Proxies are lightweight, lower-resolution copies of your footage that make editing 4K, 6K, or RED media smooth on any machine. In Premiere Pro, right-click your clips and choose Proxy > Create Proxies, let Media Encoder render them, then toggle proxies on or off while you edit — your final export always uses the full-resolution media.
What proxies are and why use them
Proxies are smaller files linked to your originals. They're invaluable for:
- Editing high-resolution footage on a slower computer
- Large projects with hundreds or thousands of clips
- Smoother playback and less lag during rough cuts
You edit against the lightweight files, then switch back to full-res for grading and export — no quality lost.
How to create and use proxies
Select your footage
In the media bin, select the clips you want, right-click, and choose Proxy > Create Proxies.
Choose your settings
Pick a format (ProRes is a solid choice), a resolution, and a destination — a dedicated Proxies folder keeps things tidy. Click OK to send the jobs to Media Encoder.
Let Media Encoder render
Media Encoder queues and renders the proxies, then Premiere links them to your originals automatically.
Add the Toggle Proxies button
In the Program Monitor, click the + (Button Editor), drag in the Toggle Proxies button, and click OK. Now one click switches between proxy and full-res.
When to toggle proxies
Turn proxies on when playback stutters or scrubbing lags. Turn them off for final color grading and export, or any time you need to judge full-resolution quality.
Pro tip: store proxies on a fast local drive even if your originals live on a NAS or external — the whole point is quick reads, and local proxies keep playback snappy.
