The fastest way to delete a project
To delete a project in Premiere Pro, close the project first, then go to File > Open Recent > right-click the project name > Show in Finder (Mac) or Show in Explorer (Windows). This opens the folder where the project file lives. Delete the .prproj file from there, then empty your trash or recycle bin. The project is then gone from your computer.
If you want to keep the project file but just remove it from Premiere Pro's recent list without deleting it entirely, right-click the project name in File > Open Recent and select Remove from Recent. The file stays on your hard drive — you just won't see it in that menu anymore.
The reason you delete from the file system rather than inside Premiere Pro is that Premiere Pro has no built-in delete function. The software treats projects as regular files, the same way it treats a Word document or a spreadsheet. You manage them like any other file on your computer.
Key Takeaways
- Premiere Pro projects are .prproj files stored on your hard drive, and you delete them the same way you delete any other file — by moving them to trash.
- Close the project in Premiere Pro before you delete it, so the software is not trying to read the file while you remove it.
- Use File > Open Recent > right-click to find where your project file is stored, then delete it from there.
- Removing a project from the recent list does not delete the file — it just hides it from that menu.
Why you should close the project first
When Premiere Pro has a project open, the software is actively reading and writing to that .prproj file. If you delete the file while Premiere Pro is using it, the software may crash, or you may corrupt other files in that folder. Closing the project first tells Premiere Pro to stop accessing the file, so it is safe to remove.
After you close the project, Premiere Pro no longer needs the file. You can then delete it without risk. If you accidentally delete a project file while it was open, restart your computer and check your trash — you may be able to recover it before the trash is emptied.
What happens to your media files when you delete a project
Deleting a Premiere Pro project file does not delete the video, audio, or image files you imported into it. The .prproj file is just a set of instructions that tells Premiere Pro where those media files are and how to arrange them. When you delete the project, the media stays on your hard drive.
This is useful if you want to start over with a fresh project but keep your original footage. It also means you can delete old projects without worrying that you are losing the raw video or audio you shot. However, if you want to free up space and you are sure you will never need the project again, you will need to delete both the project file and the media files separately.
Deleting a project from an external drive or network location
If your project is stored on an external hard drive or a network server, the process is the same: close the project, navigate to where it is stored, and delete the .prproj file. Make sure the external drive is connected or the network location is accessible before you try to delete it.
If you are working with a team and the project is on a shared server, check with your team lead before deleting it. Someone else may still need the project, or there may be a backup or archive system in place. Deleting from a shared location affects everyone who has access to that folder.
Recovering a deleted project
If you delete a project by mistake, your chances of recovery depend on how long ago you deleted it and whether your computer has a backup system running. On Mac, check Trash first — if it is still there, drag it back to your Documents folder. On Windows, check the Recycle Bin. If you empty trash or recycle bin, recovery becomes much harder.
If you use Time Machine on Mac or File History on Windows, you may be able to restore the project file from a previous backup. Open Time Machine or File History, navigate to the date before you deleted the project, and restore the .prproj file. This works only if backups were running at the time you deleted the file.
Organizing projects so you do not delete the wrong one
The easiest way to avoid accidental deletion is to keep your projects in a clear folder structure. Create a folder for each client or project, and store the .prproj file and all related media in the same place. Name your projects with dates or version numbers — for example, "ClientName_2024_v3.prproj" — so you know which version is current.
Before you delete anything, open the project one more time to confirm it is the one you want to remove. Take a screenshot of the timeline or the project name to be sure. This takes 30 seconds and prevents the frustration of realizing later that you deleted the wrong file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does deleting a project delete the video files I imported?
No. The project file is separate from your media files. Deleting the .prproj file removes only the project — your original video, audio, and image files stay on your hard drive. You would need to delete those files separately if you want to remove them.
Can I delete a project while it is open in Premiere Pro?
You can, but you should not. Close the project first by going to File > Close Project. If you delete the file while Premiere Pro is using it, the software may crash or behave unpredictably. Always close before you delete.
What if I delete a project and then realize I need it back?
Check your trash or recycle bin first — if it is still there, restore it. If you empty trash, check whether your computer has backups running through Time Machine (Mac) or File History (Windows). If backups exist, you can restore the project file from a previous date. If none of these work, the file is likely unrecoverable.
Can I delete a project from inside Premiere Pro without going to the file system?
No. Premiere Pro does not have a built-in delete function. You must close the project and delete the .prproj file using your operating system's file manager — Finder on Mac or File Explorer on Windows.