01
Overview
Runway Plugins lets you use Runway's generative-media tools directly inside Adobe Premiere Pro and After Effects. The installer is free, one download covers both Adobe apps, and generations use your existing Runway workspace and credits.
This guide focuses on the practical setup and first workflow rather than repeating the full product overview.
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What you need before installing
Runway's current help documentation lists three basic requirements: Premiere Pro or After Effects on macOS or Windows, a Runway account with eligible paid access, and an internet connection because generations run on Runway's servers.
The current help pages say the feature is available on a Standard plan or higher. Runway's launch announcement used the broader phrase 'all paid plans.' Because plan entitlements can change, check your live account before assuming access.
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1. Download the Runway plugin
Go to Runway's official Plugins page and download the installer. You do not need separate installers for Premiere Pro and After Effects.
On macOS, Runway provides a .pkg installer and says it supports Apple Silicon and Intel. On Windows, use the .exe installer.
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2. Quit Adobe apps before installing
Runway explicitly tells users to quit Premiere Pro and After Effects completely before running the installer. If either app is still open, the extension may not register correctly.
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3. Run the installer
Open the downloaded package and follow the guided setup. Runway says the installer detects your Adobe apps and installs the plugin automatically.
If Windows blocks installation behavior, Runway's troubleshooting guidance says to rerun the installer as administrator. If macOS blocks it, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security and use Open Anyway where appropriate.
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4. Open Runway inside Premiere Pro or After Effects
Launch the Adobe app and choose Window → Extensions → Runway.
The Runway panel can stay docked beside the timeline or composition while you work. If the panel does not appear under Extensions, close the Adobe apps, rerun the installer and reopen them.
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5. Sign in through your browser
Select Sign in from the panel. Runway opens the browser for authentication; its help documentation notes that you do not type your Runway password into the Adobe panel itself.
Premiere Pro and After Effects maintain separate plugin sessions, so signing into one does not necessarily sign you into the other.
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6. Choose the correct workspace
If your account belongs to multiple Runway workspaces, use the workspace switcher in the plugin header.
This matters because Runway says the selected workspace determines where generations are saved and which workspace's credits are charged. The choice persists until changed.
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7. Generate an image or video
Open the Generate area of the Runway panel, enter a prompt and choose an available model. Runway's current plugin page lists Gen-4.5, Seedance 2.5, Kling 3.0 Pro and Veo 3.1 for video, plus Gen-4 Image, Nano Banana and GPT Image 2 for still images.
Model-specific controls can include duration, aspect ratio, resolution and references. The exact controls depend on the model selected.
Runway says the panel shows generation progress while you continue editing.
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8. Put the result into your timeline or composition
When a generation finishes, choose Import. In Premiere Pro, the result can land at the playhead in the active sequence. In After Effects, it can be added to the active composition.
If no After Effects composition is open, Runway says the asset still imports into the project panel and the plugin notifies you.
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9. Edit footage already in your project
For existing footage, select a clip or layer and use Edit Studio. Runway can capture anchor frames from the selected footage so you do not have to export them manually.
The current help documentation says you can restyle anchor frames or use up to five keyframes, then use Aleph 2 to re-render the full clip at the same duration as the source. A before/after view lets you compare the result before importing it.
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10. Use finishing tools
The panel also exposes video-to-video workflows, HDR conversion, background removal and upscaling. These can operate on selected footage or compatible assets already in your Runway feed.
For background removal, Runway describes a prompt-based subject selection workflow rather than a green-screen requirement. Upscaling is available for clips and frames.
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How credits work
The plugin does not have a separate universal generation price. It uses your existing Runway credits. The selected workspace is billed, and Runway says the cost of each generation appears in the panel before you run it.
Because different models and operations can consume different amounts, do not assume that one video-generation model costs the same as another.
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Troubleshooting: Runway plugin not showing
If the Runway extension is missing, first quit both Premiere Pro and After Effects and rerun the official installer. On Windows, try Run as administrator. On macOS, check Privacy & Security if the installer was blocked. Then reopen the Adobe app and check Window → Extensions again.
Runway also recommends confirming that your Adobe version is supported. The retrieved public documentation does not expose a complete minimum-version matrix, so use Runway's current help page rather than relying on an old version number from third-party tutorials.
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Troubleshooting: signed into the wrong workspace
Use the workspace switcher in the panel header. Runway says the selected workspace controls both billing and where generated assets appear in your web feed.
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A practical creator workflow
A simple workflow for social or YouTube editing is: cut the core footage first, identify missing b-roll or visual transitions, generate those assets from the Runway panel, drop the best result at the playhead, use Edit Studio if an existing shot needs transformation, then upscale or remove backgrounds only where needed.
This keeps AI generation subordinate to the edit rather than forcing the edit to be rebuilt around disconnected AI outputs.
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FAQ
Do I need separate Runway plugins for Premiere and After Effects?
No. One installer covers both.
Does Runway work offline inside Adobe?
No. Runway says generations run on its servers and require an internet connection.
Is the plugin itself free?
Yes, the installer is free. Generation consumes Runway credits and currently requires an eligible paid plan.
Where do generated files go?
They can be imported into the active Adobe project, and Runway says they also appear in the selected Runway workspace's web feed.
Why can I see the plugin in Premiere but not After Effects?
The installer covers both apps, but Runway says each app keeps its own session. If the extension itself is missing, quit both apps and rerun the installer, then check Window → Extensions → Runway.
Sources
Primary and supporting sources
Facts were rechecked against the linked sources immediately before publication. Pricing, product availability and rollout status can change.