Fix Premiere Pro Glitchy Video Playback - 6 Causes & Solutions

Premiere Pro Skipping During Playback

Let's dive right in. If you've ever edited a video and found the playback to be choppy, you're not alone. I've personally experienced this issue, and it can be a real hindrance to your workflow. The first thing you should do is check your hardware. Does your device have the specifications needed to run Premiere Pro smoothly? If you've been editing for a while and this issue is new, it's unlikely to be a hardware problem but could be due to a lack of space. Make sure there's enough room on your hard drive for your project to run seamlessly.

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Check for Software Updates

I've always wondered why some people neglect this simple step. Software updates are crucial for the optimal performance of Premiere Pro. Both the software and your operating system require regular updates. A slightly outdated version can cause numerous glitches, including choppy playback. Trust me, checking for updates should be your first troubleshooting step.

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Sequence and Clip Settings

From my point of view, this is where most people get tripped up. If you're experiencing choppy playback on a specific clip or set of clips, it could be due to a discrepancy between your sequence settings and your clip settings. For example, importing 4K or 50+fps clips into a timeline sequence with different settings can cause issues. Always check the clip settings by highlighting them in the timeline and checking the Info tab in the Inspector. If the settings don't match, you have a couple of options: either export the clip to match your other footage or create a Proxy clip.

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Too Many Applications Open

I've noticed that even a simple web browser can slow down your playback in Premiere Pro. The software takes a lot of processing power to run, so close as many applications as possible. Only run those needed for your editing.

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Turn It Off and On Again

It might sound cliché, but sometimes the best solution is the simplest one. If I were you, I'd save my work and then restart both the program and the device. This can often resolve minor glitches and improve performance.

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In-Depth Solutions for Choppy Playback

Consolidate Your Project

I'm convinced that a cluttered project can lead to choppy playback. Using the Premiere Pro Consolidation tool ensures all your files and media are in the same place, making it easier for the software to access them. This is fantastic for archiving projects and decreasing their overall size at editing milestones.

GPU Acceleration

If your computer has a dedicated graphics card, turning on GPU Acceleration can significantly improve playback. Go to File > Project Settings > General and change the Renderer to Mercury Playback Engine GPU Acceleration. This will make your editing experience much smoother.

Clear the Media Cache

The Media Cache is where Premiere Pro saves accelerator files to aid in playback. Over time, this cache can get filled, taking up a lot of space and slowing down performance. Clearing the Media Cache and re-rendering your project can drastically improve performance