How to Fix Premiere Playback is Choppy or Laggy Efficiently

The frustration of editing a video only to face constant lag can slow down any creative process. You sit down to make progress on a project, but instead, you're stuck watching choppy previews and delayed frames. This issue is common for editors, especially when using powerful editing software like Adobe Premiere Pro. Plus, it doesn't just happen with large video files or slow computers.

Even high-end machines can struggle with playback if the software settings aren’t right. Luckily, several ways exist to solve this dilemma and make playback smooth again. Therefore, this guide explores the common reasons behind the laggy Premiere playback issue and walks you through quick solutions. We will also share a helpful tip for fixing laggy videos recorded by professional cameras.

Part 1. Why Is My Premiere Pro Playback Choppy?

Before fixing the problem, all the editors need to understand what's causing it. That's why this section discovers the most common reasons why your Premiere Pro playback is choppy, even on a fast computer:

Part 2. Solutions to Fix Playback in Premiere Pro is Choppy

Upon discovering the common reason behind this issue, let’s explore how to fix it. Below, you will find the top 6 solutions to reduce lag, whether you are editing a full project or using loop playback in Premiere:

Fix 1. Lower Playback Resolution

The quick and easiest way to fix lag is by lowering the playback resolution in the program. This feature lets you view your video in lower quality without changing the original file. If playback in Premiere Pro is choppy, switching to 1/2 or 1/4 resolution can make things smoother by reducing the pressure on your system. Thus, adhere to the guide below to learn how to perform this process:

Instructions: To inaugurate, access your project in this editing program and click the “Playback Resolution” drop-down. After expanding it, you need to opt for either “1/2” or “1/4” to lower it according to your preference.

Fix 2. Enable the GPU Acceleration Feature

In addition, turning on GPU Acceleration helps the tool use your graphics card to handle video tasks faster. This feature helps boost performance, especially during previews and transitions. Plus, it allows your system to work more efficiently by sharing the workload between the processor and the graphics card. Thus, go through the steps below to enable this feature if playback in Premiere Pro is choppy:

Step 1. Start by heading to the “File” menu and choosing the “Project Settings" option from the drop-down. After that, select the "General" option to move to the next step.

Step 2. Following that, expand the “Renderer” drop-down under the “Video Rendering and Playback" section. Afterward, choose the "Mercury Playback Engine GPU Acceleration (CUDA)" option and hit the "OK” button.

Fix 3. Turn Off High-Quality Playback

Another solution to resolve this problem is to disable the quality playbacks in the editing tool. It shows clearer previews, but it can slow down your editing process. Turning it off reduces the strain on your system and helps videos play more smoothly. This is especially helpful when using Premiere Pro loop playback during editing checks. Hence, let's dive below to disable the quality playback on your tool effortlessly:

Instruction. Initiate the process by clicking the “View” tab and deselecting the “High Quality Playback” feature from the drop-down menu.

Fix 4. Use the Proxy Videos Feature

Proxy videos are basically low-resolution copies of your original files, which are helpful when your computer struggles with large or HD clips. When your Premiere playback feels slow or laggy, using proxies can greatly improve performance. It even lets you edit smoothly without overloading your system, especially with 4K or heavy video formats. Thus, go through the guide below to learn how you can create proxy videos:

Step 1. You need to select the clips and then right-click on them to opt for the “Proxy” option. When you see new choices, choose the “Create Proxies…” option to move further.

Step 2. Upon accessing the small dialog box, select your preferred location, size, or preset and hit the “OK” button.

Fix 5. Disable the FX Feature

Sometimes, the FX feature can slow things down, especially on older or slower systems. This feature basically controls visual effects like color correction, blurs, and filters during playback. Alongside that, this setting is useful when you want to focus on timing or editing without delay. Hence, adhere to the following steps to understand how to turn off this feature to avoid the Premiere Pro playback choppy issue:

Instructions: To inaugurate, select the specific clip in the timeline section to remove the FX feature. Next, to turn it off, you need to click the "FX” options under the “Effects Control" tab.

Fix 6. Optimize Rendering for Performance

Lastly, tweaking the rendering settings also helps your computer process video faster during editing. You can adjust these settings in Premiere Pro to focus more on speed than quality while previewing. This is very helpful when using loop playback in Premiere, as it reduces lag during repeated viewing. Thus, follow the given guide below to optimize the rendering performance in this editing tool effortlessly:

Step 1. Head to the “Edit” menu and hover the cursor on the “Preferences" option from the drop-down. Afterward, opt for the "Memory” option to move to the next step.

Step 2. Moving forward, click the “Optimize Rendering For” drop-down and choose the “Performance” option to finish the task.

Pro Tip. How to Fix Choppy or Laggy Videos Recorded by Professional Cameras

Apart from fixing the premiere playback issue, many users face another issue where their recorded videos suddenly get choppy. From system issues to malware attacks, a lot of reasons can lead to this problem. It is especially common with RAW or HDR footage captured on heavy gear like GoPro or DJI. In this situation, Repairit stands out as the best option for fixing corrupted videos captured through any source.

This tool also supports over 20 video formats, including MOV, MP4, M2TS, and even RAW. It can repair files corrupted during shooting, editing, or transfer, without sacrificing quality. Featuring both Quick Repair and Advanced Repair modes, it uses intelligent sample polling algorithms and HDR/LOG optimization to handle even severe damage. For GoPro users, its exclusive gyroscope data repair ensures smooth playback in tools like GyroFlow.

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• Repairs Professional Formats: It supports RAW and HDR formats used by professional cameras, ensuring smooth editing workflow compatibility.

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• Supports 8K and HD Videos: Repairit handles ultra-high-definition footage, ensuring smooth repair for modern high-resolution video files.

Detailed Guide to Fix Choppy or Laggy Videos Recorded by Professional Cameras

Upon learning Repairit’s dedicated features, it’s time to fix your choppy or laggy videos. Hence, follow the comprehensive guide below to understand how to use this tool to cater to this need:

Step 1. Run Repairit to Fix Choppy and Laggy Videos

Step 2. Start Fixing Your Choppy and Laggy Videos

Step 3. Export the Repaired Laggy or Choppy Video

Conclusion

To conclude, fixing Premiere playback issues doesn't have to be hard. With the right settings and small changes, your editing can run smoother and faster. This guide has explored several fixes that you can opt for to resolve this dilemma.

Alongside that, many users have an issue with their recorded videos still being laggy or choppy. That's where Repairit is the best option to fix broken footage without losing quality.