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January 22, 2026
Question

Ae won’t launch at all

  • January 22, 2026
  • 4 replies
  • 83 views

Hi, I was working on a project in AE 2025.6, and I was using the Trapcode plugin (Form Effect) when an error popped up, and my AE crashed and won't get past the splash screen (stuck on intializing required components) and a black line appears around it (I'm assuming from the drop shadow).

 

I've tried the following options so far:

Removing trapcode

Removing all plug-ins

deleting preferences

starting in safe mode

updating drivers

reinstalling ae

deleting temp files

deleting registry keys

deleting hidden files

trying to use an older version (won't get past the splash screen aswell)

using creative cloud service

and restarting my computer.

etc

 

I haven't seen anyone with the same problem as me so I'm feeling very discouraged. I recently downloaded ae on my new pc (only 3 weeks old) so if you have a solution that requires me to delete anything I have all files backed up!

 

Here are my specs:

AMD Ryzen 5 7500X3D 6-core processor 4001 Mhz

32gb RAM

1tb storage

windows 11

 

4 replies

ToolfarmJP
Community Expert
Community Expert
January 23, 2026

Would you try to launch AE by safe mode?

January 23, 2026

I have, it didn't work

nishu_kush
Legend
January 22, 2026

Hi ka1ji,

Sorry to hear about the problem. Are you seeing any error messages? Did you install a new font recently? Can you try this: Go to this location and delete (or move to another place to keep a backup) all the files and folders except dummy.txt, then try to open After Effects.

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

This will get rid of any leftover files from plug-ins that might be causing the problem. Moving this thread from Bugs to Discussions for troubleshooting.


Thanks,
Nishu

January 22, 2026

I looked and there's nothing in it just a dummy file 

nishu_kush
Legend
January 23, 2026

Thanks for giving it a try. Have you installed any new fonts recently? If so, can you remove that and try? Also, a new version (26.0) of After Effects was just released. Can you install it and see if that works?

Let me know how it goes.


Thanks,
Nishu

January 22, 2026

Unfortunately it didn't but thank you for the response anyways

Known Participant
January 22, 2026

Hi!

I once had a similar issue. Regular Version of PS won't open, get stuck during splash screen.
It was AE Beta, that caused the issue. You can try to uninstall all Adobe Programs Beta Versions.

 Hope it works for you as well!