How to Fix MME Device Internal Error in Premiere Pro (Step-by-Step)

If Premiere Pro is throwing an MME device internal error and blocking your audio playback, you are not alone. This is one of the most common Windows audio issues in Premiere Pro, and in most cases it comes down to a misconfigured setting rather than a hardware failure. The fixes below are ordered from quickest to most involved, so work through them in sequence until the error clears.

What Does the MME Device Internal Error Mean?

MME stands for Microsoft Multimedia Extension, which is Windows’ default audio driver model. This error appears when Premiere Pro attempts to initialize your selected audio input or output device and fails — usually because of a device conflict, a sample rate mismatch between Premiere Pro and Windows, or an outdated or corrupted audio driver. Understanding that root cause is what makes the fixes below logical rather than arbitrary.

Fix 1 — Change the Audio Hardware Settings in Premiere Pro

This is the most common cause of the MME error and the first place to look. Premiere Pro may be pointing to an audio device that is no longer connected, has been renamed by Windows, or simply does not match your current setup.

1. Open Premiere Pro and go to Edit → Preferences → Audio Hardware.

   

2. Under Device Class, check which driver model is selected. If it is set to MME, try switching it to Windows Audio (WASAPI) or ASIO if you have an audio interface.

3. Under Default Input, select an active, connected input device from the dropdown. If you do not need audio input, you can set this to No Input.

4. Under Default Output, select your active playback device (for example, your speakers or headphones as recognized by Windows).

5. Click OK.

   

6. Restart Premiere Pro and test audio playback.

Pro Tip: If you see a grayed-out or unrecognized device name in the dropdown, that is often the direct cause of the error. Always select a device that is currently plugged in and active in Windows.

Fix 2 — Match the Sample Rate Between Premiere Pro and Windows

A sample rate mismatch is the second most frequent trigger. If Premiere Pro is configured to output at 48 kHz but your Windows audio device is set to 44.1 kHz (or vice versa), the MME error can fire every time Premiere Pro tries to initialize audio.

You need to align the sample rate in two places.

In Windows Sound Settings:

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Sound settings, or go to Control Panel → Sound.

2. On the Playback tab, Select your active output device and click on Device Properties.

   

3. Go to the Advanced Device Properties tab.

4. Under Default Format, open the dropdown and note the current sample rate (for example, 44100 Hz / 16-bit).

   

5. Repeat this process on the Recording tab for your active input device, and set it to the same sample rate.

In Premiere Pro:

1. Go to Edit → Preferences → Audio Hardware.

   

2. Check the sample rate displayed or set for your selected device and make sure it matches what you set in Windows.

   

3. Additionally, open your sequence settings (Sequence → Sequence Settings) and confirm the audio sample rate there matches as well.

   

   

4. Click OK, then restart Premiere Pro.

Note: 48 kHz is the standard for video production and is the recommended setting for both Windows and Premiere Pro if you are unsure which to use.

Fix 3 — Disable Exclusive Mode in Windows Audio Settings

Windows has a feature called exclusive mode that allows individual applications to take sole control of your audio device. When another application holds exclusive control, Premiere Pro cannot access the same device and returns the MME error.

1. Right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar and select Sound (or go to Control Panel → Sound).

   

2. On the Playback tab, right-click your active output device and select Properties.

   

3. Click the Advanced tab.

4. Under Exclusive Mode, uncheck both of the following options:

• Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device

• Give exclusive mode applications priority

5. Click OK.

   

6. Go back to the Recording tab, right-click your active input device, and repeat steps 3 through 5.

7. Restart Premiere Pro and check whether the error has cleared.

Fix 4 — Update or Reinstall Your Audio Driver

An outdated, corrupted, or recently changed driver is a frequent culprit, especially if the MME error appeared immediately after a Windows Update. Windows Updates can silently roll back or replace audio drivers with generic versions that conflict with Premiere Pro.

1. Press Windows + X and select Device Manager.

2. Expand the Sound, video and game controllers section.

   

3. Right-click your audio device (for example, Realtek High Definition Audio or your audio interface) and select Update driver.

4. Choose Search automatically for drivers and allow Windows to install any available update.

   

5. If the error persists after updating, right-click the same device again and select Uninstall device. Check the box to delete the driver software if the option appears, then click Uninstall.

   

6. Restart your computer. Windows will reinstall a fresh version of the driver on reboot.

7. If Windows installs a generic driver that still causes issues, visit your motherboard manufacturer’s website (or your sound card or audio interface manufacturer’s site) and download the latest driver package directly.

Pro Tip: Manufacturer-sourced drivers are almost always more stable and more compatible with professional audio software than the generic versions Windows installs automatically.

Fix 5 — Reset Premiere Pro Audio Preferences

If none of the above fixes have resolved the error, corrupted Premiere Pro preferences may be the underlying cause. A preferences reset clears all stored audio device configurations and forces Premiere Pro to detect your audio hardware fresh on next launch.

1. Quick method: Close Premiere Pro completely. Hold the Alt key and double-click the Premiere Pro icon to launch it. Keep holding Alt until you see a prompt asking if you want to reset preferences. Click Yes.

   

2. Manual method: Navigate to C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Premiere Pro\[Version]\ and delete or rename the preferences folder. Premiere Pro will regenerate it on next launch.

Caution: Resetting preferences will also restore your workspace layout, keyboard shortcuts, and other custom settings to their defaults. Note down any custom configurations before proceeding so you can rebuild them afterward.

Fix 6 — Use ASIO4ALL as an Alternative Audio Driver

If your onboard audio consistently conflicts with the MME driver model, ASIO4ALL is a reliable fallback. It is a free, low-latency universal ASIO driver for Windows that Premiere Pro handles well and that sidesteps MME conflicts entirely.

1. Download ASIO4ALL from the official site at asio4all.org.

   

2. Run the installer and follow the prompts to complete installation.

   

3. Open Premiere Pro and go to Edit → Preferences → Audio Hardware.

   

4. Under Device Class, select ASIO from the dropdown.

5. Under ASIO Device, select ASIO4ALL v2.

6. Click OK and restart Premiere Pro.

   

This is a fallback option rather than the recommended starting point, but it is a proven fix for users whose onboard audio hardware repeatedly causes MME conflicts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the MME device internal error occur on Mac?

No. MME is a Windows-only audio driver model and does not exist on macOS. On Mac, Premiere Pro uses CoreAudio instead. If you see a similar audio initialization error on a Mac, check System Preferences → Sound for device conflicts or use the Terminal to restart the CoreAudio process with sudo killall coreaudiod.

Why did the MME error appear after a Windows Update?

Windows Updates frequently reset audio driver versions or alter default device assignments without warning. After an update, the two most affected settings are your audio driver (Fix 4) and Premiere Pro’s audio hardware configuration (Fix 1). Check both of those first before trying anything else.

Can a connected USB audio device or interface cause this error?

Yes. If Premiere Pro is configured to use a USB audio device or interface that has been unplugged, powered off, or is no longer recognized by Windows, the MME error will trigger at launch or during playback. Open Preferences → Audio Hardware and reassign the default input and output to a device that is currently active.

Next Steps

Start with Fix 1 (Premiere Pro’s Audio Hardware preferences), then address sample rate alignment if the error persists, and move to the driver update only if needed. Once you find the fix that works, make a note of it. Windows Updates have a habit of resetting both audio drivers and device assignments, so you may need to revisit these settings again in the future. If you are also running into export issues, check out our guide to common Premiere Pro export errors for additional troubleshooting steps.