User Guide Cancel

After Effects system requirements

Search
After Effects

After Effects

Open app
  1. After Effects User Guide
  2. Beta releases
    1. Beta Program Overview
    2. After Effects Beta Home
  3. Getting started
    1. Get started with After Effects
    2. What's new in After Effects 
    3. Release Notes | After Effects
    4. After Effects system requirements
    5. Keyboard shortcuts in After Effects
    6. Supported File formats | After Effects
    7. Hardware recommendations
    8. After Effects for Apple silicon
    9. Planning and setup
  4. Workspaces
    1. General user interface items
    2. Get to know After Effects interface
    3. Workflows
    4. Workspaces, panels, and viewers
  5. Projects and compositions
    1. Projects
    2. Composition basics
    3. Precomposing, nesting, and pre-rendering
    4. View detailed performance information with the Composition Profiler
    5. CINEMA 4D Composition Renderer
  6. Importing footage
    1. Preparing and importing still images
    2. Importing from After Effects and Adobe Premiere Pro
    3. Importing and interpreting video and audio
    4. Preparing and importing 3D image files
    5. Importing and interpreting footage items
    6. Working with footage items
    7. Detect edit points using Scene Edit Detection
    8. XMP metadata
  7. Text and Graphics
    1. Text
      1. Formatting characters and the Character panel
      2. Text effects
      3. Creating and editing text layers
      4. Formatting paragraphs and the Paragraph panel
      5. Extruding text and shape layers
      6. Animating text
      7. Examples and resources for text animation
      8. Live Text Templates
    2. Motion Graphics
      1. Work with Motion Graphics templates in After Effects
      2. Use expressions to create drop-down lists in Motion Graphics templates
      3. Work with Essential Properties to create Motion Graphics templates
      4. Replace images and videos in Motion Graphics templates and Essential Properties
      5. Animate faster and easier using the Properties panel
  8. Drawing, Painting, and Paths
    1. Overview of shape layers, paths, and vector graphics
    2. Paint tools: Brush, Clone Stamp, and Eraser
    3. Taper shape strokes
    4. Shape attributes, paint operations, and path operations for shape layers
    5. Use Offset Paths shape effect to alter shapes
    6. Creating shapes
    7. Create masks
    8. Remove objects from your videos with the Content-Aware Fill panel
    9. Roto Brush and Refine Matte
  9. Layers, Markers, and Camera
    1. Selecting and arranging layers
    2. Blending modes and layer styles
    3. 3D layers
    4. Layer properties
    5. Creating layers
    6. Managing layers
    7. Layer markers and composition markers
    8. Cameras, lights, and points of interest
  10. Animation, Keyframes, Motion Tracking, and Keying
    1. Animation
      1. Animation basics
      2. Animating with Puppet tools
      3. Managing and animating shape paths and masks
      4. Animating Sketch and Capture shapes using After Effects
      5. Assorted animation tools
      6. Work with Data-driven animation
    2. Keyframe
      1. Keyframe interpolation
      2. Setting, selecting, and deleting keyframes
      3. Editing, moving, and copying keyframes
    3. Motion tracking
      1. Tracking and stabilizing motion
      2. Face Tracking
      3. Mask Tracking
      4. Mask Reference
      5. Speed
      6. Time-stretching and time-remapping
      7. Timecode and time display units
    4. Keying
      1. Keying
      2. Keying effects
  11. Transparency and Compositing
    1. Compositing and transparency overview and resources
    2. Alpha channels and masks
    3. Track Mattes and Traveling Mattes
  12. Adjusting color
    1. Color basics
    2. Color management
    3. Color Correction effects
    4. OpenColorIO and ACES color management
  13. Effects and Animation Presets
    1. Effects and animation presets overview
    2. Effect list
    3. Effect Manager
    4. Simulation effects
    5. Stylize effects
    6. Audio effects
    7. Distort effects
    8. Perspective effects
    9. Channel effects
    10. Generate effects
    11. Time effects
    12. Transition effects
    13. The Rolling Shutter Repair effect
    14. Blur and Sharpen effects
    15. 3D Channel effects
    16. Utility effects
    17. Matte effects
    18. Noise and Grain effects
    19. Detail-preserving Upscale effect
    20. Obsolete effects
  14. Expressions and Automation
    1. Expressions
      1. Expression basics
      2. Understanding the expression language
      3. Using expression controls
      4. Syntax differences between the JavaScript and Legacy ExtendScript expression engines
      5. Editing expressions
      6. Expression errors
      7. Using the Expressions editor
      8. Use expressions to edit and access text properties
      9. Expression language reference
      10. Expression examples
    2. Automation
      1. Automation
      2. Scripts
  15. Immersive video, VR, and 3D
    1. Construct VR environments in After Effects
    2. Apply immersive video effects
    3. Compositing tools for VR/360 videos
    4. Advanced 3D Renderer
    5. Import and add 3D models to your composition
    6. Import 3D models from Creative Cloud Libraries
    7. Image-Based Lighting
    8. Extract and animate lights and cameras from 3D models
    9. Tracking 3D camera movement
    10. Cast and accept shadows
    11. Embedded 3D model animations
    12. Shadow Catcher
    13. 3D depth data extraction
    14. Modify materials properties of a 3D layer
    15. Work in 3D Design Space
    16. 3D Transform Gizmos
    17. Do more with 3D animation
    18. Preview changes to 3D designs real time with the Mercury 3D engine
    19. Add responsive design to your graphics 
  16. Views and Previews
    1. Previewing
    2. Video preview with Mercury Transmit
    3. Modifying and using views
  17. Rendering and Exporting
    1. Basics of rendering and exporting
    2. H.264 Encoding in After Effects
    3. Export an After Effects project as an Adobe Premiere Pro project
    4. Converting movies
    5. Multi-frame rendering
    6. Automated rendering and network rendering
    7. Rendering and exporting still images and still-image sequences
    8. Using the GoPro CineForm codec in After Effects
  18. Working with other applications
    1. Dynamic Link and After Effects
    2. Working with After Effects and other applications
      1. Export After Effects project as Premiere Pro project
    3. Sync Settings in After Effects
    4. Creative Cloud Libraries in After Effects
    5. Plug-ins
    6. Cinema 4D and Cineware
  19. Collaboration: Frame.io, and Team Projects
    1. Collaboration in Premiere Pro and After Effects
    2. Frame.io
      1. Install and activate Frame.io
      2. Use Frame.io with Premiere Pro and After Effects
      3. Frequently asked questions
    3. Team Projects
      1. Get Started with Team Projects
      2. Create a Team Project
      3. Collaborate with Team Projects
  20. Memory, storage, performance
    1. Memory and storage
    2. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing    
    3. Improve performance
    4. Preferences
    5. GPU and GPU driver requirements for After Effects
  21. Knowledge Base
    1. Known issues
    2. Fixed issues
    3. Frequently asked questions
    4. After Effects and macOS Ventura
    5. How After Effects handles low memory issues while previewing

Your computer must meet the minimum technical specifications outlined below to run and use After Effects.

Applicable for:

After Effects 24.6 (August 2024), After Effects 24.5 (June 2024), After Effects 24.4 (May 2024), After Effects 24.3 (March 2024), After Effects 24.2 (February 2024), After Effects 24.1 (December 2023), After Effects 24.0.3 (November 2023), After Effects 24.0.2 (October 2023), After Effects 24.0.1 (October 2023), and 24.0 (October 2023) releases. View previous system requirements here.

System requirements for After Effects

Minimum and recommended system requirements for Windows

Minimum and recommended system requirements for macOS

Minimum and recommended system requirements for Windows

Minimum

Recommended

Processor
  • Intel® 8th Gen or newer CPU – or AMD Ryzen™ 1000 Series or newer CPU
  • Advanced Vector Extensions 2 (AVX2) Support required
Note:

It is not possible to install the 24.0 versions on Intel® 3rd Generation of processors or older (as well as older AMD processors).

Intel® 11th Gen or newer CPU with Quick Sync – or AMD Ryzen™ 3000 Series / Threadripper 2000 series or newer CPU

Operating system    

Windows 10 (64-bit) version 22H2 or later

Windows 10 (64-bit) version 22H2 (or later) or Windows 11.

Memory

16 GB of RAM

  • 16 GB of RAM for HD media

  • 32 GB or more for 4K and higher

GPU
  • Windows with NVIDIA GPU: GPU must be of the Maxwell generation or newer and have at least 4GB of VRAM
  • Windows with Intel or AMD GPU: Discrete GPU with at least 4GB VRAM and support for OpenCL
Note:

Learn about requirement specifics for Advanced 3D renderer.

  • 4 GB of GPU memory for HD and some 4K media

  • 6 GB or more for 4K and higher 

Storage
  • 8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (will not install on removable flash storage)
  • Additional high-speed drive for media
  • Fast internal SSD for app installation and cache
  • Additional high-speed drive(s) for media

Display

1920 x 1080
  • 1920 x 1080 or greater
  • DisplayHDR 1000 for HDR workflows

Sound card

ASIO compatible or Microsoft Windows Driver Model

ASIO compatible or Microsoft Windows Driver Model

Network storage connection

1 Gigabit Ethernet (HD only)

10 Gigabit ethernet for 4K shared network workflow

Minimum and recommended system requirements for macOS

Minimum

Recommended

Processor

Intel® 6thGen or newer CPU

Apple silicon M1 or newer

Operating system

macOS Monterey (version 12) or later

Note:
  • Support for macOS 11.0 (Big Sur) has been discontinued. Installing the 24.0 versions of After Effects on macOS 11.0 or older isn't possible.
  • The 24.0 versions of After Effects are not supported on Rosetta. Mac users can continue to use the 24.0 version on Apple silicon and Intel-based Mac.

macOS Monterey (version 12) or later

Memory

16 GB of RAM

Apple silicon: 16 GB of unified memory

GPU
  • Apple Silicon: 16GB of RAM
  • Intel Macs with a discrete AMD GPU: 4GB of VRAM
Note:

Learn about requirement specifics for Advanced 3D renderer.

Apple silicon: 16 GB of unified memory

Storage
  • 8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation (will not install on removable flash storage)
  • Additional high-speed drive for media
  • Fast internal SSD for app installation and cache
  • Additional high-speed drive(s) for media

Display

1920 x 1080 
  • 1920 x 1080 or greater
  • DisplayHDR 1000 for HDR workflows

Network storage connection

1 Gigabit Ethernet (HD only)

10 Gigabit ethernet for 4K shared network workflow
Note:

Internet connection and registration are necessary for required software activation, validation of subscriptions, and access to online services. 

Internet connection, Adobe ID, and acceptance of license agreement required to activate and use this product. This product may integrate with or allow access to certain Adobe or third-party hosted online services. Adobe services are available only to users 13 and older and require agreement to additional terms of use and the Adobe Privacy Policy. Applications and services may not be available in all countries or languages and may be subject to change or discontinuation without notice. Extra fees or membership charges may apply.

Language versions available for After Effects

After Effects is available in the following languages:

  • Deutsch
  • English
  • Español
  • Français
  • Italiano
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Русский
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • 简体中文

More like this

 Adobe

Get help faster and easier

New user?

Quick links

View all your plans Manage your plans
View quick links
Hide quick links
Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now
Adobe MAX 2024

Adobe MAX
The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now

Adobe MAX

The Creativity Conference

Oct 14–16 Miami Beach and online

Register Now

Legal Notices    |    Online Privacy Policy