Why can't premiere automatically relocate files if a drive is disconnected during use?

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
June 13, 2025
4 replies
450 views

This is probably true for other CS software too but it happens in Premiere mainly. I'm sure we've all had the scenario here mid-edit an external drive hokding some or all of the files for a project gets knocked and ejected, and so Premiere loses the files until you relocate them manually. It does a good job of finding all the files once you've pointed it to the first one it's looking for (thanks Adobe!). But my question is why can't it find them automatically itself. When I plug the drive back in the parh to the file/s is the same. Premiere literally lists the original path of the file in the search bar. What's the reason for it not just automatically reconnecting to those files which are exactly where they were moments ago?

(This question is aside from the obvious suggestions of a) don't work on an active project on an external drive b) don't let it get unplugged in the first place!)

Files and libraries

R Neil Haugen

Legend

There are times where the initial upload of files to a project was done by say an assistant editor, either via external, or internal drives ... but on a system connected to a NAS.

Then the files are moved to the NAS, and the other system or drive is still connected. But of course, from then on, the project folks will want and need to use the NAS storage location.

Then another editor picks up the job, the files aren't technically relinked, so they do the 'locate' thing at it automagically locates to the files on drives connected to the assistant editor, as it can see that drive over the network setup.

If the current editor doesn't catch that and re-direct, there's trouble brewing.

That's one of numerous things that can happen. Essentially, for simple total safety reasons, that was given as why.

It's kinda like something about being on set that sounds stupid at first ... the roll call to begin every shot.

'Roll Sound ... sound rolling...

Roll camera 2 .... camera 2 rolling ...

Roll camera 1 ... camera 1 rolling ...

Run Slate .... slate run ...

Action ...

Why all those steps when you could just say Start rollilng everyone?

For absolute safety ... everything is called precisely in order, and out loud, and requires a verbal response. And you don't blow a take because someone blipped on actually rolling a camera or sound recorder.

Which all seems somewhat over the top until you're on a project that didn't do that, and um ... a scene or two was blown, very expensively ... and you never ever EVER do that again without a full roll call.

Everyone's mileage always varies ...

R Neil Haugen

Legend

I think that's been explained before, and the reason was that they want to make sure that is what the user wants to link to.

As there are many reasons why you might not want that. And if it relinked automagically, when you didn't realize it had done so, it could be a massive train wreck.

Everyone's mileage always varies ...

M

mattjamieAuthor

Known Participant

couple of thngs:

1) a box saying "would you like to reconnect these files" (there's already a box asking you to search. Why not default to the location it already knows it's in. I just click "OK" instead of searching where it already knows they are.

2) Can you give me an example of when you might not want that?

(It doesn't have to be passive / automatic - just default to suggesting the original location and then I click OK if that's what I want)

M

mattjamieAuthor

Known Participant

Premiere does not know where to look if disk is reconnected.

The offline clips can be anywhere on your system.

You just have to point Premiere in the right direction, the rest will follow.

To avoid this relinking, don't disconnect the drive.

Your first sentence is the thing I'm talking about.

(your last sentence was covered in my initial post)

"Premiere does not know where to look if disk is reconnected"

Except is specifically has a note of what the drive/path of the file is when you go to search for it. It "knows" where it was, but instead of defaulting to that location (for me then to confirm or reject - which coveres all the other points about why you might NOT want to go to the same place) it defaults to nowhere.

I'm just saying as far as I can see there is no reason why defaulting to the same location it used to be in can't be the norm. If i'm reconnecting to a new drive / working on a shared project or whatever, I would need to reconnect anyway and go through these steps manually even without the drive disconnecting. However if the drive where it used to be is reconnected, why can't Premiere make that it's defult suggestion? I can still choose another folder if I want!

kglad

Community Expert

in the future, to find the best place to post your message, use the list here, https://community.adobe.com/

p.s. i don't think the adobe website, and forums in particular, are easy to navigate, so don't spend a lot of time searching that forum list. do your best and we'll move the post (like this one has already been moved) if it helps you get responses.