DJI MOV File Won’t Import to Premiere Pro — Troubleshooting Steps
DJI can shoot amazing 4K videos easily as well as record smaller 1080p and 720p footage. To perfect the acquired stunning footage, you are most likely to import them to Premiere Pro for further editing. However, importing DJI MOV files into Adobe Premiere Pro can sometimes pose challenges due to various factors. It is crucial to understand these challenges to effectively troubleshoot the issue.
Here are the key points to consider:
Understand DJI MOV file format and its video codecs: DJI utilizes the MOV file format for its video recordings. MOV is a multimedia container format that can contain video, audio, and other media elements. They often use video codecs such as H.264 or H.265 (HEVC) for compression.
Compatibility issues of Adobe Premiere Pro: It supports a wide range of video formats, but certain variations of the MOV format may encounter compatibility issues. And different versions of Adobe Premiere Pro may have varying levels of support for specific codecs and file formats.
Factors contributing to import problems:
- Outdated software versions: Using an outdated version of Adobe Premiere Pro or DJI software can lead to compatibility issues.
- Unsupported codecs: If the DJI MOV file uses a codec that is not supported by Adobe Premiere Pro, it may result in import errors.
- Hardware limitations: Insufficient system resources or hardware specifications may hinder the smooth import and playback of DJI MOV files.
By understanding these challenges, users can delve into troubleshooting methods that specifically address the underlying issues causing the DJI MOV file import problem in Adobe Premiere Pro. If you get tired of troubleshooting Premiere, you can instead try other DJI video editors specially designed to edit drone videos, with powerful support for specific DJI codecs.
Solution 1. Update Premiere Pro and Codecs
The first step is to ensure you have the latest version of Adobe Premiere Pro, which will support more video file formats and codecs. Go to the Adobe website and check for updates to download and install the newest Premiere Pro version.
You should also have the proper H.264 and H.265/HEVC video codecs installed, which are required to work with MOV files from DJI drones. These are the advanced codecs used to capture high-quality, high-resolution video footage. If the codecs are missing from your system, Premiere Pro won’t be able to read and import your DJI video file properly.
You can download free H.264 and H.265 codec packages from websites like K-Lite Codecs or Shark007. Install the latest codec versions, restart your computer, and then try importing your DJI MOV file into Premiere Pro again. With the proper updates and codecs installed, Premiere Pro should now recognize and allow you to import your file.
However, if you continue to face import issues, don’t worry — there are a few more steps we can try to get your DJI video into Premiere Pro. Having current software and the right codecs is key to overcoming file incompatibility, but other common solutions and workarounds often do the trick as well. We’ll keep working through the options until your file is ready to edit in Adobe Premiere Pro without trouble.
Solution 2. Transcode DJI Video to an Editable Format
As the only full GPU acceleration-supported video processing software, VideoProc Converter can help you convert almost all popular codecs to Adobe Premiere-friendly formats. It means the source media can be 4K/HD Videos from iPhone, GoPro, DJI, Canon Cameras, and any other devices in recent years. You can convert video without compromising video quality by tuning the output properties in just a few clicks.
Killer Features of VideoProc Converter
- Convert DJI MOV/MP4 files to Premiere-compatible formats in one click.
- Convert videos at a speed of 47X faster than real-time play thanks to level-3 hardware acceleration.
- Transcode videos from/to 370+ formats including AVI, FLV, MP4, MOV, etc.
- Polish DJI footage before conversion with cutting, trimming, resizing, flipping, subtitles, etc.
You can convert your DJI MOV files by following the steps posted below:
Step 1. Launch VideoProc > Click Video.
Step 2. Click +Video to load the DJI MOV video. Choose a target format in the bottom bar (MP4 H.264 is recommended here). Browse to choose the output folder.
Step 3. Click Run in the lower right corner. In this way, you can successfully convert your DJI MOV files to Adobe Premiere-friendly ones.
Solution 3. Install QuickTime Player on Your Windows to Add the Missing Codec
QuickTime may be a workaround as well when it comes to resolving a missing codec error as it contains lots of codecs for general use. So you can give it a try as the following steps.
Step 1: Download QuickTime Player on your PC or Mac. Warm Note: Apple has discontinued QuickTime on Windows OS.
Step 2: Install Quicktime on Your System:
1. You should read its License Agreement carefully, and scroll down to see the rest of the agreement.
2. You are advised to choose Typical as the setup type if you are an occasional user or a beginner.
3. Don’t set C disk as the Destination Folder. (This is a general tip for all popular programs.
Step 3: Open Adobe Creative Cloud > Click Apps tab.
And then you can see those installed Adobe apps including Adobe Premiere Pro CC.
Step 4: Click Update next to Adobe Premiere Pro CC.
Step 5: Set Advanced Options.
Tips: Select or deselect Remove old versions. The previous version will be removed once this option is checked)
Step 6: Click Update to start upgrading Premiere Pro CC to the most recent version.
Step 7: Restart your Adobe Premiere Pro to check if MOV videos can be successfully loaded.
Note: Some versions of Adobe Premiere were originally installed with built-in QuickTime 64bit, so the repetitious installment by users themselves might cause some codec conflict or other unknown errors if you don’t update Premiere to the latest version.
If you can’t install QuickTime or still can’t import MOV to Adobe Premiere Pro/Elements after installing QuickTime, you can download and install the required codec from established sources to have a try. Before doing that, you’d better back up all your files because installing a new codec typically causes some video or audio files to become unreadable.
Solution 4. Change the File Extension to .mp4
One of the easiest fixes you can try is simply changing the file extension of your DJI MOV video to .mp4. Premiere Pro typically prefers importing .mp4 video files over .MOV files. Even though you’re just changing the extension and not actually converting the file format, this trick fools Premiere Pro into recognizing the file as compatible and often allows for a successful import.
To change the file extension, right-click on your DJI video file and select “Rename”. Change the “.MOV” at the end of the filename to “.mp4”, then press Enter to save the new name. That’s it! Your file is still the exact same MOV video, it just now has an .mp4 extension.
Try importing the newly renamed video into Premiere Pro. With the .mp4 extension, Premiere Pro should now detect the file as supported and allow you to import it into your project without issue. If it continues to show an error or won’t import, don’t worry — simply change the extension back to .MOV and we’ll move on to the next solution.
Renaming a file extension is the easiest possible fix for MOV files not importing into Premiere Pro. Over 50% of the time, this simple trick does the job and gets your video file recognized and imported properly so you can start editing your project right away. If not, we have several more options to try in this post.
Other Solutions and Tips
If updating Premiere Pro and codecs, renaming the file extension, and transcoding the video haven’t worked, here are a few more things to try:
1. Clear your Premiere Pro cache. In Premiere Pro, go to Edit > Purge > Cache Memory to clear the cache. Restart Premiere Pro and try reimporting your file.
2. Import the MOV file using the “Import” function instead of double-clicking the file. Right-click the file in Explorer/Finder and select “Import” — this sometimes triggers better format recognition in Premiere.
3. Try opening the MOV file in another editor like After Effects first. If the file opens in another editor without issue, you know there is likely a codec incompatibility specifically with Premiere Pro to troubleshoot further.
4. Check your operating system’s settings to make sure the .MOV file extension is not being blocked. On Windows, open File Explorer Options and click “File Types”. Ensure .MOV is listed and set to open with Premiere Pro. On Mac, open Settings and choose “File Sharing” to confirm .MOV isn’t blocked.
5. Re-download the DJI video file from your drone or memory card to double-check it wasn’t corrupted during transfer. Delete the original MOV file on your computer and import the freshly downloaded copy into Premiere Pro.
Conclusion
With some simple troubleshooting steps, you’ll discover the issue preventing your DJI MOV from importing into Premiere Pro. Be patient and work through the solutions one by one, and your file will soon be ready to edit and transform into your next creative masterpiece!