Link Media on Network drive in Premiere Pro CC

[BaxterBeast]

Hi there. In premiere pro CC, I'm trying to link media that has been changed or moved to a project. The media I'm looking for is on a network drive. When I click on "locate media" I am unable to browse to the netwok drive as there are simply no drives showing up under the "network drives" dropdown. Any ideas on how to make Permiere see my network to locate these files? Thanks in advance. BB.

[excited_Genie16B8]

Honestly, outside of using Adobe Anywhere, the better option is usually to keep everything local.  Use network drives only for backup.

[John T Smith]

Some/all? versions of Premiere do not work properly, if at all, over a network

-see messages #1 and #3 in http://forums.adobe.com/thread/771151

-you MUST give all users administrator accounts to use Premiere

-and especially Encore dual layer http://forums.adobe.com/thread/969395

-#5 Server 2008 is UNsupported http://forums.adobe.com/thread/851602

-a work around, of sorts http://forums.adobe.com/thread/957523

-and not on a "domain" http://forums.adobe.com/thread/858977

-http://helpx.adobe.com/premiere-pro/kb/networks-removable-media-dva.html

[matthewh35044921]

A shortcut didn't work for me.

Deselecting "Use Media Browser" in the Link Media browser box kind of worked, but it was making me link each file and not relinking automatically. And yes, "Relink Automatically" was selected. Given that there was hundreds of files to relink, it was impractical to relink them one-by-one.

The solution for me was inspired by John T Smith's answer. I needed to go to "Security & Privacy" in "System Settings" and under "Privacy" -> "Full Disk Access". I needed to add Premiere to this list. First you have to unlock the settings by clicking on the lock in the bottom left. Then you click the plus sign and add Adobe Premiere (navigate to Premiere through the Finder).

Once I did that, everything relinked right away.

[PressPlay Video Team]

We work with a NAS server. And since I have a new computer Premiere Pro crashes as soon as I open an old timeline. It seems like premiere can't find the files from the server. I can't even link myself because premiere crashes right away. So there is no error message but it crashes right away. Does anyone have a solution for this? On the other computers it works this way.

[Michael Grenadier]

is the project file on the server?  If so, try moving it to the local computer (and also try keeping your autosave and other "scratch disks" on the local computer.      Also, did you try all the solutions/workarounds posted in this thread in a systematic fashion?    Never easy to troubleshoot premiere problems from a distance so please tell us your system specs: OS version, Premiere version, amount of RAM, Hardware specs including graphics card and if you have any 3rd party plugins installed for Premiere... 

[Press260805003vv1]

Yes is on the server, tried everything to make clear to Premiere that it has to read the files from the server. As soon as I open Premiere it crashes, downloaded a new version, tried several options and nothing works, while my colleagues work exactly this way. Also tried copying the auto-saves to the local drive of my PC but that didn't work either. Win 11 Home (64 bit), Premiere version is 24.0. 32GB ram, 13th gen Core i9 (3 ghz), GeForce RTX 3080.

Could copy all files to the local drive but then my colleagues can't access the project. So that won't work as a definitive solution.

[Michael Grenadier]

First, if you open premiere without opening the project, does it crash?   And you're saying that other users can open the project and access the media without any issues?  Any obvious differences between your setup and the other users...  And will the project open successfully if you've saved it the project locally?    If so, there may be some different workflows that will solve your problem...  Since I don't work this way, I'm not sure I can help, but may be able to point you in the right direction.

Working with shared media is a tricky process and back in the day, Avid Media Composer was the software of choice for this workflow because it was designed for this workflow.  And even then, it was import to have an IT person setting it up properly.   The fact that other people on your system are able to work this way and you cannot is what puzzles me...

[petergillis · Accepted solution]

I just had the same problem. The workaround was to create a shortcut to the folder holding the media on my desktop. Then in the Premiere Locate File I was able to dive into the server to access and link the files that way. Although this solution has a big shortcoming, because it relies on the shortcut being there. If you remove the shortcut the files can no longer be located.

Sidenote: In this day and age, that Premiere doesn't handle accessing media on servers well, is very surprising to me.

[John T Smith]

Solution for networks...

Adobe Anywhere http://www.adobe.com/products/adobeanywhere.html

http://www.creativeimpatience.com/adobe-anywhere-enterprise-solution/

[RichardB99-bbh2ia · Accepted solution]

Just switch off 'Use Media Browser' in the Link Media dialog box, Premiere then uses Explorer (WIN) or Finder (macOS) and you can find your network drives (and your locally attached drives) in the normal way.

[benro]

Thanks Richard,

Unticking "Use Media Browser to locate files" in the "Link Media" dialog and using the OS file browser is quick and painless.

[chelleg69033363]

This is what worked for me. Thank you for the tip!

(Media browser wasn't even able to find an alias on my desktop).

[olufsen]

This worked here as well. We have this contious problem on/off when Premiere working on the server. Usually derived when a project is created on Mac OS and then later on opened on a Windows machine.

[Traviajando]

This worked.. thanks so much. Lost precious time fighuring out this. Why Adobe changes things that worked for users, for somethinmg else more complicated...

[schultzeworks2]

OK, this is a GREAT tip but you missed a critical step. It is not possible to launch the dialog if you go to File > Link Media. 

It requires the following:

1) In your project window, select-and-highlight any missing asset.

2a) Go to File > Link Media

OR

2b) Right-click and select Link Media

3) De-select the 'Use Media Browser to locate files' as shown in the screen capture.

4) Using your system file browser (with access to the newtwork!) now select and replace the missing asset. This must be completed.

This setting will now remain as the new defailt, even after you close and re-open the file.

[Eko Wardoyo]

Thanks @RichardB99-bbh2ia , unticking "Use Media Browser to Locate files" fix my problem too.

[Michael Grenadier]

just be aware that there can be issues with working off of media via a network.  Might have some performance hits if other people are doing any heavy lifting at the same time, and there may be an issue with file naming conventions.   Also, if other people on the network are working with the same files at the same time, this could cause some problems.  If I remember correctly, there are some Premiere preferences to make sure you are not altering your source files while you're working with them...    Generally it's safer not to work with media via a network unless you're working with a system that's specifically designed for this workflow.  That's why Avid has dominated the shared media market for so long...   Just remember if you have any issues on your system and you post here, to be sure and say you're working via a network...  And if you do have issues, try and work locally and see if that solves the problem...

[Eko Wardoyo]

Thanks @Michael Grenadier 

[jameseyboy]

This totally works this solution, use this people, thanks Julienprod

[DominicBurgess]

Can not believe I've never noticed that option before!!!! Thank you!!!

[mattinaz52408116]

The solution is to map the network drive to your computer and then Premiere Pro CC will detect it under network drive at the Media Browser panel.

I've created short blog post with step by step instructions and screenshots for this problem. Do check it out! SOLUTION: Link or Import Media on Network drive in Premiere Pro CC 2015

[aviralmediratta]

Thanks. You saved my day.

[julienprod]

Handy workaround, but workaround all the same. Have Adobe acknowledged that isse?
The technician I talked to just blamed my network config (I am on Windows 7 pro), but I just checked with Bridge CC and if I go to Desktop/Networks, then all my network drives appear.
So it is definitely an Adobe Issue

[MisterDirector]

thanks, the shortcut is the solution!