2024 is no longer compatible with 2025 upgrade in Premiere Pro

[joseph_smiles]

Please can you make the 2025 Premiere Pro upgrade compatible to open 2024 projects please, otherwise you can never open 2024 projects ever again and this is unacceptable.  Microsoft can open all versions of Windows so I'd expect you can sort this out, especially when I'm paying a monthly subscription of over £20/m.

[Ann Bens]

Open a New Premiere Pro Project on an Older Version - Windows - YouTube

[R Neil Haugen]

None of the pro NLEs allow for opening a project in an older version. Period. There's way too many changes in coding and effects and UI and such.

Ann's link shows the one way to get much of the newer project into an older format.

And most of us strongly suggest never ever removing prior app versions. Make sure that "auto update" and "remove prior versions" for applications are both not selected in the Creative Cloud desktop app.

And anytime you do select to add a new major version, check the update dialog box. Uncheck the 'remove prior versions option which is normally set to do so.

I have back through 2019 on my current desktop, and on my old one, back to the original CC version.

[joseph_smiles]

Wow thanks for that very informative reply. That made a lot of sense now you've explained it. I spent over an hour today to Adobe support as my Premiere Pro half updated itself from 2024 to 2025 yesterday and so I couldn't get into my projects. 

Ok, will do as you say regarding the auto update options.

Thanks, 

Joe.

[joseph_smiles]

Thanks so much Ann. Will watch your link.

Thanks,

Joe.

[Shon Agustin]

So what do I do now that I've upgraded to 2025 and did not know that it was removing prior versions?

I am unable to edit with 2025 for some reason. Every time I try to upgrade the project it crashes.

I don't see any place to contact Adobe support. So I'm just stuck. It's super frustrating.

[R Neil Haugen]

Users need to check the Creative Cloud desktop app preferences. Make sure to deselect auto updating the apps.

And when updating by choice, ALWAYS check to make sure "remove prior versions" is not selected.

Many of us have been pushing for remove prior to default to NOT being active. But by default, it's normally on.

So you always have to uncheck it.

[joseph_smiles]

Thanks for your email Neil, really appriciate your help.  Will do your instructions.  Thanks, Joe.

[John Resborn]

Hi there

Maybe I have misunderstood you, but do you mean that after upgrading to Premiere v2025 from v2024, you cant open the older 2024 project files in v 25 anylonger? Wont Premiere ask you to upgrade the project file to work with version 25? If not, then that is, as you´re saying, a total disaster.
Then you must save the old c24 and have both versions installed to be able to open up old projects, and that seems a bit unneccessary of you ask me.

[R Neil Haugen]

No idea where you got that. Of course you can open older projects in newer versions. Period. Other than maybe the odd phrasing of the original post. Which is pretty confused.

How you choose to open and older version project can matter at times.

I dupe the project file, and then for smaller projects, just "open" in the new version and let Premiere handle the update. Oh, and always, when you're opening an older project, it's wise to dump all cache files.

For more complex projects, I create a properly named new version project file, and use the Media Browser panel to select and import the assets of the older project file.