Adobe Premiere Pro is a powerful video editor that can help you craft stunning projects, but it’s also a resource-intensive app. The key to success is to make your editing workflow more efficient.
In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to create proxy files in Premiere Pro. These help you edit faster and more efficiently. They free up computing power to help you (and your machine) work better.
Let’s get started!
What Is a Proxy?
A proxy is a duplicate of a project's source footage that is smaller and lower-resolution than the high-resolution original. Video proxies are created to stand in for raw footage during the editing process.
High-quality source footage demands hardware power and speed during the editing process. Many times, smaller files are good enough to stand in while editing. Using a proxy file—a smaller file—improves performance and uses fewer computing resources. Plus, you can keep working when disconnected from your source files.
How to Create Proxy Files in Premiere Pro (Step by Step)
It’s easy to create proxy files in Premiere Pro. If you’re editing HD footage, it’s an essential part of your toolkit. It’ll boost your system resources and keep Premiere Pro running smoothly.
Let’s learn how to create a Premiere Pro proxy file. To demonstrate, let’s use stock footage from Envato Elements. You can download the footage by clicking here and here.
This method is especially helpful if you're working in secure or restricted environments, like when managing multiple browser identities using multilogin residential proxies. Creating proxy files ensures your editing process stays fast and efficient, no matter the workload.
Now, let’s get started! In moments, you’ll know the proxy workflow in Premiere Pro.
1. Select Footage to Create Proxies
In Adobe Premiere Pro, make sure you have one or more video clips imported. When you create Premiere Pro proxies, you can do it with more than one clip at once, or you can use a single piece of footage.
When I edit, it’s helpful to batch create proxies. Create proxies in Premiere Pro on the front end to save time later.
To select footage for creating proxies in Premiere, be sure that you have the Project panel open. This lists the media and clips that you have in a given project. To open the Project panel, go to Window > Projects.
You’ll see the Project panel appear on the left side of your screen. On it, click to select a clip. Then, hold down your Shift key and click on any other footage that you want to work with.
2. Launch the Create Proxies Menu
With footage selected, it’s time to create proxies in Premiere. To get started, right-click on one of the selected clips in the Project panel.
A menu will appear. From it, hover over the Proxy setting with your cursor. Then, click Create Proxies.
The Create Proxies menu will launch. Here, you have two choices for proxy video settings. This determines how your Premiere Pro proxy workflow is configured.
In the Format dropdown, use QuickTime. In the Preset dropdown, choose your proxy quality settings. For best results, ProRes Medium Resolution Proxy is a good choice.
Finally, make sure the Next to Original Media, in Proxy folder button is selected. Click OK when you’re finished.
3. Create Proxies in Media Encoder
When you click OK, Adobe will launch the Media Encoder app. Media Encoder is a powerful tool to help you convert and modify media files. It works alongside Premiere Pro to create proxies.
When Media Encoder launches, you’ll see the Queue panel in the upper right. Automatically, Media Encoder will begin to create proxies in Premiere. This proxy workflow in Premiere Pro may take a few moments, depending on how big your underlying files are.
When your proxies are complete, you’ll see Done labels in the Status column on the Queue panel. It’s that easy!
4. Activate the Proxies in Adobe Premiere Pro
Once your Premiere Pro proxy clips are created, jump back over to Premiere Pro. Notice the video preview in the upper center. Right below it is a toolbar menu with several buttons.
Over on the right, find the Toggle Proxies button. Hover over it, and you’ll see its label display. To activate your Premiere Pro proxies, click Toggle Proxies. You’ll see the button turn blue. This means that you’re now editing with the proxies that you’ve just made!
In just a few minutes, you've learned how to create proxy files in Premiere Pro. As you can see, it’s a fast and simple process. Use it as you edit, especially with high-resolution footage. It’s a powerful way to streamline your editing steps and performance.
The Top Source for the Best Adobe Premiere Pro Templates (With Unlimited Downloads)
Premium Adobe Premiere Pro templates help you build amazing videos in record time. The best source for these templates is Envato Elements. For a flat monthly rate, you can download and use as many premium Premiere templates as you want! With thousands to choose from, finding the perfect one for your needs is easy.
Elements doesn’t just have Premiere Pro templates. In fact, you’ll enjoy unlimited access to millions of other digital assets. These include fonts, stock video, music, and so much more. You can find everything you need to craft beautiful videos.
Want to speed up your search process? Elements makes it easier than ever, with the all-new AI-Search tool. Simply describe your project needs in a few words. When you search, the AI tool will match Elements content with your specific needs, saving you precious time.
Don’t hesitate. Join Envato Elements today.
More Top Resources for Adobe Premiere Pro
You just mastered the Premiere Pro proxy workflow. With this skill, you can work with fewer resources and edit while you're detached from the source files.
There's no reason to stop here. Keep learning Premiere Pro with our top resources. Start with our comprehensive video course, for example. It includes hours of content to help you get started. Or check out these top Premiere Pro tutorials:
Guide: How to Download Adobe Premiere Pro For Free (2025)
How to quickly stabilize video footage in Premiere Pro
How to Zoom in on a Video in Premiere Pro
How to Quickly Rename Premiere Pro Projects & Sequences
Create Proxies in Premiere Pro Today
In this tutorial, you learned how to create proxies in Premiere Pro. Knowing how to create proxy video files is a key skill as an editor. Instead of editing high-resolution footage, you can work faster with streamlined proxy files.
This is the best of both worlds: you’ll save time and resources as you edit, but your exported projects will be in the full, original resolution. You’ll enjoy time savings with no sacrifice of quality. Give it a try today. As a video editor, it’s one of the best gifts you can give to yourself.
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