Hi everyone,I’ve been working on a large video project (over 1 hour long) in Adobe Premiere Pro Beta for almost two weeks. Suddenly, when I try to open the project, I get this error message:“The project appears to be damaged. It cannot be opened.”Here’s what I’ve already tried:Opening multiple auto-saved versions → same error appears.Copying the project and opening it on a different computer → same error.Trying to open the project in the main (stable) version of Premiere Pro → it says“This project was saved in a newer version of Adobe Premiere Pro and cannot be opened in this version.”So at this point, I can’t open the project in Beta or the main version.Has anyone encountered this before, or is there any possible way to recover or repair a damaged project file from the Premiere Pro Beta?Any help would mean a lot — this is a big project and I’d really like to avoid starting over. Thanks in advance!

UPDATE. Found the issue, at least for my files. There is definitely a bug in the Beta version that is corrupting every save file. Here is my troubleshooting log:Unzipped .prproj with 7ipRenamed resulting file with .XMLOpened file in XML Validator Buddy and found 23 <> errors (this is a missing parameter name error)Bolded snippet I deleted for each occurrence:<AudioClip ObjectID="120520" ClassID="b8830d03-de02-41ee-84ec-fe566dc70cd9" Version="8"><Clip Version="18"><Node Version="1"><Properties Version="1"><>-21.2545948029</><asl.clip.label.color>19005</asl.clip.label.color><asl.clip.label.name>BE.Prefs.LabelColors.11</asl.clip.label.name>In Notepad++: searched <> and delete the full lineSaved XML7-Zip Add to archive: gzip, Ultra, named the archive with .prprojOpened file with Premiere Beta, OH MAN IT OPENED! Everything plays fine, all media loaded. Saved as a new fileOpened saved file. IT CORRUPTED AGAIN.So something in this beta version is saving corrupted properties?ANYWAY. Hopefully this is a quick fix for adobe team. Just needs to search file for empty <> tags and replace with standard? I don't know, I am not a programmer. However, With the technique above, I can open all of my prior save files. Probably a good idea to export a plain old XML once you open your own project just to save your edits at least. @r2_7278 I went ahead and did the same thing I did for my project file with yours. I was able to open it up with premiere pro beta without issue. See file attached.

R

r2_7278

Participant

Answered

Project won’t open – “The project appears to be damaged” error (Premiere Pro Beta)

Forum|Forum|2 months ago
November 8, 2025
11 replies
2151 views

Hi everyone,

I’ve been working on a large video project (over 1 hour long) in Adobe Premiere Pro Beta for almost two weeks. Suddenly, when I try to open the project, I get this error message:

“The project appears to be damaged. It cannot be opened.”

Here’s what I’ve already tried:

Opening multiple auto-saved versions → same error appears.
Copying the project and opening it on a different computer → same error.
Trying to open the project in the main (stable) version of Premiere Pro → it says
“This project was saved in a newer version of Adobe Premiere Pro and cannot be opened in this version.”

So at this point, I can’t open the project in Beta or the main version.

Has anyone encountered this before, or is there any possible way to recover or repair a damaged project file from the Premiere Pro Beta?

Any help would mean a lot — this is a big project and I’d really like to avoid starting over.

Thanks in advance!

Import and ingest

Correct answer Yori X

UPDATE. Found the issue, at least for my files. There is definitely a bug in the Beta version that is corrupting every save file.

Here is my troubleshooting log:

Unzipped .prproj with 7ip
Renamed resulting file with .XML
Opened file in XML Validator Buddy and found 23 <> errors (this is a missing parameter name error)

Bolded snippet I deleted for each occurrence:
<AudioClip ObjectID="120520" ClassID="b8830d03-de02-41ee-84ec-fe566dc70cd9" Version="8">
<Clip Version="18">
<Node Version="1">
<Properties Version="1">
<>-21.2545948029</>
<asl.clip.label.color>19005</asl.clip.label.color>
<asl.clip.label.name>BE.Prefs.LabelColors.11</asl.clip.label.name>
In Notepad++: searched <> and delete the full line
Saved XML
7-Zip Add to archive: gzip, Ultra, named the archive with .prproj
Opened file with Premiere Beta, OH MAN IT OPENED! Everything plays fine, all media loaded.
Saved as a new file
Opened saved file. IT CORRUPTED AGAIN.

So something in this beta version is saving corrupted properties?

ANYWAY. Hopefully this is a quick fix for adobe team. Just needs to search file for empty <> tags and replace with standard? I don't know, I am not a programmer.

However, With the technique above, I can open all of my prior save files. Probably a good idea to export a plain old XML once you open your own project just to save your edits at least.

@r2_7278
I went ahead and did the same thing I did for my project file with yours. I was able to open it up with premiere pro beta without issue. See file attached.

S

shady.shotz

Participant

This is now happening to me, too. I cannot believe Adobe hasn't fixed this, and it's been almost 2 weeks since this post.

I can't open any of my projects that I've been working on, and when I try to open them, I get the “This project was saved in a newer version of Adobe Premiere Pro and cannot be opened in this version.” error.

I only have a Mac, and the 7zip is confusing the crap out of me, and I can't figure out how to use it. Now I'm at a crossroads where I don't know what to do and cannot work. Adobe, where is the fix?!

V

Volodymyr Kuropiatnyk

Known Participant

Fix Script PowerShell for you project

Add-Type -AssemblyName System.IO.Compression.FileSystem

Get-ChildItem -Filter *.prproj | ForEach-Object {
$in=$_.FullName
$out=Join-Path $_.DirectoryName ($_.BaseName + "_downgrage.prproj")

$fs=[IO.File]::OpenRead($in)
$gz=New-Object IO.Compression.GZipStream($fs,[IO.Compression.CompressionMode]::Decompress)
$r =New-Object IO.StreamReader($gz,[Text.Encoding]::UTF8)
$xml=$r.ReadToEnd()
$r.Close();$gz.Close();$fs.Close()

# БЕЗ третього аргумента – замінює всі входження
$xml = $xml.Replace('Version="44"','Version="43"')

$ofs=[IO.File]::Create($out)
$ogz=New-Object IO.Compression.GZipStream($ofs,[IO.Compression.CompressionMode]::Compress)
$w =New-Object IO.StreamWriter($ogz,[Text.Encoding]::UTF8)
$w.Write($xml)
$w.Close();$ogz.Close();$ofs.Close()

Write-Host "Done $out"
}

MyerPj

Community Expert

Indeed the problems look like this: <>-37.3029289246</>

The number may vary, but that's causing the problem.

I finally got 25.6.1 today, and the two fixed projects I did for others both will not open in that version, but I also got Beta build 26.0 build 36 and that continues to work, as did the previous beta.

MyerPj

Community Expert

@mnzsaudiovisual , @Brave_moments5386

Don't forget, you can install the beta along side the shipping version.

Let me know if it works for you.

G

gmc99

Known Participant

I have managed to put it off a week before trying again.

I'm now running v26.0.0.031 (2025-11-14)

I loaded up the file I have from 10th November and I still get the same error.

I then loaded the previous version from 8th November which as before opened fine. I then did a SAVE AS and reopened the file into Premiere and it opened without an issue. That is definitely progress.

I have still lost a whole day's work as none of the files from 10th November will work.

Following the suggestions; I got hold of 7Zip and XML Validator Buddy.

Opening the 10th November project file I ran the F7 check and it highlighted four errors:

All related to <Properties Version="1"> and the roperties Version="1" was highlighted and it said "element name expected".

I then ran the F8 Validate check which failed with "An unexpected error occurred" and "The validation didn't start".

I don't know what to do now.

I guess I will need to redo everything I lost which is irritating to say the least.

I would be grateful if anyone was able to have a look at my project file. I can't upload it here because it is too big 5,755 KB.

Thanks

Glenn

G

gmc99

Known Participant

Here's the whole XML command:

</AudioClip>

<>-37.3029289246</>

<asl.clip.label.color>10016297</asl.clip.label.color>

<asl.clip.label.name>BE.Prefs.LabelColors.12</asl.clip.label.name>

</Properties>

</Node>

</MarkerOwner>

</Clip>

</SecondaryContents>

<AudioChannelLayout>[{"channellabel":100},{"channellabel":101}]</AudioChannelLayout>

</AudioClip>

MyerPj

Community Expert

@mnzsaudiovisual, it won't matter if you are doing 'something wrong' as long as you USE A COPY to try to restore!

So make a copy in the same folder as the original, and then use the copy to try the fixing things. Do not use the original for any fixing or testing. Simply make a copy.

M

mnzsaudiovisual

Participant

Facing the same issue. Premiere requested to update last night, I didn't let it because I was in the middle of editing. Woke up to the message of "The project appears to be damaged.". Same goes to all my auto save files. Trying to do everything you guys said in here but I'm so nervous at the moment that I might be doing something wrong on the recovery process.

If anyone could help I'd be more than happy to be honest. Lost almost 2 weeks of work because of it.

Controllers_2025.zip

B

Brave_moments5386

Participant

Same issue here! Seems like it's becoming a common problem for lots of people on the beta version during that update. I too was in the middle of working and not wanting to update to V26..., After I finally updated, that's when I started having issues of my project not opening appearing "damaged" along with all Autosaves from that day (this was a week ago BTW). I was hoping for it to be fixed after more updates but no luck. If there's a solution, maybe an instructional video would help? @Yori X

Thank you, Community!

Road_Edition_1.zip

Stan Jones

Community Expert

@Brave_moments5386,

Was this file ever worked on in the pulled update PR 25.6.0 or the new PR 25.6.1? Or just the Beta?

I do not have 25.6.0 or 25.6.1 yet.

Your file, as expected, resulted in the damaged message when I tried to open it in the Beta (which is the PR 26 type project file - 44). In the project file, I found the @Yori X type errors, corrected them (maybe 5 or 6?), and created the .prproj type file. This opens in the Beta with 2 errors: "Video Filter missing: Color Balance" and "mask files missing."

If I use the downgrading process to change it to project version 43 instead of 44, PR 25.5.0 crashes during opening and upon trying to import it to a new project.

You can try continuing to edit in the Beta after correcting the XML errors. Or roll back to the last known good copy/autosave.

I do not know what is really wrong and whether it can be fixed without losing work.

Stan

A

alston_6625

Participant

Exact same issue, a project I've been working on for days now is just gone and refuses to open with the same “This project was saved in a newer version of Adobe Premiere Pro and cannot be opened in this version.” error. Any help would be appreciated.

We're_So_Back.zip

MyerPj

Community Expert

Hey @alston_6625 , did you read this thread? Even the title, it's not about your 'issue'.

That message you are getting is what happens anytime you try to open a project that has been opened and saved in a more recent version of PP, than the one you are trying to open it in.

Likely in your case the 25.6 version was using the new version # for 2026, and that is being addressed.

Did you install one version, then retracted it for a different one, like installed 25.6 then reinstalled 25.5 as Adobe suggested. We need some details of what you have done.

Also, it's been suggested you can install the beta software and use that to finish the project. Details man, we details. 🙂

A

alston_6625

Participant

Hello! Sorry, I started using Adobe like 4 days ago, and I'm still trying to figure all of this out. I started with the "This project was saved in a newer version of Adobe Premiere Pro and cannot be opened in this version." error and I did try to install 25.6 and then re-install 25.6 to no avail unfortunately, the reason I got mixed up on the thread names is every video I have found talking about fixing the "Newer Version" error tells me to put the .prproj into a "Downgrader" or open it with 7zip and change the "Version = x " value inside the physical file itself. When attempting to do either of these things, I am then met with the "The project appears to be damaged” error. As far as this error goes, I managed to get the Code for the .prproj into the "XML Validator Buddy" but when I do, it comes back with no errors and says everything is formatted correctly. So I have unfortunately hit a wall trying to solve either error with the best of my technical ability, lol

J

jack_2711

Participant

I have this issue too - extremely frustrating. Every single time I save a 'working' autosave it breaks. There's got to be something wrong with the serialisation of 26.0

Y

Yori XCorrect answer

Participating Frequently

UPDATE. Found the issue, at least for my files. There is definitely a bug in the Beta version that is corrupting every save file.

Here is my troubleshooting log:

Unzipped .prproj with 7ip
Renamed resulting file with .XML
Opened file in XML Validator Buddy and found 23 <> errors (this is a missing parameter name error)

Bolded snippet I deleted for each occurrence:
<AudioClip ObjectID="120520" ClassID="b8830d03-de02-41ee-84ec-fe566dc70cd9" Version="8">
<Clip Version="18">
<Node Version="1">
<Properties Version="1">
<>-21.2545948029</>
<asl.clip.label.color>19005</asl.clip.label.color>
<asl.clip.label.name>BE.Prefs.LabelColors.11</asl.clip.label.name>
In Notepad++: searched <> and delete the full line
Saved XML
7-Zip Add to archive: gzip, Ultra, named the archive with .prproj
Opened file with Premiere Beta, OH MAN IT OPENED! Everything plays fine, all media loaded.
Saved as a new file
Opened saved file. IT CORRUPTED AGAIN.

So something in this beta version is saving corrupted properties?

ANYWAY. Hopefully this is a quick fix for adobe team. Just needs to search file for empty <> tags and replace with standard? I don't know, I am not a programmer.

However, With the technique above, I can open all of my prior save files. Probably a good idea to export a plain old XML once you open your own project just to save your edits at least.

@r2_7278
I went ahead and did the same thing I did for my project file with yours. I was able to open it up with premiere pro beta without issue. See file attached.

Sony_Xperia_repair.zip

Y

Yori X

Participating Frequently

>That should be very helpful to Adobe to get rid of this bug.

We wish! Actually, it isn't.

We're urgently investigating this issue, and it would very much help us to know (from any of you who've encountered it); what sort of tasks were you doing in PPro, around the time your project(s) first became corrupted? [We realize you likely didn't discover the problem immediately, but even general guidance like "messing with the transcript" or "fiddling with effects parameters" might provide useful clues...]

Hi @Bruce Bullis

I installed the latest beta build and my project seems to be saving and opening without any errors.

If it is helpful, I attached project 05 that opened fine on the prior build, and 06 that did not.

The significant difference between 06 and 05 is that in 06, I added RED NE clips from the new Nikon ZF, started my sound pass (keyframing audio, using essential sound panel, etc), using the audio track mixer to add hard limiter on tracks, adding audio fades between clips, adding cross dissolves and visual transitions between clips.

I incrementally save versions with premiere when doing any major phases of post. My edit sessions are usually daily and I usually have premiere open for my entire session (8 - 12 hours, sometimes keep it open overnight). I didn't notice that premiere was saving corrupted versions until after my edit session ended. So all of my 06 auto-saves had opening errors.

Also, I usually add my VFX through dynamic link via After Effects by using the "replace with After Effects composition" feature when right clicking on a clip. However, I thought it was odd that AE wasn't opening my clip during my session, so I had to do it the old fasioned way and import and export separately. I assumed this error was due to AE not being able to open the PR file properly when connecting through dynamic link, however, in the latest build, I still have this issue. When I replace a clip with after effects composition in premiere, it shows only black video when imported into premiere and I have to manually import the clip.

05_CPP_ENG_Impact_bym_BETA.zip

06_CPP_ENG_Impact_bym_BETA.zip

R

Ramirezyya

Participating Frequently

Unfortunately, I reported this same issue here recently and couldn’t make any progress toward a solution.

I lost an enormous amount of work hours. It’s unfair.

I recommend saving the project file that does open into a separate folder, away from the rest.

What I did to avoid falling too far behind was to review each auto-save of that project one by one, making a copy of each before opening it. I have Premiere Pro (Beta) set to auto-save every 2 minutes, so I had to go through a lot of files. Remember to run tests without touching the originals: manually create copies of everything and use those for testing.

Here’s what I discovered during the process

1. There are two kinds of corrupt files:

A) those that don’t open at all;

B) those that do open and let you view/edit, but as soon as you save or rename them, they become unusable and will never open again. That’s why I insist on never testing with the originals.

For example, in my case the corrupt file was number 140 (in my Auto-Saves folder), and the last good one was 139. The difference between them was 2 minutes. No matter how hard I looked in 139 for what could have caused the error, I couldn’t find it. So I had to pick up from 139 even though there were auto-saves up to 500 and all of those were corrupt. My steps were:

1. I identified the earliest files and checked their modified date and time to get an idea of where I was in the edit. I randomly started testing from file “020” (not the original, remember).

2. Once I could open it, I moved a text layer or some element on the timeline and saved. Then I closed and reopened. After confirming it let me save, I saved it again with a custom name. I saved again, closed, and reopened. If it kept working, I knew that file wasn’t corrupt.

I repeated these steps one by one with all of them until I reached the one right before the corrupt file.

From there on, I started saving my edit manually with a base name (for example, “Edition_1_Beta”), and every 10 minutes or whenever I did something complex, I saved a new version by incrementing the number: “Edition_2_Beta.” Then I closed the project and reopened “2” to make sure it wasn’t corrupt, and continued editing. An immeasurable waste of time, but it’s what I had to do to finish the project I’d already started.

I recently suggested that those of us testing Beta builds should have stronger safeguards, because in my case, once I finish this project (which I should’ve delivered 3 days ago), I won’t want to open the Beta again. I lost time, I missed client deadlines, and I lost unrecoverable files.

I know people often say not to do important work in Beta, but then how are we supposed to test Adobe’s new features? We don’t have the spare time to build a fully “fake” real-world edit just to find bugs and report them. It’s unfortunate, and once again, there should be a way to test Betas with real edits without risking project loss on every update. And if Adobe can’t offer that, I suggest adding a much more specific warning stating that we could irretrievably lose everything we do there, that there may be no way to recover anything, and that it’s entirely at our own risk. With that clarity, many people would avoid brutal headaches.

Stay strong. I hope you can recover at least part of what you lost.

P.S.: This message was translated from Spanish; please excuse any odd phrasing you may notice.

Y

Yori X

Participating Frequently

EXACT same issue. Massive project. All auto saves not working either. Tried two different computers. I have no idea what is going on. here is my corrupt file. Can someone please recover?

06_CPP_ENG_Impact_bym_BETA-downgraded.zip

MyerPj

Community Expert

@Bruce Bullis is your best contact.

FWIW: I gave them a try, couldn't get them to open or import.

A

analytical_introvert5CBD

Participant

Getting the same issue over here. I was able to open up an auto save from an earlier point and everything works fine, but as soon as I save the project, close Premiere, re-open, it gives me the error once again.

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