Your go-to Windows application for all media processing!

Adobe Media Encoder

Adobe Media Encoder

  -  2 MB  -  Freeware
  • Latest Version

    Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0 LATEST

  • Review by

    Sophia Jones

  • Operating System

    Windows 10 / Windows 11

  • User Rating

    Click to vote
  • Author / Product

    Adobe Inc. / External Link

  • Filename

    Media_Encoder_Set-Up.exe

Adobe Media Encoder is a powerful media processing software developed by Adobe Inc. It is primarily used for encoding, transcoding, and compressing various media files, making them suitable for playback on different devices and platforms.

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This essential tool is an integral part of Adobe's Creative Cloud suite, seamlessly integrating with other Adobe applications like Premiere Pro, After Effects, and Photoshop. It simplifies the process of exporting and delivering high-quality video and audio content.

With this program on a computer dedicated to video, encoding lets you batch-process multiple video and audio clips; in environments where a video is a significant form of content, batch-processing expedites your workflow.

You can add, reorder, and change the encoding settings of files in the batch-processing queue while Adobe Media Encoder 2024 encodes video files.

Easily ingest, transcode, generate proxies, and export to a wide array of formats. Streamline your processes through automation using presets, Watch Folders, and Destination Publishing.

Employ Time Tuner for seamless duration adjustments, and implement LUTs and Loudness corrections without the need to reopen projects. Benefit from the seamless integration with Adobe Premiere Pro, After Effects, and other software, ensuring a fluid and efficient workflow.

Highlights
  • Support for ProRes export on Windows
  • New export presets for ProRes
  • Import HEIF files recorded on iOS devices on macOS and Windows
  • Faster decoding for Canon Cinema RAW Light (Windows)
  • Support for importing ProRes HDR footage, including Rec2020 and PQ/HLG color information
  • Support for display color management
  • Support for ARRI Alexa LF camera format
  • Support for Sony Venice v2 camera format
  • Support for Google VR180 format Support for HEIF (HEIC) still image format on macOS
  • Expanded support for hardware acceleration on macOS
  • Support for 8K H.264 export
  • Export XAVC QFHD Long GOP 4:2:2 formats
  • Hardware-accelerated HEVC encoding on Windows 11 and Windows 10 with 7th Generation (or later) Intel® Core™ processors and Intel Graphics enabled
  • Improved RED camera format decoding
  • Improved Sony RAW/X-OCN camera format decoding
  • Hardware-accelerated H.264 encoding on Windows 11 and Windows 10 with 6th Generation (or later) Intel® Core™ processors and Intel Graphics enabled
  • Hardware-accelerated H.264 and HEVC encoding on Mac OS 10.13 systems with supported hardware
  • Support for importing Canon C200 camera formats
  • Support for importing Sony Venice camera formats
  • RED camera Image Processing Pipeline [IPP2] support
  • Destination Publishing support for the new Twitter 280-character limit
  • Playlist selection when publishing to YouTube
  • Page selection when publishing to Facebook
  • Add custom titles when publishing to YouTube, Facebook, or Vimeo
  • Add custom video thumbnails when publishing to YouTube
  • Notification for missing items in queue before encoding
  • H.264 adaptive bitrate presets automatically choose the best output bitrate based on source frame size and frame rate
  • Animated GIF export on macOS and Windows
  • Time Tuner effect improvements
  • Newly optimized list of H.264 presets
  • Format support for RF64 WAV Decode/Encode, decode for Sony X-OCN, and QuickTime DNx Smart Rendering
  • Warning when importing non-native QuickTime sources
  • Timecode modification for 720p 59.94 media
Key Features

Wide Format Support: It supports a wide range of video and audio formats, including popular ones like H.264, H.265, MPEG-4, AAC, and more, ensuring compatibility with various playback devices.

Batch Processing: You can queue multiple media files for encoding simultaneously, saving time and streamlining your workflow.

Presets: The software offers a variety of presets optimized for different output formats and platforms, making it easier for users to choose the right settings.

Watch Folders: You can set up watch folders, enabling automatic encoding of files placed in designated directories.

Customization: Advanced users can fine-tune encoding settings, adjusting parameters like bitrate, frame rate, and resolution to achieve the desired output quality.

Timecode Overlay: It allows you to overlay timecode information on your videos, which is particularly useful for professional video editors.

Hardware Acceleration: Take advantage of hardware acceleration from NVIDIA and AMD GPUs for faster encoding and rendering.

Queue Management: You can manage your encoding jobs efficiently in the queue panel, easily prioritizing, pausing, or canceling tasks.

Dolby Vision Support: For HDR content creators, it supports the Dolby Vision HDR standard.

User Interface

It sports a user-friendly interface consistent with other Adobe Creative Cloud applications. The main workspace consists of a central encoding queue panel where you can add and manage encoding jobs.

The left panel provides easy access to presets and settings, while the right panel displays information about the selected encoding task. Overall, the interface is intuitive and well-organized, making it accessible to both beginners and professionals.

Installation and Setup

It can be installed through the Adobe Creative Cloud application, which manages all Adobe software installations.

The process is straightforward, requiring you to sign in with your Adobe ID, choose the installation location, and follow on-screen instructions.

Once installed, it will automatically integrate with other Adobe applications, such as Premiere Pro and After Effects.

How to Use

Import Media: Start by importing your media files into the app. You can either drag and drop files into the queue or use the "Add Source" button.

Select Preset: Choose an appropriate preset or customize encoding settings to match your requirements. It provides a wide range of presets for various output formats and devices.

Queue Setup: Configure the encoding queue by adding multiple files if needed. You can rearrange the order, set priorities, and add watch folders for automatic encoding.

Start Encoding: Click the "Start Queue" button to initiate the encoding process. You can monitor the progress in the queue panel and view detailed encoding statistics.

Review Output: Once encoding is complete, you can review and preview the output files before exporting them to your desired destination.

FAQ

Can I use Adobe Media Encoder without other Adobe applications?
Yes, you can use Adobe Media Encoder as a standalone application, but it is most commonly used in conjunction with other Adobe Creative Cloud software for seamless integration.

What are watch folders, and how do they work?
Watch folders are directories that you designate for automatic encoding. When you place media files in a watch folder, Adobe Media Encoder will detect them and begin encoding based on the preset or settings you've configured.

Does Adobe Media Encoder support 4K and HDR encoding?
Yes, it supports encoding in 4K resolution and HDR formats like Dolby Vision, making it suitable for high-quality video production.

Can I use Adobe Media Encoder on both Windows and macOS?
Yes, Adobe Media Encoder is available for both Windows and macOS operating systems.

Is Adobe Media Encoder available as a standalone purchase?
No, Adobe Media Encoder is part of Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription, which includes access to the entire suite of Adobe applications.

Alternatives

HandBrake: HandBrake is a free, open-source transcoder for video and audio files, suitable for users who don't require the advanced features of Adobe Media Encoder.

FFmpeg: FFmpeg is a command-line tool that can handle multimedia data, making it a versatile choice for those comfortable with command-line interfaces.

XMedia Recode: Easy-to-use software that helps you convert audio and video files.

Pricing

The tool is available as part of Adobe's Creative Cloud subscription, which offers various plans for individuals, businesses, and students.

Prices may vary depending on the plan and region, but it typically includes access to all Adobe applications, cloud storage, and regular updates.

System Requirements

Generally, you'll need a modern, 64-bit operating system with a multi-core processor, RAM (16GB recommended), and a dedicated GPU for hardware acceleration.

PROS
  • Seamless integration with Adobe Creative Cloud applications.
  • Comprehensive format support and presets for various output needs.
  • Efficient batch processing and watch folder automation.
  • Customization options for advanced users.
  • Hardware acceleration for faster encoding.
  • Professional-grade features like timecode overlay and Dolby Vision support.
CONS
  • Requires a Creative Cloud subscription, which may be expensive for some users.
  • The user interface may be overwhelming for beginners.
  • Occasional stability issues and bugs in certain versions.
Conclusion

Adobe Media Encoder is an indispensable tool for video and audio professionals working within the Adobe Creative Cloud ecosystem. Its wide format support, preset options, and efficient batch processing make it an essential companion for content creators.

While it may not be suitable for everyone due to its subscription-based pricing and complexity, those who require high-quality media encoding and integration with Adobe software will find the Media Encoder to be a valuable asset to their workflow.

Whether you're producing content for online platforms or broadcast television, it simplifies the process of preparing your media for distribution while maintaining the highest quality standards.

Also Available: Download Adobe Media Encoder for Mac

  • Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0 Screenshots

    The images below have been resized. Click on them to view the screenshots in full size.

    Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0 Screenshot 1
  • Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0 Screenshot 2
  • Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0 Screenshot 3
  • Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0 Screenshot 4
  • Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0 Screenshot 5

What's new in this version:

Adobe Media Encoder CC 2025 25.0
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.6.1
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.6
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.5
New:
Compare source and output in the AME Export Settings dialog box:
- You can now compare the Source and Output preview side by side in the Export Settings dialog box


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.4
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.3
- Audio preparation for Premiere Pro projects with many audio files takes an extremely long time
- Fixed various performance issues related to many files in the queue
- Some AVC Intra files were not correctly released after use, causing multiple issues, such as the watch folder feature in Adobe Media Encoder not correctly moving files after encoding
- Interlaced footage loses field 2 in Media Encoder when using DynamicLink
- System could go to sleep while the queue is running, which stops all further encoding
- Artifacts present when rendering AVI files with Alpha Channel


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.2
Set Maximum File Size for Export:
- You can now set the Maximum File Size for Export in the Export Settings dialog. By setting this, you can still use an existing preset, but longer files will be exported with a modified framerate to match the file size.

Source Player in Export Settings:
- You can now playback and preview video and audio files in the Export Settings dialog box


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.1.1
- A crash results when attempting to import some ARRI, AVCHD, Canon XF, Panasonic P2, Canon RAW XDCAM EX, or XDCAM HD clips when ingest-copy is enabled


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.1
- Third-party audio effects in a Premiere Pro sequence would fail to render in Media Encoder when Import sequences natively are turned on
- Update to newer versions was deleting the custom preset view
- Scrolling wheel behaviour was not reflecting Windows settings
- Missing fonts warning was not displayed when using non-native Premiere project import
- Missing fonts warning was not displayed when importing After Effects compositions
- HEVC / H.265 files exported from an Apple silicon computer play smoothly but perform poorly when scrubbing
- Source range settings were incorrect when sending export jobs directly to the Media Encoder


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.0.2
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2024 24.0
Fixed:
- Estimated time remaining when encode is paused for a while
- Updated system requirements to support AVX2 on x86 AMD and Intel hardware for better performance
- Dropping Rosetta support on Mac to use more advanced CPU instructions for better performance
- The "Zoom Level" feature is activated when we add "+" and "-" signs to the Top, Bottom, etc. Crop dimensions in Export Settings
- Publishing to X (formerly Twitter) with new APIs
- Improved information about loading plug-ins. On the first launch, indexing all available plug-ins may take some time. This only happens once.


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.6
Fixed:
- Crash on launch if access to folders on MacOS is denied
- Browsing files in Media Browser writes XMP for text files
- Uploads to Vimeo could fail
- Adobe Media Encoder throws many errors for destructing a listener on a thread other than the main thread
- Several memory management-related crashers lead to throw errors
- Import of Premiere Project with offline media doesn’t get an offline warning
- The name of export effect “Name Overlay,” changed to “Text Overlay” to indicate that options other than filename are available
- Installing unrelated font canceling the current encoding
- The "YouTube Terms of Use" Button isn't available
- System Preset Icon for Stock Presets is missing
- Missing fonts warning when importing sequences natively with custom fonts
- MXF files from a few cameras like Panasonic VariCam LT could show half green frame on monitor and thumbnails
- The system could get into a state where CPU resources were low after decoding MXF OP1a AVC-Intra media
- Opening sequences in Media Encoder with "Import sequences natively" disabled resulted in clips with embedded captions displayed as Media Offline
- When opening a Premiere Pro sequence that uses audio effects or third-party plugins in Media Encoder, Caption options would not be displayed, and captions would always be burned in


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.5
Guidance for Installing BRAW Plugin:
- Get assistance inside Adobe Media Encoder to find and install BRAW Plugin

Added support for System Compatibility Report:
- Get added support for your system's Compatibility Report to run Adobe Media Encoder

Export Tone Mapping:
- Export with tone mapping to create SDR deliverables from an HDR working color space


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.4
Fixed:
- Multichannel exports in Adobe Media Encoder fail to render all channels of an audio effect
- A crash was encountered when using a ProRes 4444 MXF preset with the render at maximum depth setting enabled on Apple silicon systems
- ProRes MXF files would sometimes be missing the alpha channels when imported
- Some ProRes 4444 files would have poor playback performance if they did not contain alpha
- Some .mfx DNxHR HQX 12-bit files showed visible banding during playback
- Metadata Setting ignored when trying to export a file without XMP sidecar


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.3
- Media Encoder 23.3 offers improved performance for RED R3D footage on Apple silicon Macs


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.2.1
- Fixed an issue where MXF files with non-English filenames failed to import, instead showing an error - "Failed to import. Unsupported format or damaged file."


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.2
- Fixed an issue affecting H.264 and HEVC or H.265 exports on Windows with Adobe Media Encoder 23.1


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.1
Fixed:
- an issue that could cause even numbered audio channels to not export correctly
- memory leak issues when importing multiple HEIC files
- an issue where smart rendering MXF files on Windows was slower than expected
- an issue where smart rendering XDCAM HD files could result in corrupt frames


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.0.1
- This release fixes an issue where preferences migration for Adobe Media Encoder fails when upgrading to v23, affecting workspace layouts or custom presets


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2023 23.0
- Export performance for a Premiere Pro sequence that includes Motion Graphics Templates is significantly slower in v22.5 than in v15.4
- Consistent green-bar corruption or black frames are seen in Hardware Accelerated Encoded ProRes 422 and ProRes 4444 output at specific Frame Aspect ratios on Apple Silicon Macs


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.6.1
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.6
- Fixed an issue where if you try to create proxies from interpreted clips, Premiere Pro sends the clips to Adobe Media Encoder flagged with their original frame rate. The resulting proxy is out of sync with the interpreted footage.
- The export sequence API call returns false when the provided sequence name can not be found in the project


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.5
Fixed:
- an issue where high Frame Rate transcoding does not go higher than 60fps
- some encoding and API SDK issues


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.4
Export GIFs with transparency:
- Adobe Media Encoder now supports transparency when exporting GIFs, adding greater flexibility for short social media content

Hardware Accelerated Encoding for 10 bit 4:2:0 HEVC on macOS:
- Export times for your 10-bit 4:2:0 HEVC footage are significantly faster on Mac Intel and M1 systems

Hardware Accelerated Encoding for 10-bit 4:2:0 HEVC for AMD:
- Export times for your 10-bit 4:2:0 HEVC footage are significantly faster on supported AMD hardware

Smart Rendering Stability Improvements:
- You can now use the smart render feature with supported formats when exporting on M1 Macs, Intel Macs, and Windows machines


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.3.1
- Adobe Media Encoder 22.3.1 includes a fix for an issue related to audio that impacted playback or rendering. This issue affects some users of Premiere Pro 22.3 and Media Encoder 22.3.


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.3
Fixed:
- Video corruption occurs when transcoding certain RED files on Apple M1
- Certain DNxHD files import as audio-only
- Error chime no longer heard when queue completes successfully
- Adobe Media Encoder no longer throws Exceeded quota errors when uploading to YouTube


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.2
10-bit 420 HEVC H/W encoding on Window with Intel and NVIDIA graphic:
- Exports for 10-bit 420 HDR footage are now up to 10x faster on Windows systems with Intel or NVIDIA GPUs, thanks to new hardware encoding in Adobe Media Encoder


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.1.1
- Hang when using After Effects 22.0 compositions in Premiere Pro 22.0 or Media Encoder 22.0
- In the Queue panel, source names of stitched clips are truncated when the Format column is resized narrower


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2022 22.0.107
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2021 15.4.1
XMP metadata is not written on Apple M1 when exporting AAC Audio


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2021 15.4
Native support on Apple M1 computers:
- Accelerate your Media Encoder experience as you can now run the app natively on Apple computers with Apple Silicon M1 chip


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2021 15.2
Fixed issues in Adobe Media Encoder version 15.2:
- Color shift in Importing MXF files shot from Canon EOS C300 MARK II
- Fixed a bug where XDCAM HD sources were not properly smart rendering
- Color accuracy of GIF exports have been improved
- Canon XF-HEVC decode performance has been improved
- Fixed a bug where importing MXF media from the root of a drive would sometimes fail


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2021 15.1
H.264/HEVC encode performance on Windows (Intel):
- New optimizations further improve export times using Intel Quick Sync hardware acceleration., up to 2x faster than Adobe Media Encoder 14.0


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2021 15.0.0.37
- Adobe Media Encoder now supports ARRI Alexa Mini LF (ARRIRAW) footage


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.6.0.42
- Added support for DNxHR 444 12-bit decode and encode


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.4.0.35
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.3.2.38
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.3.2.37
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.3.1.39
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.3.0.39
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.3.0.38
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.2.0.45
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.1.0.155
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.0.4.16
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2020 14.0.1.70
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2019 13.1.5
- Change log not available for this version


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2019 13.1
- Automatic frame replacement for decode errors using copies of adjacent good frames
- Support for Sony Venice V3 camera format
- Ability to override creative LUTs for RED camera footage
- Improved decoding performance H.264 and HEVC footage
- Improved decoding performance for RED camera footage on macOS using Metal
- More caption export options


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2018 13.0.2
- Support for ProRes export on Windows
- New export presets for ProRes
- Import HEIF files recorded on iOS devices on macOS and Windows
- Faster decoding for Canon Cinema RAW Light (Windows)
- Support for importing ProRes HDR footage, including Rec2020 and PQ/HLG color information


Adobe Media Encoder CC 2018 13.0
- Support for display color management
- Support for ARRI Alexa LF camera format
- Support for Sony Venice v2 camera format
- Support for Google VR180 format
- Support for HEIF (HEIC) still image format on macOS
- Broader support for hardware acceleration on macOS