Nothing is more frustrating than editing in Premiere Pro and finding that your timeline constantly snaps to the playhead when you hit play. This can especially be inconvenient when you’re trying to maintain control over your workspace. Luckily, we’ve got a simple fix for you today! Here’s how to turn off the timeline snapping to the playhead in Premiere Pro.

Why Does the Timeline Snap to the Playhead?

Premiere Pro’s default setting is set so that the timeline automatically moves to keep the playhead visible. This happens due to the scrolling settings under Preferences > Timeline, which determine how the timeline will act when you playback your sequence.

How to Disable Timeline Snapping to the Playhead

If you want to stop the timeline from moving when you press play, follow these steps:

1. Go to the Preferences menu

   • Open Premiere Pro

   • Click on Edit (Windows) / Premiere Pro (Mac) > Preferences > Timeline

2. Change the Scrolling Behavior

   • Look for the option labeled [Timeline Playback Scrolling]

   • If it’s set to [Smooth Scroll] or [Page Scroll], this is why your timeline is shifting when you hit play.

   • Change the setting to [No Scroll]

3. Apply Changes and Test

• Click [OK] to save your preferences

• Play your timeline and see if the snapping behavior has stopped

By disabling scrolling, your timeline will remain fixed in place while playback continues, giving you full control over your editing workspace.

Alternative Fix: Adjusting Sequence Settings

You might notice that sequence settings may also influence this behavior. If you’re still experiencing snapping, try creating a new sequence and pasting your clips into it. This can help reset timeline behavior, as well.

Regain control over your editing experience in Premiere Pro by following these steps.

For more Premiere Pro editing tips and tricks, explore our latest content on the Cutback blog or Cutback’s official YouTube channel.