P: Premiere projects saved in v25.6.0 cannot be opened in other v25.x versions

[Francis-Crossman]

We are aware that customers who saved projects in Premiere v25.6.0 may find that those files now open only in v26 (beta) and cannot be opened in v25 versions. We know this is disruptive, and we have provided an app to fix the issue. 

What you need to know: 

• Projects saved in v25.6.0 save in the v26 version format. 

• Because of this, they can’t be opened in earlier versions, including v25.6.1 (even though it is the current generally available release) 

Our Solution 

We have built an app that will convert a v25.6.0-saved project back to the v25 format. This app is now available:

• Windows
• Macintosh

The app is able to process one or more files simultaneously. If you have any questions or comments about the app, please let us know via a comment in this thread.

Note: We know there are a number of downgrading apps available online, but we strongly recommend not using these. Non-Adobe apps and scripts are often outdated and may cause crashes and data loss.  

Further Details 

A bug caused Premiere v25.6.0 to prompt customers to enable Object Masking even though it is not yet in full release. Object Masking (and our yearly major version update) changes the Premiere project file structure such that it can only be opened in v26, which is only available in public beta. Turning this on caused projects to save in the newer v26 project format, even though users were still technically on the v25 release line. 

Opening an older project in v25.6.0 triggered a prompt to save a copy of the project with “_1” appended. We know that many customers upgraded the project and continued working in the new copy, potentially also deleting the original. This means the only active version became the file saved in v26 format. 

Premiere 25.6.0 was only available briefly before being replaced by 25.6.1 and is no longer available to reinstall. This means impacted users who auto updated to 25.6.1 cannot open v26 formatted projects. 

[MyerPj]

No sense in paying '6 bucks' for it.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-discussions/open-premiere-project-in-older-version-downg...

[Ann Bens]

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-bugs/issue-with-25-6-update/idi-p/15589164

[AlbertGalka]

Hi,

I’ve got a big problem. I work in Premiere Pro on my desktop PC, but I often travel and then switch to my laptop. On the desktop, CC updated Premiere to 25.6, but on the laptop CC doesn’t show that update. I’m in the middle of working on projects and I can’t open them because Premiere Pro won’t allow it.

I’ve already reinstalled CC but nothing changed. It updated AE and ME to 25.6, but not Premiere Pro, and the update still doesn’t show up in CC.

Do you know what I can do so I can install Premiere Pro 25.6 and get back to work?

Cheers

[Ann Bens]

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-bugs/issue-with-25-6-update/idi-p/15589164

[AlbertGalka]

Thank you for the quick reply. Unfortunately, this only shows the cause of the problem, which is good to know but does not solve the situation that Adobe created. After several hours of searching for a good solution, the only thing that worked turned out to be https://vakago-tools.com/premiere-pro-downgrader/
I know my case is exceptionally rare, but it is certainly not unique.
When, as a user, I take hard drives with projects and want to start working on them on another computer, and in the meantime it turns out that the update has been rolled back, I am stuck and Adobe has no remedy for this, which can lead to financial losses, client losses, and so on. It is not responsible. Fortunately, it can be bypassed through unofficial means.

Best regards

[Srfaye327]

Hey all - I had the same issue: 25.6 converted a project and then I had to downgrade back to PP 25.5. But I've been able to continue working on those 25.6 project files using the PP Beta app. I'd try installing that if you're having the same issues.

[dldavidluis69]

When i press enable now masking the premier close.

CPU 12700K

GPU RTX 3070

Ram 64gb

Premier 

[Dito Emsa]

Then we also need to downgrade the After Effects, since the dynamic link is not working between different version

[R Neil Haugen]

So @Francis-Crossman  ... is it safe to jump in now?    😉

[FocusPulling.com]

I am seeing 25.6.1 ready to install right now (11-17-2025 at 7pm ET). Should I do it?

[R Neil Haugen]

I have the same question ... and would prefer if they had posted something about the release also.

[MyerPj]

When they were aware of the problem they said wait for 25.6.1 so, that sounds like it is it.

Of course a post would be good also.

[CUAV1025575852ed05]

I just updated to the latest version.

The project that I was able to open yesterday can no longer be opened now.

  

[CUAV1025575852ed05]

I’m already on the latest version. How can I save it in an even newer version?

[Djluces]

I'm having the same problem. I can't open an important project I was working on yesterday after the update today.

[murali7875]

I was working in Premiere 25.6.1 version, all of a sudden my project file is not opening,

The error message is "

"This project was saved in a newer version of Adobe Premiere Pro and cannot be opened in this version"

Please help me

[murali7875]

 

[Camille34953062r1iu]

Having the same problem as @CUAV1025575852ed05 and currently in a huge rush for a project. We can't open PP projects from the 7th of november up to today.

[Sumeet Kumar Choubey]

Hi murali7875,

Sorry to hear about this. Do you currently have v25.6.1 installed? In which version of Premiere Pro was this project originally created?

Thanks,

Sumeet

[cristian_adrian_7780]

For this situation (as I was) the solution is to follow the video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJO4PlHASIs with only one change: the version number did not work when changed to '1' - instead I used '39' ans it opened in 25.6.1.

Remember to do backups on originals before changing!! 

[jorge_3272]

I Got that tab on 25.6.1 and after clicking on it I can't now use replace with after effects composition, it shows up empty on AE.  I downgraded and now is neither working

[BamBamKammm]

I have another issue I have not seen here and I severely need help. I created a project in 25.5, I finished the project and then I upgraded to 25.6, I then realized the issues and downgraded back to 25.5, now I can't open that old project that was created in 25.5 to begin with? It says there's 8 KB on disk on all of the autosaves from this project. I don't understand, I never opened this project in 25.6 either. My timeline is gone. Can anyone please help me.

[ScareCrow1024]

This seems to have bricked all the projects I was working on yesterday. I am unable open any project file, autosave or other that I touched with the new version yesterday. There goes a days work down the drain.

[R Neil Haugen]

Was that in 25.6 or 25.6.1?

They just dropped the replacement for 25.6.0 in their new 'sequential release' pattern starting yesterday morning US Pacific time. So which version were you in?

They had posted that there was an issue with 25.6.0 and unfortunately, not to use it. 25.6.1 is the replacement that should fix this ... so I'm very interested in whether you are on 25.6.1 or not.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hey All,

Thanhks for all your input. We have another workaround to get going again if you have Auto Save enabled. Let me know if this works for you.

1. Install 25.6.1
2. Go to the Auto Save folder and find your most recent backup project file.
3. Open the backup project file in the new version.
4. Verify that the latest Auto Save version of the project file has all the latest edits intact.
5. Delete the project file you were working on.
   
   I hope this workaround will help get you back on track. Sorry for the frustration. 
   
   Thanks,
   Kevin