FAQ: The File Cannot Be Opened Because of a Header Error

[Kevin-Monahan]

Unable to import your image(s) to Premiere Pro? Does “The File Cannot Be Opened Because of a Header Error” pop up? Adobe Expert, Jens Trimmer, created an article and video containing fixes for the issue. Check these out.

Here's Jens' updated troubleshooting guide if you run into the error:

https://videowithjens.com/premiere-pro-the-file-cannot-be-opened-because-of-a-header-error/

Jens also made a video about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtpyTbWZWJ8

[lukemep]

I am sorry, but I didn't understand your solution. How can I see it in the preview if I cannot import the file?

[mikeu90121315]

Select file>Go to(menu)>Open with>Preview default>.. Save>Go to menu(File)>Export. Done!

[dzgnr89]

I faced this issue in latest Adobe Premiere CC 2020. Man!! It has been so many years since people have been facing this trouble and Adobe hasn't fixed it!!

I always use the old school solution. I open the photo in ms paint and save it. Voila! Error gone. 

This issue is specifically faced whenever I import an image sent by someone on Whatsapp. The image open flawlessly in free software like mspaint and picasa photo viewer. Surprisingly, a commercial software like Adobe Premiere gives header error. I don't understand why.

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi,

If anyone still experiences this error, kindly upload a sample file I can send along and can file a bug with.

Thanks,
Keivn

[dzgnr89]

Here is an image that I downloaded from Whatsapp. It gives header error.

 

[Vishal Rajeev]

Try taking screenshots and then importing it..:) that worked for me

[Motti0D44]

Very simple solution

Open in your picture app. then crop a little and save again

[Alexander5EF1]

Even more simple fix esp. for PC... just open it with Paint and the save as BMP file to the desired location.

[defaultpm6qzunv3r17]

I just opened the file in Windows photos and screenshotted then cropped it...

[Rahul22484470supx]

For resolving this issue for large number of photos in a folder:

If you have Picasa installed on your PC,

1. Right click your folder in Picasa-> Select all Pictures

2. File->Export Picture to Folder

Try importing your photos from the export folder now.

[Jens Trimmer]

Here's an updated troubleshooting guide if you run into the error:

https://videowithjens.com/premiere-pro-the-file-cannot-be-opened-because-of-a-header-error/

I've also made a video about it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtpyTbWZWJ8

[Kevin-Monahan]

Thanks so much @Jens Trimmer ! This is a huge help. I've created a FAQ from your post. I hope that's OK! 🙂

Cheers,

Kevin

[Jens Trimmer]

That is great! Glad it was helpful 😊

Cheers,

Jens Trimmer

[Nitin28986543z5al]

For me the solution is the same but problem is litttle different ME render shows Warning!!! and dose not render that image 

But why is this an issue. I have 1000+ images it is difficult to open and save in Paint

[RTHiggins]

Hi,

I am about to print on the latest feature I am editing and I cannot get this 5.1 wav file into Premiere! I get a dialogue that says "This file cannot be opened because of a header error."

I have referred to this article already to no avail - Header Error when importing Wav files

Please advise.

Thanks

Specs:

Yosemite 10.10.5

Mac Pro (Mid 2010)

2 x 3.48 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon

AMD Radeon HD 7950 3072 MB

128 Gigs of RAM

[Richard M Knight]

Can you share the file with us?

[RTHiggins]

No I can't put it on this forum. That being said, the stereo mix comes in fine. Perhaps there was a problem with the file?

[RTHiggins]

I have not checked the 2018 update(because I am still in 2015) but, it seems that Premiere cannot accept 5.1(even though it has a 5.1 audio channel option) files from Pro Tools and that you will need to do a multi-track multiple mono workflow explained here.

[juli vizza]

I am getting the same error message trying to import a .JPG

[andrewcopper]

The problem I'm experiencing is that Premiere CS6 will not import my Wav audio files. When I try to import them it gives the following message and fails to import the file:

"The file cannot be opened because of a header error".

The original audio file, which opened happily in FCP 7 (I'm migrating the project to Premiere from a previous Final Cut Pro project) is in the following format (as described in the Movie Inspector of QuickTime Player):

Linear PCM

16 bit little-endian signed integer

2 channels

48000 Hz

Although the files won't open in Premiere, they will open in Adobe Audition, which gives their bit depth as 32 (it also describes the original format as "16 bit little-endian" - I confess that this technical side of sound files is unclear to me).

Any suggestions of how I can coax Premiere into importing and opening these files?

Thanks, Andrew

[the_wine_snob]

Perhaps some of the suggestions in this thread: http://forums.adobe.com/message/4713932#4713932 will be helpful?

Good luck,

Hunt

[excited_Genie16B8]

After opening in Audition, resave them out.  This should correct any header errors.

[andrewcopper]

Thanks, this did it: I simply opened may Wav files in Audition and saved them as Wave PCMs, and Premiere is happy!

[RTHiggins]

This does not work for me...

[davidb29237553]

I'm trying to import an .srt subtitle file into a large feature film Premiere Pro project and I'm getting an error message saying "The file cannot be be opened because of a header error".

Does anyone have any idea what this may be?

Below are the first few lines from the .srt file in case there's an obvious formatting issue:

1

00:00:01,360 --> 00:00:03,080

You happy boss?

2

00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:10,440

Ok, so I think we're good to go, and we're just going to do a quick soundcheck.

3

00:00:11,120 --> 00:00:13,240

Tell us about this village cinema.

4

00:00:14,080 --> 00:00:15,720

Oh aye, yeah the cinema is going to be great.

5

00:00:16,000 --> 00:00:20,319

Yeah, going to do it my way though, yeah, confiscate mobile phones on entry.