How to Export Video from Premiere Pro (3 Easy Steps)

Finished editing and ready to share your masterpiece? Whether you're posting it online or just saving it for later, exporting your video in Premiere Pro is super straightforward now, especially with the updated layout.

Here’s how you can do it in just three steps.

1. Click the Export button at the top

At the top of your workspace, you’ll see four tabs: Home, Import, Edit, and Export. Just click Export. No need to go digging through menus anymore.

If you're using an older version of Premiere Pro, you can still go to File > Export > Media, which opens the same export settings window.

2. Choose your export settings

Once you're in the Export tab:

• Under Location, pick where you want to save the file.
• Under Format, choose H.264 if you want an MP4 file (this is what most people use).
• Under Preset, you can pick something like “Match Source - High Bitrate” or “YouTube 1080p Full HD” depending on where it's going.
• You can also rename your file right here if needed.

Take a quick look at the preview on the right if you want to double-check what’s being exported.

3. Hit Export

Once everything looks good, just click that big blue Export button at the bottom right. That’s it! Premiere will start rendering and saving your video based on the settings you picked.

If you want more control (like queuing multiple exports), you can click Send to Media Encoder instead and handle it there.

That’s all there is to it. Whether you're exporting for YouTube, Instagram, or just saving a backup on your Mac, this process works across all platforms and keeps things simple.

Once you've done it a couple times, it'll feel second nature.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I export a video from Premiere?

1. Click the Export tab at the top of Premiere Pro.
2. Choose your format (H.264 for MP4), preset, and file location.
3. Click Export at the bottom right.

That’s all you need to do!

How to save a Premiere Pro video as MP4?

To save as MP4, choose H.264 under Format in the Export tab. This automatically creates an MP4 file when exported. It’s compatible with most platforms like YouTube and Instagram.

What is the best format to export a video from Premiere Pro?

For most uses like web upload or general playback, H.264 (MP4) is best. It gives good quality with small file sizes. For higher quality or archiving, formats like ProRes or DNxHD are better but take up more space.

How to export Premiere Pro to Mac?

The export process is exactly the same on Mac as Windows:

1. Click Export at the top.
2. Set format (like H.264), preset, and location.
3. Click Export again at bottom right.

Premiere handles everything else regardless of platform.