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Francis-Crossman17221443
Community Manager
Community Manager
September 5, 2023

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

  • September 5, 2023
  • 168 replies
  • 12054 views

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’re working on a fix. 

 

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) 
  • We’re developing a tool that will let you convert affected projects back to a v25-compatible file.  

 

Our Solution 

We’re building a small app that will convert a v25.6.0-saved project back to the v25 format. We’ll share more information, including availability and instructions, as soon as the tool is ready in the coming days.  

 

We know that there is nothing more important than the reliability of a project file, so we’re working with urgency to get this downgrade tool in your hands as quickly as possible. 

 

We know there are a number of downgrading apps available online, but we strongly recommend utilizing our tool when it becomes available. Non-Adobe apps and scripts are often outdated and may cause crashes and data loss.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. 

168 replies

Participant
November 21, 2025

I have this problem with a client project to whom I owe an explanation. It's 2025, the 21st century, and AI is breathing down our necks, and we, the users, are the ones who pay the price. We're waiting for "band-aid" solutions, as they're commonly called. I'm paying for a product, and I shouldn't be the guinea pig for problems and protocols that you should be resolving internally.

Participant
November 21, 2025

New issue for me with 25.6.2, when opening a project that was saved yesterday on the latest release, I now get a message saying "This project was saved in a newer version of Premiere and cannot be opened"
It wasn't opened in Beta, but I did try to enable the new masking (which never worked) so I'm guessing it's something to do with a preferences conflict.

Participant
November 21, 2025

I didn't open my projects in beta, but I still have the same compatibility issue after updating do 25.6.2

Participant
November 21, 2025

Any news on when this issue will be solved? My work is stuck since the update. This is the worst and most damaging bug I have ever witnessed.

Puffancs
Participating Frequently
November 21, 2025

25.6.2 is out! That solves the project compatibility issue, unless you opened it in beta. If you did, you are still stuck with beta.

But hey, the glass is half full.

R Neil Haugen
Legend
November 21, 2025

That's due to the 25.6.0 version having internally set the version number in the Project file to the number for the upcoming 26.x series. You can go online and get the directions for changing a Premiere version number in the project file. It's very easy to do.

 

The .prproj file is actually a zipped file ... and the instructions include simply unzipping the file, changing the 2 digit number in about line four or so to the correct number, which would be one digit less than it would be showing. Re-zip and it should be good to go.

 

I've done this several times for various reasons. Takes a minute or so.

Everyone's mileage always varies ...
Peru Bob
Community Expert
Community Expert
November 21, 2025

@mattlth 

If you save it in the Beta, will 25.6.2 open it?

Participating Frequently
November 21, 2025

Unbelievably, 25.6.2 STILL won't open my projects saved in 25.6.0. I have to use the beta to get any work done on existing projects.

Participant
November 20, 2025

Is there an update on timelines for this fix? Would be great to get an idea when / if the solution might be available. Thanks! 

shadiego
Participant
November 20, 2025

What the hell have you done? I can't access my projects with either 25.6.1 or 25.6.2. It says they were edited in a newer version of Premiere and can't be opened.