key down. I told it to reset the preferences; clear cache files
Opened ProjectA
Rendered everything again and the timeline turned green
Save As ProjectF
Save project
Closed PP
Opened ProjectF; it displayed a message “The project appears to be damaged, it cannot be opened”.

So it seems that I can open my existing project but once I save it I can’t open it again.

What can I do now?

PC Spec

Windows 11 Version 24H2 (OS build 26100.4652)96 Gb RAM

ASUSTeK COMPUTER INC. TUF GAMING Z790-BTF WIFI (LGA1700)

Storage for Premiere data 2 x Samsung SSD 990 PRO 4TB

Report · Oct 01, 2025

Update:

PP Beta has been updated to v25.6.0.086 (2025-10-01)

I opened Project1 and then did a Save As.

Reopening the saved project; I still get the same error.

Report · Oct 01, 2025

Update:

PP Beta has been updated to v25.6.0.087 (2025-10-01)

I opened Project1 and then did a Save As.

Reopening the saved project; I still get the same error.

Report · Oct 02, 2025

Since my system volume is backed up twice a week to my Synology Active Backup for Business NAS; I decided to do a full restore from 28th September.

This was completed successfully.

Unfortunately; because I had set CC to automatically download and install updates and the PC automatically rebooted following the restore; CC updated Premiere Pro to the latest version before I could stop it.

I opened Project1 and as before; it opened fine. I did a SAVE AS and then when I tried to open the SAVED version; I got the same “The project appears to be damaged, it cannot be opened” message.

I did the restore a second time but turned off my router so that the PC couldn’t access Adobe servers and update the software. My intention was to turn off the Automatic Update in CC.

The restore went through fine and when I tried to load CC it came up with an error message and wouldn’t open because it couldn’t access the Adobe servers.

Having turned on the router again; I rebooted my PC.

Fortunately I was quick enough this time to load CC and turn off the automatic option.

PP is currently on version 25.6.0 Beta (Build 78).

I opened Project1 (from 30th September) and it opened fine. I did a SAVE AS again but when I tried to open the just save file – same error.

As I had restored my system to 28th September; I opened the Project file from 28th September and it worked fine. I did a SAVE AS and when I opened that it also worked.

I then opened the Project file from 29th September and it worked fine. I did a SAVE AS and when I opened that it also worked.

I decided to try loading the AUTO SAVE files from 30th September that had been created by PP.

I tested a few of them and in all cases they opened fine in PP but once SAVED they came up with the same “The project appears to be damaged, it cannot be opened” message.

At least I now have a working version of the project file from 29th September but this does mean I lost a day of editing.

I realise using the Beta version does have its risks and they always say you shouldn’t use it in a real production environment.

The big questions I have though are:
• How can Premiere save a file that works fine and then be unable to open the project just saved?
• What happens now and if I re-enable the updates will the issue come back again?

I have changed my Synology Active Backup to do one every day rather than twice weekly.

Report · Oct 02, 2025

I like starting each day with a new copy also. I just tried a few copies and they all worked. I did this in a production environment but all was well. In general I always make my copy from the OS, and number them accordingly, but always keep working on the original.

Win11 24H2 PP beta 25.6 bld 88

Report · Oct 05, 2025

I wondered if there was any link between the issue I have reported and the one mentioned in the following link:

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-beta-bugs/project-files-corrupted-after-update-to-25-6-0...