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MyerPj
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 25, 2013
StickyOpen for Voting

Open Premiere Project in Older Version - Downgrade Project Version

  • June 25, 2013
  • 21 replies
  • 255329 views

Premiere Pro users sometimes want to open their project in an earlier version.

Here’s the quickest way to open your projects in an earlier version. Only 4 steps to revert the PP version.

 

This assumes you have 7-Zip installed. It’s free and awesome and why would anyone not have it! 🙂

 

Also, that you have a COPY of your project that you will be converting.

 

++++ Make a Copy of your project with a New Name in the same folder as the original ++++

 

     1) Right-Click the COPY of the project and from the 7-Zip menu select “Open Archive”

     2) In 7-Zip there is one file same name as the project – Right-Click the file and select EDIT*

     3) On the fourth line change the Version = “??” Change the number portion to “1” Save and Close

     4) 7-Zip will ask you if you want to update that file in the archive, Select <OK>

 

That’s it! When you open the project Premiere Pro will say it is from a Previous Version, and will give it a new name as usual.

 

*Of note, on step 2, the bigger your project the longer it takes to open.

 

Here’s a link to an online program which requires you to upload the file but will do the above for you.

 

https://joshcluderay.com/downgrade-premiere-project-converter

 

Of course you loose any new features of the later version you edited with.

21 replies

Kevin-Monahan
Community Manager
Community Manager
November 18, 2025

This Discussion has been promoted to an Idea. Please upvote.

 

Thanks,
Kevin

 

Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community &amp; Engagement Strategist – Pro Video and Audio
Participant
June 4, 2025

I tried both and it didn't work

Tips 2 Fix
Participating Frequently
June 4, 2025

can you please try my online project downgrader  ? 
on tips2fix website go to tools
https://tips2fix.com/pp-downgrader/

let me know if this does the job done!

Participating Frequently
July 28, 2024

Since a recent update the timeline zoom behavior has changed so when scrolling to zoom on the time line, it seems to reset the zoom levels before completing zooming out when scrolling down with the mouse wheel.

Using - Windows 10 very latest version of Premiere Pro

I assume this is a bug, as it hasn't behaved like this at any time in the last 4 years.

Is there anyway I can downgrade to a previous version of Premiere?

 

Also the Creative cloud app is completely unusable after a recent update, so I can't use that in doing the downgrade...

 

Just to clarify I want to downgrade to a previous version of the current release of Premiere Pro, not going back to last years release

R Neil Haugen
Legend
July 28, 2024

You may need to reinstall the Creative Cloud app, as that's the only way to install the CC apps.

Everyone's mileage always varies ...
Participating Frequently
July 29, 2024

The CC app is completely unusable - how do I get the old version of that back?  The new user interface on the CC app is completely unusable.

Participating Frequently
June 30, 2023
Ann Bens
Community Expert
Community Expert
June 30, 2023
quote

Thank me later.


By @Streetshow Productions

 

Not if the project is over 50 MB.

efficient_cause5FAC
Participant
November 28, 2022

Can't believe this worked! Thank you.

Participant
November 17, 2022

Thank you, thank you MyerPj!!

The converter link worked like a charm!! I wish I had checked this Support Community earlier, I'd have a lot more hair right now! Thanks for sending the answer so quickly, it has saved my project which is due tomorrow evening!

monicaa32716093

Alex Bruni
Participant
October 21, 2022
Hello! I wrote a special free service for all editing directors for downgrade + optimization + error correction of Adobe Premiere Pro projects, use it! 
https://alexbruni.ru/premiere_downgrader

Ann Bens
Community Expert
Community Expert
October 21, 2022

Nice but you do need to put the website in English.

What is the max project size?

Inspiring
January 19, 2022

OSX users can use a suite of apps by Digital Rebellion that includes some handy utilities such as a Pr project downgrader, and a corrupt clip finder, Preferences and plug-ins manager, OS utilities, and several more.  I've used it for years and found it very useful.  Free upgrades, too.

Kevin-Monahan
Community Manager
Community Manager
January 19, 2022
Community: Please upvote this feature request: Save for a previous version of Premiere
 
Thanks,
Kevin
Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community &amp; Engagement Strategist – Pro Video and Audio
Ann Bens
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 19, 2022
quote
Community: Please upvote this feature request: Save for a previous version of Premiere
 
Thanks,
Kevin

By @Kevin-Monahan

 

I dont think this is ever going to happen.

Kevin-Monahan
Community Manager
Community Manager
January 19, 2022

Dear Ann,

As Steve Hoeg used to say when he worked at Adobe (and I'm paraphrasing), "Anything is possible with software development."

 

Kind Regards,
Kevin

Kevin Monahan - Sr. Community &amp; Engagement Strategist – Pro Video and Audio
Participating Frequently
January 12, 2022

Hi, 

I tried the online converters,7-zip method and XML to downgrade the PP 2022 project but it didn't work.

It shows the same error.

Can anyone help?

Thank!!

Richard van den Boogaard
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 12, 2022

Please give us some more information on the problem/project.

https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-discussions/faq-what-information-should-i-provide-when-asking-a-question-on-this-forum/td-p/3929027

 

For starters, why is so urgent that you roll back to CC2018? Is CC2022 unable to handle the project?

 

Help us help you.

Participating Frequently
January 12, 2022

I have to send a rough cut of a project to the main editor and he is using the 2018 version of  Premiere on Mac. His laptop can not afford the latest versions of the program.

I'm using Premiere Pro 2021 15.2

There is no sound or colour effects on materials.

I downgraded the project. but still the 2018 version doesn't open the project.