For more information on the video editing workflow, see Get started with Adobe Premiere Pro.
Last updated on
Sep 4, 2025
Note
As we introduce the next generation of Adobe Premiere mobile apps, we are discontinuing Adobe Premiere Rush. Effective September 30, 2025, Premiere Rush will no longer be available on Adobe.com. As an alternative, we recommend Premiere on iPhone; a version for Android is currently also in development. For more information, visit the Premiere Rush Discontinuation FAQ.
Choosing your platform
Premiere Pro runs equally well on both Windows and Apple computers. Since there are many variables in video workflows, there will always be differences between different setups but all of these can be managed successfully with a good system and a basic understanding of video formats and the editing workflow.
Advantages of macOS
Well-integrated hardware and software with existing configurations to choose from. Generally for the video you need a system with at least 16 GB of memory, SSD storage, an Apple M1 processor, or a fast Intel processor with an AMD graphics card.
Advantages of Windows
Choice, upgradeability, and often cost savings. You can configure the system to your needs and budget or choose configurations that have been tested with Premiere Pro from Dell, Lenovo, HP, and video workstation specialist companies like Puget Systems. Windows workstations are usually easier to upgrade, which can mean a longer lifespan for the system.
For more information, see our detailed Hardware recommendations.
Laptop or desktop?
Video editing is demanding and requires powerful processing and fast storage. You can configurations that these requirements in both desktop and mobile systems. Desktops usually offer more “bang for the buck,” include more configuration options, and are often easier to upgrade.
Laptops have the obvious advantage of portability and can be connected to external displays and augmented with external storage and even external eGPUs. Laptops may be more expensive, relative to the power they offer.
Apple desktops
Current Mac Pros, iMac Pros, and M1 iMacs, and Mac Minis with at least 16GB of memory and SSD storage will support video editing workflows.
Apple laptops
Current MacBook Pro laptops with at least 16GB of memory and SSD storage will support standard video editing, including HD and 4K media.
Windows desktops
Windows desktop systems are easier to customize and upgrade individual components (just make sure to always keep your system drivers up to date). Build or choose configurations with fast processors, AMD or NVIDIA graphics cards, fast SSD storage, and at least 16GB of memory. We recommend 32, 64, or 128GB of memory for video editing.
Windows laptops
Depending on the model, Windows laptops offer a lot of options for configuring a video editing workstation that meets your needs.
Note
You can also choose from desktop configurations that have been tested with Premiere Pro from Dell, Lenovo, HP, and video workstation specialist companies like Puget Systems.
How much storage do I need?
Video files are big so you will need lots of space. In addition to fast onboard storage, we recommend using at least one fast external storage device as part of your editing workflow (SSD or NVMe with a Thunderbolt or USB 3.1 connection). We recommend an additional large-capacity storage device for archiving completed video projects.
What do I need to know about video formats?
- Video editing is demanding. Video files are generally bigger than any other type of media, including audio and image files. Because video files are so large, the most commonly used formats tend to be compressed ones, such as H.264 (generally, videos on YouTube) and HEVC (the format that iPhones, Android devices, and many mirrorless cameras capture video in).
- Compressing video is great for capturing and sharing, but compression comes at a cost. Compressed file formats require a lot of computing power to decode (for playback) and encode (for export). Premiere Pro provides hardware acceleration for most versions of H.264 and HEVC, but it’s important to understand that your system is doing the heavy lifting.
- Native camera formats usually mean larger file sizes. Native video formats like those used by Canon, Nikon, Panasonic, and others, are optimized to get the most information from their camera sensors. These native formats can offer more image detail, and in this case, the tradeoff is usually larger file sizes.
- Optimizing video files for editing and export. You can generate lightweight proxies when you import your footage for editing. There is some setup involved in this workflow, but it can make a tremendous difference in performance while you are editing. With proxies, Premiere Pro generates a copy of your files in a performant codec, like ProRes or Cineform.
What are file size and bit depth?
File size
The two most common resolutions for video content today are HD and 4K. Measured in screen pixels (width x height) HD is typically 1920 x 1080and 4K footage is four times larger at 3840 x 2160.
| HD | 4k |
|---|---|
| HD files are smaller, which means they take up less hard drive space, are easier to edit, and are faster to export. Most content on YouTube is still in HD resolution. |
4K files take up more storage space and require more computing power for playback and export. The advantage of 4K is that you have more detail in your images and more room to crop without losing quality. |
Bit depth
Bit-depth refers to the amount of color information contained in a file. 8-bit is more common, but usage of 10-bit is growing.
| 8-bit video files | 10-bit video files |
| 8-bit files are more widely used and are less demanding for video editing. |
10-bit files require more computing power for playback. You may not notice the difference with the naked eye, but for more advanced color grading, 10-bit files give you much more color detail to work with. |
What do I need to know about video editing?
Video editing is the art of arranging different video clips so that they tell a story. As an editor you choose which clips you want to use, which parts of the clips, and what order you want to show them in.
Throughout the process, there will be two or three versions of your files: the original source footage, the files you use in an editorial (which may be the same as your source footage), and the final export.
Import footage.
The first step in any video project is importing your footage. When you import you will generally copy the files from your camera (or drive) onto your system. If the files are heavy, you can create lightweight proxies during the import.
Edit video.
Once your files are inside Premiere Pro, you can arrange them on the timeline and trim them. All of these edits are non-destructive. Premiere Pro uses the footage you imported and keeps track of all your edits, including effects, color grading, and any graphics you add.
Export video.
Once the video is ready, you will export it to create a new video file, including all edits, effects, graphics, and audio you added during the editing process.
How do I get Premiere Pro?
You can get Premiere Pro as a single app or included in the Creative Cloud All Apps plan.
Included in the Premiere Pro Single App plan
- Premiere Pro
- Adobe Premiere Rush - a companion app for mobile editing
- Adobe Media Encoder - for transcoding, and access to integrated services, like Speech to Text for creating captions
- Adobe Stock - for free and paid assets, like footage, motion graphics templates, and music.
Included in the Creative Cloud All Apps plan
Creative Cloud complete gives you all of the Adobe creative applications, including Premiere Pro, Photoshop, After Effects, and more. All of the connected services, such as Speech to Text, Adobe Stock, and Behance are also included. Think of Creative Cloud as a complete ecosystem and if you’re using more than two Adobe applications, it’s usually worth getting the whole package.
Premiere Pro and Creative Cloud are available from Adobe as monthly or annual subscriptions. If you are considering these applications, free trials are available. To get the most from your free trial or subscription, we recommend familiarizing yourself with the system recommendations in this document.
For more information, see Creative Cloud Plans & Pricing.
