How to import a Premiere Pro project into DaVinci Resolve
DaVinci Resolve cannot open Premiere Pro® .prproj files natively. Here's the 2024 method to migrate your full project - tracks, clips, effects, markers and audio - in a few minutes, even without an active Adobe subscription.
Why DaVinci Resolve won't open .prproj files
The .prproj format is proprietary to Adobe Premiere Pro®. It's a gzip-compressed XML file with a complex internal structure that contains your entire timeline - clips, effects, transitions, track settings, markers, audio mix. DaVinci Resolve has its own native format (.drp) and accepts standard interchange formats on import (FCPXML, EDL, AAF).
Result: opening a .prproj directly in Resolve is impossible. You need an intermediate format both tools understand - or better, export straight to the native .drp format that Resolve loads in one click.
Three ways to migrate Premiere Pro to DaVinci Resolve
Export .drp (PR2XML method - recommended)
PR2XML reads your .prproj and generates a .drp file directly - DaVinci Resolve's native format. It opens like a regular Resolve project (File > Import > Timeline), preserves adjustment layers, colored markers, track locks, compound clips and retime. No structural loss.
- Everything preserved (adjustment layers, markers, locks, retime)
- One-click import into DaVinci
- No manual media relinking
Export FCPXML (the classic method)
FCPXML is a standard interchange format (created by Apple for Final Cut Pro X). Premiere Pro can export it via File > Export > Final Cut Pro XML. DaVinci Resolve imports it. Works, but requires an active Adobe subscription to open the project first, and some details (notably track locks) don't survive the conversion.
- Standard format
- Also compatible with Final Cut Pro X
Manual rebuild
Re-import every media, recut every clip, reapply every effect. A waste of time only viable on very short projects (under 2 minutes). Avoid for edits with hours of rushes.
- No third-party tool
Tutorial: import your Premiere project into DaVinci in 4 steps
.drp method via PR2XML - fastest and most faithful.
- Step 1
Locate your .prproj file
Open your Premiere Pro project folder. The .prproj file is the project file (different from your media .mp4 / .mov / .wav). It typically weighs between 5 MB and 50 MB. You don't need Premiere Pro installed - if your subscription has expired, the .prproj alone is enough.
- Step 2
Convert it on PR2XML
Head to the conversion page, pick "DaVinci Resolve" as target NLE and ".drp" as output format. Drop your .prproj into the upload area. Conversion runs in seconds, fully in your browser (your file never leaves your computer).
- Step 3
Download the .drp file
Once conversion completes, a preview of your timeline appears for review. Click "Download" to grab the .drp file. If you don't have a license yet, the preview is free and unlimited; downloading unlocks after a €75 one-time purchase.
- Step 4
Open it in DaVinci Resolve
In DaVinci Resolve, go to File > Import > Timeline > select your .drp file. The timeline appears instantly with the full structure intact. If DaVinci can't find media (different paths between machines), right-click > Relink Selected Clips and point to your rushes folder.
What's preserved during import
PR2XML is designed to reproduce your Premiere timeline faithfully in DaVinci Resolve. Here's the exhaustive list of what survives the conversion to .drp.
- Full structure
- Every video and audio track (V1...Vn, A1...An), in the same order as in Premiere Pro.
- Clips & positions
- Every clip at its exact timeline position, with its duration and source in/out.
- Transitions
- Cross dissolves between clips, with their duration.
- Transform effects
- Position, scale, rotation, opacity - with keyframes if the effect is animated.
- Playback speed
- Retime (speed change, e.g. 200% or 50%) is preserved via DaVinci's native Sm2TimeMap.
- Adjustment layers
- Premiere's adjustment layers become native DaVinci adjustment clips (clean color grading).
- Timeline markers
- Markers (points and IN/OUT) are preserved with their color, name and duration.
- Track locks
- If you locked a track in Premiere, it stays locked in DaVinci.
- Audio volume
- Static levels (in dB) and volume automation keyframes.
- Nested sequences
- Nested sequences become DaVinci compound clips.
- Titles
- Premiere titles convert to DaVinci text clips (Text+).
Why not FCPXML or manual export?
The .drp format is the only one that preserves 100% of your project structure - including details that standard interchange formats (FCPXML 1.9, XMEML) lose: native track locks, DaVinci adjustment layers, and certain timeline settings. For most use cases (one-off migration, archiving, Premiere project to finish in DaVinci), .drp is the optimal choice. If your target is Final Cut Pro X instead of DaVinci, go for .fcpxml.
Frequently asked questions about Premiere → DaVinci import
Do I need Adobe Premiere Pro installed to use PR2XML?
No. PR2XML reads the .prproj file directly without depending on Premiere Pro. You can convert a project even if your Adobe subscription has expired or you've never installed Premiere on your current machine.
DaVinci Resolve Free or Studio - does the conversion work on both?
Yes. The .drp format is the native format of both DaVinci Resolve editions (Free and Studio, from version 17 onwards). Import works the same way.
Will my media (videos, audio) be relinked automatically?
The .drp contains the absolute paths to media as they were in your Premiere project. If you work on the same machine, they relink automatically. If you transfer the project to another machine, right-click the Media Pool bin > Relink Selected Clips in DaVinci Resolve.
Which media formats are compatible?
DaVinci Resolve accepts most common codecs (ProRes, H.264, H.265, DNxHD/HR, etc.). Since PR2XML only converts the project (not the media itself), if your rushes work in Premiere they'll work in DaVinci.
Is my data uploaded to your servers?
No. The .prproj → .drp conversion happens entirely in your browser (WebAssembly). The file never leaves your computer. It's one of PR2XML's core principles: 100% local, 100% private.
Can I test on a project before buying the license?
Yes. Project analysis, timeline preview and visual validation are free and unlimited. Only downloading the final .drp file is gated behind the lifetime license (€75, one-time purchase, no subscription). You know exactly what you're buying before you pay.
How long does a conversion take?
For a typical project (a few minutes of edit, tens of clips), conversion takes under 10 seconds. For heavier projects (long-form, complex multicams), expect 30 seconds to 1 minute. Everything runs locally - no network upload.
My project won't open in DaVinci after import - what should I do?
First check that you're using DaVinci Resolve 17 or newer (the modern .drp format isn't recognized by older versions). If the problem persists, email us at support@pr2xml.com with your .prproj attached - we look into every reported case.