✦ Changing After Effects Versions ​

This is a quick, comprehensive guide on how to switch After Effects versions. This guide includes how to transfer your presets, plugins and scripts. Note that if you are simply updating to the same year, just a newer build (e.g 2025.1 β†’ 2025.2), it will automatically transfer everything by itself. This guide only applies if you are changing years (example: 2024 β†’ 2025). You can safely run multiple versions of After Effects. Simply install the new version first, confirm your data is migrated, and then uninstall the previous version whenever you’re ready.

✧ Plugins ​

Common ​

If a plugin is located under your Common folder, it will automatically show up under all installed After Effects versions and in this case you don’t have to worry about reinstalling or transferring them. Plugins such as Red Giant and Sapphire install to common. You do not have to worry about plugins installed in the following folders.

Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\Plug-ins\7.0\MediaCore

MacOS: Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/Plug-ins/7.0/MediaCore

Local ​

Plugins that are located in this location will only be visible to that specific After Effects version, which in this case you’ll have to copy and paste the files over into your new folder.

Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects [year]\Support Files\Plug-ins

MacOS: /Applications/Adobe After Effects [YR]/Plug-ins/

  1. Navigate to the folder mentioned above.
  • Copy everything except the following default folders:
    • (AdobePSL)
    • Cineware by Maxon
    • Effects
    • Extensions
    • Format
    • Keyframe Check inside the Effects sub-folder as a small amount of plugins install here.

  1. Paste the files you've copied somewhere easy for you to find such as on your desktop. Creating a folder may be easier for some individuals.

  2. Move said files to your new After Effects plugin folder and you're done.

✧ Presets ​

For presets, simply copy and paste them into your new folder using the same idea. Windows: \Documents\Adobe\After Effects [year]\User Presets

MacOS: ~/Documents/Adobe/After Effects [year]/User Presets/

  1. Navigate to the folder mentioned above, [year] as in your old version and copy all items.

  2. Paste the files you've copied somewhere easy for you to find such as on your desktop. Creating a folder may be easier for some individuals.

  3. Move said files to your new After Effects preset folder and you're done.

✧ Other ​

Extensions ​

Extensions are installed to a location visible to all After Effects versions installed, you will not have to transfer these. Refer to this.

Scripts ​

Scripts will need to be moved to your new After Effects script folder, using the same concept as above. Windows: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects [year]\Support Files\Scripts\ScriptUI Panels

MacOS: /Applications/Adobe After Effects [year]/Scripts/ScriptUI Panels