Premiere Pro glitchy video playback is frustrating. It stands in the way of working efficiently on your big project.
But it can happen to anyone! And luckily, there are fixes. Premiere Pro stuttering playback is really a sign of problems with your setup or system. In this tutorial, you’ll learn techniques to resolve problems that lead to Premiere Pro glitchy playback.
Premiere Pro Choppy Playback: Why Does it Happen?
What leads to Premiere Pro stuttering playback? Well, it indicates that Premiere Pro is experiencing issues with your project and its content. So when Premiere playback choppy issues arise, what is the cause?
Consider these potential issues:
- Outdated software. Adobe Premiere Pro is frequently updated. That’s one advantage of the Creative Cloud package. Instead of buying the app once, you pay for a subscription, which comes with updates. But if you don’t do these updates, Premiere will often gradually slow down as it falls behind the content you’re working with.
- Inadequate computer hardware. Let’s face it: Premiere Pro is resource-intensive. It may not work well on older computers or those with limited specifications. Slowness is often caused by limited RAM or old graphics cards.
- Incorrect or misaligned settings. In Premiere, editing is controlled in what are called sequences. Sequences have settings that control the content contained in them. These include frames per second (FPS) and more. If the sequence settings don’t match your media, you may see Premiere Pro choppy playback.
These are some of many possible reasons that you’re seeing Premiere Pro glitchy video playback. Now, let’s look at key ways to troubleshoot and fix these issues.
How to Fix Premiere Pro Glitchy Video Playback (Tips & Tricks)
Premiere Pro stuttering playback can happen to anyone. But how do you fix it? Above, we outlined some root causes. But Premiere Pro skipping during playback doesn’t always mean that you need a new computer! Here are some tips and tricks to boost Premiere Pro playback in moments.
As we work, you’ll see stock video footage in use. It comes from Envato Elements, and you can download it here if you want to follow along.
1. Update Adobe Premiere Pro to the Latest Version
It’s always a good idea to keep Adobe Premiere Pro up to date. This is often an easy fix if you start experiencing playback issues. After all, if they emerge suddenly, it’s a sign that something has changed with your system.
Premiere Pro stuttering playback is often caused by older versions of Premiere Pro. The older your install, the worse the performance will get. To update Premiere Pro, open Adobe Creative Cloud on your computer.
Then, in the Apps group, choose either All Apps or Updates. If Premiere Pro has an update, you’ll see an option to click and update. If you’re current, Adobe lets you know that you’re Up-to-date.
2. Clear the Premiere Pro Media Cache
Notice Premiere Pro skipping during playback? Often, the culprit is the Media Cache. This contains temporary files that Premiere Pro creates by itself. They’re used to boost the playback performance of your video. But if the Media Cache folder becomes too overloaded, it starts to hinder playback. This is a key thing to try if you notice Premiere Pro choppy playback.
Clearing the Premiere Pro Media Cache is a useful step. In Premiere, go to Premiere Pro > Settings > Media Cache. Once there, click Delete, and then click OK.
3. Adjust the Resolution Settings for Quick Previews
When you work in Premiere Pro, you’ll likely find yourself playing back videos over and over. This happens as you’re previewing edits and changes. If your Premiere playback is choppy or jerky, consider lowering the resolution as you preview.
What this does is lower your “preview” playback resolution. It won’t look as crisp and sharp to you, but the final export won’t be affected. This is a quick way to boost performance.
Video previews in Premiere Pro are found on the Program Monitor. Below and to the right, find the Set Playback Resolution dropdown menu.
In Premiere Pro, this resolution defaults to Full. But to boost your performance, try a value like 1/2 or 1/4. It’s a performance boost achievable with the touch of a button.
4. If Available, Enable GPU Acceleration
Last but not least, consider GPU Acceleration. This works only if you have a video graphics card installed. But it’s a powerful built-in feature in Adobe Premiere Pro. GPU Acceleration helps Premiere make full use of your graphics card to boost playback performance.
To enable GPU Acceleration, go to the File dropdown. Click it, hover over Project Settings, and click General. On the Project Settings menu that launches, click on the Renderer dropdown. If you have access to GPU Acceleration, you can click to turn it on.
These are helpful ways to fix Premiere Pro choppy playback issues! Try them any time you experience playback issues in Premiere. You’ll be glad you did.
The Best Source for Premiere Pro Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)
Need help with your next video project? It helps to have templates that already have most of the work done for you. The best source for Premiere Pro templates is Envato Elements. One subscription gives you unlimited access to the most customizable designs.
But that’s not all. Your Elements subscription gives you access to other top assets that video editors love. That includes stock photos, footage, graphics, and so much more. It’s everything you need for a great production.
It’s easier than ever to navigate the Elements library. That’s thanks to the brand new AI-powered search tool. Simply enter your project description, and the assistant will find every relevant file you need. It’s your key to faster workflows.
Elements is an unbeatable offer. Instead of scouring the web and paying for separate files, you unlock everything. Join today!
You Just Learned How to Resolve Premiere Pro Choppy Playback
In this tutorial, we shared tips for a common issue: Premiere Pro glitchy video playback. As it turns out, there are tried-and-true fixes to smooth out the app.
The next time you experience Premiere Pro skipping during playback, try out one or all of these techniques. You’re sure to solve your Premiere Pro choppy playback issues.