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Participant
Nov 14, 2026 3:34 PM UTC
Investigating

Option drag to scale selected keyframes leaves the wrong keyframe selected when a scaled keyframe replaces an existing one

SUMMARY
After an Option drag on the first of several selected keyframes in the Timeline, the keyframes land in the correct places, but the selection is off by one. The selected keyframe that did not move loses its selection, and the next keyframe to its right becomes selected instead. This happens when one of the scaled keyframes lands on and replaces an existing keyframe that sits earlier in time than the unmoved keyframe.

VERSIONS
After Effects 26.5.3 and After Effects 27.0, same result in both
macOS 15.7.3 (24G419)
MacBook Pro, Apple M4 Max

STEPS TO REPRODUCE
1. New comp, 1920 x 1080, 30 fps. Add a solid.
2. On Position, set 20 Linear keyframes, one on every frame from frame 0 to frame 19.
3. In the Timeline, select the keyframes on frames 4, 5 and 6.
4. Hold Option and drag the frame 4 keyframe left to frame 3. Release.

EXPECTED
The three keyframes I selected stay selected. They should now sit on frames 3, 4.5 and 6.

ACTUAL
The keyframes land correctly on frames 3, 4.5 and 6, and the keyframe that was on frame 3 is replaced, leaving 19 keyframes. But the selection is now on frames 3, 4.5 and 7. The frame 6 keyframe, which did not move, is deselected. The frame 7 keyframe, which I never selected, is selected.

NOTES
Repeatable every time. I confirmed the selection state by script using keySelected on each key index, before and after the drag. It looks like the unmoved keyframe keeps its selection by index, and the index shifts by one when the replaced keyframe is removed. The next action then applies to the wrong keyframes, so it is easy to move or delete a keyframe you did not mean to touch.

    1 reply

    JohnColombo17100380
    Community Manager
    Community Manager
    Nov 15, 2026 3:54 AM UTC

    Hi ​@porkroll,

    Thank you for reporting this issue. Based on your steps (thank you for those), we are able to reproduce it as well and we now have a ticket open to investigate potential fixes.

    Thanks again,

    - John, After Effects Engineering Team 

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