Why Cannot I Import Videos into Premiere Pro? How to Fix?

When importing video audio files in Premiere Pro, many users experienced one of the following errors,

• Importer reported a generic error, file import failure in Premiere Pro
• Import Error - Importer returned bad result
• The file has no audio or video streams
• The file has unsupported compression type
• Videos are not imported in full length and not in sync

The error list goes on. The import failure can be related to unsupported file format, DRM or damaged video files, Premiere Pro activation issues, etc. Why cannot I import videos into premiere pro? How can I fix an import error in Premiere Pro? Check for more details below.

Fix Import Error in Premiere Pro Caused by Unsupported Codec

Use video converter like Winxvideo AI to convert MP4, AVCHD, etc. videos that fail to import in Adobe Premiere Pro. Such video transcoder program helps fix import error in Premiere Pro such as a generic error, file import failure in Premiere Pro, Import Error - Importer returned bad result, the file has unsupported compression type, etc.

Table of Content

• Part 1. Common Import Errors in Premiere Pro
• Part 2. Reasons Why File Import Failure Occurs in Premiere Pro
• Part 3. Solutions to Video Audio Import Failure in Adobe Premiere Pro

Part 1. Common Import Errors in Premiere Pro

1. Importer reported a generic error, file import failure in Premiere Pro

It's so annoying to see all my videos go offline. Why cannot I import videos into Premiere Pro? Adobe updates failed to fix the simple bug. No solution for this issue? What can I do?

2. Import Error - Importer returned bad result

I recorded a video from Nvidia Geforce Experience software. When I played the video in Adobe Premiere Pro, the video start zooming. I received the error " Import Error. Importer returned bad result. Wring with exporter: H.264".

3. The file has no audio or video streams

4. The file has unsupported compression type

5. Videos are not imported in full length and not in sync

My video duration is 1:19. When importing to Adobe Premiere Pro, it only shows 39 seconds. There's no issue with the video or my computer power. Besides, the video and the audio are not in sync. When I import the same video to Windows Movie Maker, it imports the full length of the video and there's no sync issue with the video and the audio.

Part 2. Reasons Why File Import Failure Occurs in Premiere Pro

1. Unsupported video or audio codec

The video or audio file is encoded with a codec that Adobe Premiere Pro doesn't support. When you import a codec that is not accepted, you may receive an error message like "the file has unsupported compression type", "Import Error - Importer returned bad result", "The file has no audio or video streams".

2. DRM videos or damaged video files

Some video or audio files can have digital rights management that prevents them from being imported or recognized in Adobe Premiere Pro or other video editors and media players. This may lead to import failure "The file has no audio or video streams", "Videos are not imported in full length and not in sync", "Importer reported a generic error".

3. Activation issues

Adobe Help points out that some import failures can be related to activation issues. Activation problems can affect the importer. If you are using a trial version, you would have issues with importing MP4 and AVCHD video files. Both MP4 and AVCHD video files require .dll files installation.

4. Hardware or software issue

Your computer issues or Adobe Premiere Pro software bugs can also lead to video files import failure in Adobe Premiere Pro. Typical errors include Import Error - Importer returned bad results and Importer reported a generic error.

Related: Can't Import MOV Files to Adobe Premiere Pro/Elements

Part 3. Solutions to Video Audio Import Failure in Adobe Premiere Pro

1. Check your video file format and convert

Check your video audio file format. If it isn't supported by Adobe Premiere Pro, use a free video converter to transcode it to Premiere Pro accepted format. Free Video Converter, a free video converter tool, can do the job quickly. It accepts tons of codec formats and converts multiple files with GPU accelerated speed. You can convert video files in batch quickly with a few clicks.

2. Clean Premiere Pro Media Cache

Check the Media cache and the Media cache database and clean them in Premiere Pro. Here's how to do it.

• Open Adobe Premiere Pro, go to Menu > Preferences > Media Cache Database (Windows) or choose Premiere Pro menu > Preferences > Media Cache Database (macOS). Remember the location.
• Close Premiere Pro, as well as other Adobe programs.
• Go to the media cache location, rename the folders and cache files.
• Choose clean to remove the media cache.
• Restart Premiere Pro, try importing your video files again to see if the import error is resolved.

3. Re-locate or rename the video file

Rename the video file that fails to import in Adobe Premiere Pro. If the import error persists in Premiere Pro, move the video files into another video folder. Try importing again. Still can't import the video file to Premiere Pro? Try the next troubleshooting tip.

4. Restart, reinstall

• Restart your computer
• Perform a restart of Adobe Premiere Pro
• Uninstall Adobe Premiere Pro, then reinstall the program on your computer. Launch Adobe Premiere Pro and import your video files again.