The Complete Guide to Premiere Pro Proxy Workflows for Smooth Editing

Proxies are lower-resolution, easier-to-decode copies of your footage. Premiere Pro plays the proxies while you edit and keeps them linked to the original clips, so you can switch back to full resolution for review and export.

Use them when high-resolution footage causes dropped frames or laggy scrubbing on your machine.

What a Proxy Needs

A usable proxy has:

• Smaller frame dimensions with the same aspect ratio (for example, 1920x1080 for 3840x2160 source)
• An editing-friendly codec such as ProRes Proxy or DNxHR LB
• The same length and frame rate as the original

File size depends on codec, frame size, and frame rate, so there is no fixed size per minute.

Create Proxies on Import

Set this up before you import so proxies build automatically.

1. Open File > Project Settings > Ingest Settings.
2. Check Ingest, then choose Create Proxies.
3. Pick a preset. Start with a ProRes Proxy preset if one is available, or use another supported preset your workflow requires.
4. Choose a frame size, such as half or quarter of the source.
5. Set the proxy destination, ideally on a separate drive from the originals.

Available presets and options vary by Premiere version.

Create Proxies for Existing Clips

1. Select clips in the Project panel.
2. Right-click and choose Proxy > Create Proxies.
3. Choose a preset and destination.
4. Wait for the proxies to finish, then confirm they are attached.

If you made proxies outside Premiere, attach them with Proxy > Attach Proxies. See Adobe's Create Proxies guide for current options.

Choose Codec, Size, and Storage

• Codec: ProRes Proxy and DNxHR LB are built for editing. H.264 makes smaller files but can take more work to decode, depending on hardware acceleration and source.
• Test first: Generate proxies for one short, representative clip. Check playback and file size, then estimate space for the full batch plus caches and exports.
• Storage: Put proxies on a separate drive from originals when you can, and keep the two folders clearly named.
• Keep originals: Never delete original media after creating proxies.

Edit with Proxies On

Add the Toggle Proxies button to the Program Monitor and click it to switch between proxy and full-resolution playback. You can also assign a keyboard shortcut. Confirm which you are viewing by the button state and the image, not by a colored dot.

Switch to full resolution for:

1. Final color grading
2. Detailed work such as zooms and stabilization
3. Client review
4. A final check before export

Premiere exports from full-resolution media by default. Selecting Use Proxies in the export settings changes that. See Adobe's export guidance.

Fix Common Proxy Problems

Media Offline after creating proxies

The original files have lost their link.

1. Right-click the offline clips.
2. Choose Link Media and relink to the original files.
3. Check proxy attachment separately, and use Proxy > Attach Proxies if needed.

Proxy playback is still slow

1. Switch from H.264 to ProRes Proxy or DNxHR LB.
2. Move proxies to an SSD.
3. Close other applications.
4. Lower the proxy resolution.

To check whether proxies help at all, play the same sequence with proxies on and off at the same monitor resolution and note dropped frames. If nothing improves, look at effects, memory pressure, and drive performance. Check Adobe's system requirements for your Premiere version.