Learn how to set up and navigate through Premiere Pro 2023 for optimal functionality including resetting preferences, setting preferences, fixing version compatibility issues, and locating missing media.
This exercise is excerpted from Noble Desktop’s Adobe Premiere Pro training materials and is compatible with Premiere Pro updates through 2023. To learn current skills in Premiere Pro with hands-on training, check out our Premiere Pro Bootcamp, Video Editing Certificate, and video editing classes in-person and live online.
Note: These materials are provided to give prospective students a sense of how we structure our class exercises and supplementary materials. During the course, you will get access to the accompanying class files, live instructor demonstrations, and hands-on instruction.
Complete the following setup prior to beginning any exercises.
Exercise Preview
Exercise Overview
In this exercise you’ll set some preferences to make sure that Premiere Pro will function as this book expects. It’s important to do this exercise first, or some things later will not work correctly!
Resetting Premiere Pro Preferences
You’ll be working with audio throughout this book. Make sure your speakers or headphones are connected and turned on.
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If Premiere Pro is open, quit the app.
NOTE: This book has been tested with Premiere Pro 2023 version 23.4.0. If you’re using an older or newer version, most things should still work the same or similarly.
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Launch Premiere Pro and then immediately hold Option (Mac) or Alt (Windows) until the reset preferences dialog appears.
If you don’t see a dialog appear, you didn’t hold the key down fast enough. Quit the app and try it again.
In latest version: Check on Reset app preferences, click Continue, and Premiere will continue launching.
In older versions: Click OK and Premiere will continue launching.
Setting Preferences
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Once you’re in Premiere Pro:
- Mac: At the top, go into the Premiere Pro menu and choose Settings > General (instead of Settings it will be Preferences on older versions of macOS).
- Windows: At the top, go into the Edit menu and choose Preferences > General.
In the category list on the left, click on Audio Hardware.
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Set Default Output to your desired audio hardware (it may already be set properly).
If you get a warning about device changes, continue by clicking Yes.
In the category list on the left, click on Auto Save.
Change Automatically Save Every to 8 minute(s).
On the left, click on the Media Cache category.
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Under Media Cache Management select Automatically delete cache files older than
If you get a message about cleaning, click OK.
NOTE: The default duration is 90 days but feel free to adjust that.
On the left, click on the Memory category.
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To the right of RAM reserved for other applications hover your cursor over the blue number.
In one motion, drag to the left to reduce the number. Stop dragging when it reaches the lowest number possible (it might already be set to that, so it might not change).
NOTE: The lowest number depends on how much RAM your computer has. This preference does NOT get reset when resetting your Premiere Pro preferences.
Click OK.
Fixing Version Compatibility Issues
Premiere Pro files are not backwards compatible. Files created in the current version of the program cannot be opened in any previous versions of the application. To prevent you from accidentally updating your older file, Premiere will automatically give you a chance to save it as a new file.
Open your older project file and the Convert Project dialog will appear.
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The save location is the same location the original file was opened from. If desired, choose a new location and name for your converted project.
NOTE: If you want to overwrite the existing project file, delete the underscore and number that was added to the file name.
Click OK to open the new file.
Locating Missing Media
When you import a file, Premiere Pro writes a link to that file’s location on your computer. If something occurs later to break this link; the file is moved, renamed, deleted, etc, then Premiere Pro will open the Link Media dialog so that you can reconnect the file.
In the Link Media dialog, Click the Locate button at the bottom right.
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In the Locate dialog, the top of the window tells you the name of the file you’re looking for.
NOTE: Premiere Pro attempts to take you to the folder where the file was know to exist, but it can’t always find this location so it may put you into the main folder for your project.
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You have two choices to locate the missing file:
If you know exactly where the file is you can use the list of folders on the left of the dialog to navigate to it directly, and select the folder with your files. Click on your file on the right side to select it.
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You can select a folder on the left and click the Search button and the program will automatically find the file.
NOTE: We usually recommend you use the folder list to limit the search to a specific location on your computer because letting Premiere Pro scan your entire hard drive for you media file can take a long time.
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When you have the target file highlighted click OK.
If you have multiple missing files that need to be relinked in the same main folder, finding one should relink them all.