How to open a Premiere Project in a previous version

I saw the following on the Adobe forums and thought it deserved to be preserved here. If you open a Premiere project in, for example, CC2024, it can no longer be opened in an earlier version – say 2023. On this thread: https://community.adobe.com/t5/premiere-pro-discussions/open-premiere-project-in-older-version-downgrade-project-version/td-p/10648544

..it says you can change this using the following method:

“Here’s the quickest way to open your projects in an earlier version. Only 4 steps to revert the PP version.

This assumes you have 7-Zip installed. It’s free and awesome and why would anyone not have it! (I install this on every system I make)

Also, that you have a COPY of your project that you will be converting.

++++ Make a Copy of your project with a New Name in the same folder as the original ++++

Right-Click the COPY of the project and from the 7-Zip menu select “Open Archive”
In 7-Zip there is one file same name as the project – Right-Click the file and select EDIT*
On the fourth line change the Version = “??” Change the number portion to “1” Save and Close
7-Zip will ask you if you want to update that file in the archive, Select <OK>

That’s it! When you open the project Premiere Pro will say it is from a Previous Version, and will give it a new name as usual.

*Of note, on step 2, the bigger your project the longer it takes to open.

Here’s a link to an online program which requires you to upload the file but will do the above for you.

Of course you loose any new features of the later version you edited with.”

Of course, if it does not work there is no back up and be sure to work on a copy in case it messes up the whole project.