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User profile for user: BenTMH
BenTMH Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Disappearing Projects on FCPX

I’m gutted. I’ve worked for hours on a video in FCPX. All footage imported in, sorted, plug-ins and data created etc and when I opened FCPX today it is completely gone. All projects are empty. It says that there is 5.4gb of files in there but they are nowhere. When I reveal in finder and show package contents you can see the project file and all all of the original media but it is not there when you open FCPX. Please help, I cannot trust FCPX if I’m going to lose hours of work (this is the second time this has happened in 2 weeks and I’ve been using it for 7 years). Can I get the project back or is it gone forever?

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 14.1

Posted on Jan 17, 2025 2:34 AM

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11 replies
User profile for user: Luis Sequeira1
Luis Sequeira1
User level: Level 9
68,338 points

Jan 17, 2025 2:58 AM in response to BenTMH

BenTMH wrote:

I’ve just re-imported the footage but the project is still not there all of the footage was previously organised in the timeline under the project with plugins etc


Maybe you failed to create a project, and instead may have done your edits inside a clip - perhaps one of those compound clips we can see in the screenshot?

I'd look at the clips and see if one appears to show a duration that might be what the project was supposed to be.


On a sidenote: you don't need to use your phone to take a photo of the screen. Just press command-shift-4 and drag to select the area you want to capture. The screenshot will be saved to your Desktop by default.



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User profile for user: BenTMH
BenTMH Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jan 17, 2025 3:17 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

Thanks Luis, no I’m 99.9% certain I created a project as I’ve been making videos in FCPX for 7 or more years. I don’t pretend I understand everything though. But I do know I made a project. Those consolidated media are normal duration and not where the clips are.

i took the photo from my phone as I’m using my phone to do these messages whilst trying to just crack on with re-making this video (due Sunday) on the MacBook. I don’t appear to have a backup from yesterday. Only 2 days ago. Is that normal? The frustrating bit is that the whole

project is clearly somewhere as I can see it in package contents but it’s not in FCPX.

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User profile for user: BenTMH
BenTMH Author
User level: Level 1
4 points

Jan 17, 2025 5:49 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

Not originally no. I think the first time this happened I tried to copy the original media (that was in the package content but not FCPX) in to a different folder so I could re-import it. But I didn’t do anything at all before it happened the first time. I’m now terrified I’ll lose another project. Would it be best to uninstall and reinstall after this project is finished? To kind of factory reset?

the only thing inside the smart collections is all of the video I re-imported after this has happened.

The chances are, after the first time this happened, I made a mistake somewhere and it’s now repeated. But it doesn’t explain why this happened originally I guess. Or how to solve it! But I do know I don’t want it to happen again ha ha

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User profile for user: Tom Wolsky
Tom Wolsky
User level: Level 10
152,141 points

Jan 17, 2025 8:32 AM in response to BenTMH

Anything you do to alter anything inside the library bundle has a high probability of corrupting the library database, especially if you're moving items out or into it. You really should never have a need to go inside the bundle.


Duplicate the library, then go inside the bundle and move the Currentversion.flexolibrary file out of the library. Close the bundle and double click it to launch the application and see if it rebuilds the database correctly.

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Disappearing Projects on FCPX

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