If your computer doesn\u2019t meet the requirements set out by Adobe \u2013 such as features like the processor, storage capacity, or graphics card \u2013 it could be triggering frequent crashes or slowing overall performance. So, as a first port of call, it\u2019s a good idea to check out the After Effects specifications on the Adobe website to see if your computer is compatible.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes, After Effects mightn\u2019t work well with the other applications or plugins installed on your computer. To avoid crashes caused by software conflicts, it\u2019s best and common practice to regularly update all software and plugins.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
Not having enough available memory (RAM) or disk space<\/a> can also cause After Effects to crash. Managing your computer’s memory well means setting up enough space for After Effects to run smoothly. It also helps to regularly clear the cache and remove any unnecessary data.
<\/li>\n\n\n\n
If your After Effects project files become corrupted or damaged, it can again result in unexpected crashing. You can protect your work by creating regular backups and using backup files or recovery tools to recover or repair corrupted projects.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Troubleshooting Techniques to Prevent Crashes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Now you\u2019re up to speed on the common causes of After Effects experiencing technical issues, let\u2019s look at how you can fix it! Here are some simple techniques to troubleshoot and prevent After Effects crashes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Stay on Top of After Effects Updates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keeping After Effects up to date is vital to a smooth and reliable experience\u2014plus, it\u2019s super easy to do. Software updates aim to fix problems and enhance the platform’s usability with added new features. You can check for updates in Creative Cloud and install them to get the latest improvements, helping to prevent crashes. Here\u2019s how:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Go to your Creative Cloud Application Manager<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Apps<\/strong>, then Check for updates<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- If there\u2019s an update available for After Effects, a button will say Update<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
2. Tweak After Effects\u2019 Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Adjusting the preferences and settings in After Effects can help boost its performance. Try tweaking how much memory you\u2019re using or enabling multiprocessing to simultaneously use multiple parts of your computer. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for your computer and project!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Go to the Edit<\/strong> menu in After Effects<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Preferences<\/strong> and choose Memory and Multiprocessing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Adjust the sliders or input fields for RAM Reserved for Other Applications<\/strong> and RAM Available for After Effects<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Enable or turn off Render Multiple Frames Simultaneously<\/strong> for multiprocessing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Find the optimal memory configuration for your system through experimentation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Ram](\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/RAM-1024x776.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Close Any Unused Programs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is a simple fix, but it does tend to slip the mind, so think of this as your friendly reminder! For each additional program open on your computer, your machine works extra hard in the background to provide a seamless experience. Closing any programs or tasks you don\u2019t need can free up memory and processing power, filtering it back into where it\u2019s required: After Effects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This is particularly relevant if you\u2019re doing heavy rendering work, like creating detailed 3D animation or working with intricate visual effects or multiple layers. If this sounds like the projects you often work on, you can adjust the rendering settings in After Effects to lessen the burden on your hardware.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Go to the Composition<\/strong> menu in After Effects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Composition Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Modify settings like the composition size, frame rate, and pixel aspect ratio.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Experiment with different settings to find the right balance of quality and performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Composition](\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Screenshot-2023-07-17-at-6.25.05-pm-1024x940.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Troubleshooting Plugins and Third-Party Software<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Third-party plugins can be super helpful for streamlining workflow and maximizing efficiency, but they can also mess up your system. The best way to fix any problematic plugins is to delete them from your software folder and ensure all your plugins are current and work with your After Effects version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Go to the Adobe After Effects<\/strong> folder in Applications<\/strong> for Mac users and Program Files<\/strong> for Windows users.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Copy and paste your plugins to a different place for safekeeping.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Delete the plugins found in your After Effects folder.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Reopen After Effects, and you should be good to go.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"plugins\"](\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Plug-ins-1024x769.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n5. Keep Your After Effects Files Organized<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Organizing and managing project assets is essential for a smooth workflow. It\u2019s helpful to use folders and clear names to keep track of your files and remove anything you don’t need to avoid clutter. You can also regularly perform housekeeping tasks within After Effects to keep your project clean and lower the risk of crashes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Practice Good File Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Regularly saving and creating backups of your project files can help to prevent losing your work if After Effects crashes. Start saving your work incrementally in different versions to ensure you have multiple recovery points. It\u2019s also helpful to follow best practices for file organization and archiving, like creating a folder structure and storing files in a secure location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Go to the File<\/strong> menu and select Save As<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choose a location on your computer to save the backup file.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Give the backup file a new name to differentiate it from the original.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Click Save<\/strong> to create a backup of your project file.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"save](\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Save-a-copy-1024x827.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nAfter Effects Crashing: Additional Tips and Best Practices<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve exhausted all the steps above, and After Effects still keeps crashing, what now? Let\u2019s look at some additional tips and best practices that could help future you should a crash arise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Work in Stages and Save Incrementally<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We briefly touched on this earlier, but breaking your work into stages and frequently saving means you can return to previous versions if there are crashes or mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Utilize Preview and RAM Caching Effectively<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make the most of After Effects’ preview and RAM caching feature to ensure playback and rendering is smoother and faster. This reduces the likelihood of crashes while previewing your work or rendering the final output. Some of these include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Enabling RAM Preview for smoother playback:\n
- \n
- Select the composition you want to preview.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Go to the Preview<\/strong> menu and choose RAM Preview<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- After Effects will start caching frames into memory, resulting in smoother playback.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Adjusting the Preview Resolution settings to balance quality and performance:\n
- \n
- Go to the Preview<\/strong> menu in After Effects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Preview Resolution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Choose a suitable Preview Resolution option (such as Full, Half, or Custom).<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Experiment with different Preview Resolution settings to find the right balance for your project.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Setting RAM allocation in Preferences:\n
- \n
- See the above section \u201cTweak the Settings in After Effects\u201d on how to do this.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"Preview](\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/Previews-1024x780.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n3. Clear Disk Caches and Optimize Scratch Disk Settings<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Regularly clearing the disk caches in After Effects helps to free up storage space and maintain optimal performance. It\u2019s also a good idea to configure the scratch disk settings to use the fastest available drive for temporary storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Go to the Edit<\/strong> menu in After Effects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Purge<\/strong> and choose All Memory & Disk Cache<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Confirm the action when prompted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- After Effects will clear the disk cache, freeing up storage space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
![\"memory](\"https:\/\/elements.envato.com\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/memory-cache-1024x793.png\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n4. Consider Upgrading Your Hardware<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your computer is outdated (i.e. it doesn\u2019t meet the minimum requirements for After Effects), it might be time to consider an upgrade. You could consider upgrading RAM, CPU, or GPU components to enhance performance and stability. Take a quick squiz at the Adobe website to check the requirements for the best possible After Effects experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To Wrap Up<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
After Effects crashes are frustrating, but by understanding the common causes \u2013 and using the troubleshooting techniques and best practices discussed in this blog post \u2013 hopefully, you can ward off any crashes down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Remember to keep After Effects up to date, optimize your system settings, and close any unused apps or tasks. Regularly troubleshoot problematic plugins, keep a clean project, and practice good file management. These simple tips can help minimize crashes, save time, and ensure a smooth video production experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if you\u2019re a new After Effects user\u2014or just looking to recap the basics\u2014check out our free beginner’s course<\/a>. Alternatively, if you\u2019re looking for more After Effects blogs to keep reading, discover our take on Premiere Pro vs. After Effects<\/a> or our picks for the Top 10 After Effects Templates for 2023. Be sure to visit Envato Elements<\/a> to find a huge range of powerful After Effects templates<\/a> to boost your video-editing capabilities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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- Select Purge<\/strong> and choose All Memory & Disk Cache<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Go to the Edit<\/strong> menu in After Effects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Preview Resolution<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Composition Settings<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Preferences<\/strong> and choose Memory and Multiprocessing<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Select Apps<\/strong>, then Check for updates<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n