Make a dynamically linked composition offline

Last updated on Apr 2, 2026

Learn how to sever the dynamic link between Adobe Premiere and After Effects to resolve playback issues and improve editing performance.

When working with dynamically linked After Effects compositions, you may experience jerky or delayed playback, especially with complex source compositions. Taking a composition offline severs the dynamic link with After Effects and replaces the linked composition with an offline placeholder in the Project panel.

Use this procedure when you experience playback delays with dynamically linked compositions. Taking a composition offline improves performance but removes the live connection to After Effects. You can relink the composition later when you need to restore the dynamic link. For temporary suppression without severing the link, use Clip > Enable instead.

Take the composition offline

Select the dynamically linked composition in the Project panel.

Select File > Make Offline.

Premiere File menu with Make Offline highlighted for the selected media clip.
Use Make Offline to disconnect the selected media from its source file while keeping it in the project.

The composition now appears with an Offline icon in the Project panel. The dynamic link to After Effects is severed, and any preview files rendered for the clip are no longer used.

To restore the dynamic link, right-click the offline composition and select Link Media. In the dialog box, select the After Effects project file to relink the composition.