Error Code 3 is seen on recently installed PCs where the settings that are required for Premiere Pro are not configured properly. This error is primarily seen when a user is trying to render a video in H264 format. Let’s see how we can fix the issue.
Error Code 3, Error compiling movie, Export error on Premiere Pro
When you are unable to render a video in H264 format and see Error Code 3, Error compiling movie, Export error, Error completing render on Premiere Pro, follow the below fixes. Let’s get into the details of each method.
Fix Premiere Pro Error Code 3
1] Disable Hardware Encoding Preferences
This is a fix that worked for me personally. You need to disable Hardware encoding preferences. To disable them,
Open Premiere ProClick on Edit in the Menu bar and hover over Preferences at the bottom of the listThen select Media in the PreferencesUncheck the buttons beside H264/HEVC hardware accelerated decoding (requires restart), and H264/HEVC hardware accelerated encoding (requires restart)Click OK and close Premiere ProThen, restart your PC
Check if the fix has helped you fix the issue.
2] Set Power management mode to Maximum
You need to set the power management on your GPU to the maximum to get rid of the issue. You can do it through NVIDIA Control Panel or AMD Radeon Software on your PC. If you are an NVIDIA user,
Right-click on the desktopClick on Show more optionsSelect NVIDIA Control Panel in the context menuClick on Manage 3D settingsFind Power management mode under Settings and set it to prefer maximum performance using the drop-down menu.
3] Update Graphics drivers
Some users are seeing this error due to outdated graphics drivers. You need to update the graphics drivers on your PC and fix the issue. You can update graphics drivers,
via Windows Updateby downloading drivers according to your manufacturer’s websitevia a third-party driver updating software
4] Update Premiere Pro
Check if there are any updates available for Premiere Pro. Open Adobe Application Updater on your PC and click on the Update button beside Premiere Pro. It will check for the updates, download and install them automatically.
How do I fix error code 3 in Premiere?
Error code 3 in Premiere Pro can be fixed easily by disabling hardware accelerated preferences, updating graphics drivers, updating premiere pro, and setting the power management mode to the maximum.
How do I enable hardware encoding in Premiere Pro?
To enable hardware-accelerated encoding in Premiere Pro, click on Edit in the menu bar of Premiere Pro hover over to Preferences, and select Media. Then, check the button beside H264/HEVC hardware accelerated encoding (requires restart). Then, restart your PC. Related read: How to stabilize Shaky Video Footage in Adobe Premiere Pro.
