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Jessehr
Participant
Sep 19, 2017 10:50 AM UTC
Question

Current time Indicator isn't moving

Hi,

Im trying to make a edit in after effects but my current time indicator isn't moving so I have no idea where the video is playing and thats a pretty big problem for me if I want to edit. Does anyone have a solution for this? Greetings Jesse

39 replies

Painless_Backup2601
Participant
Jul 13, 2025 11:28 PM UTC

2025, Pretty sure we're having the same problem. The current time indicator, the blue playhead, Is static whenever i'm previewing a video, The redline however keeps caching and the video plays fine. Whenever i pause the Current time indicator teleports to where i paused.

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Painless_Backup2601
Participant
Jul 13, 2025 11:30 PM UTC

Edit: I still did not find a solution.

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Painless_Backup2601
Participant
Jul 13, 2025 11:35 PM UTC

Another edit: The video is appearing black because of the screen recording software. The preview is working on my end.

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Warren Heaton
Community Expert
Warren HeatonCommunity Expert
Community Expert
Jul 30, 2020 7:32 PM UTC

There's the Current-Time Indicator (CTI) and the Preview Time Indicator (PTI).

 

Just to clarify, only the PTI should move during a Preview.

 

This behavior is hardwired (as users, we cannot enable/disable it).  

 

Here's a sample of what it should look like (this shows AE CS6, but only the colors of the CTI and PTI have changed in newer versions):

 

 

 

Try creating a new, empty Composition in a new project and then start a Preview.

  • If you're seeing the PTI move as expected, then you're probably running into an overhead issue in your other project where you're not seeing the PTI move.  (In other words, your system is not powerful enough for AE to work as expected based on what you're asking it to do.)
  • If you're not seeing the PTI move in an empty Comp in a new project, you want to troubleshoot your After Effects installation.  As third-party software can affect After Effects in unexpected ways (I've had a fax extension cause all footage to load at 0 x 0 pixels), I recommend a clean OS install with up-to-date drivers with just After Effects installed and then continue from there.

 

 

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Community Expert
Rick GerardCommunity Expert
Community Expert
Jan 2, 2020 3:24 PM UTC

What is the deal with the video that is selected in the project panel?

The frame size is also not standard. 

 

Seeing the CTI move when you preview is part of the GPU acceleration for the UI and that setting can be changed.

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GuillaumeO
GuillaumeO
Participant
Jan 14, 2020 8:02 AM UTC

Hello, I'm having the same issue and I can't manage to fix it.

Tried reinstalling on fresh settings, clearing cache/disk, opening neutral project files from different people... nothing worked so far.

Thanks in advance

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Hatou_Owl
Participant
Apr 26, 2020 3:36 AM UTC

I have the same problem did you know how to solved or not yet?

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user5092779
Participating Frequently
Jan 2, 2020 1:10 PM UTC

I have the same problem with the last version of After effects I do not know how to solve it, time indicator doesn't move at all.

Mac OS High Sierra 10.13.6

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Rameez_Khan
Rameez_Khan
Legend
Jan 2, 2020 1:23 PM UTC

Hi arlindocodinha,

 

Are you using After Effects 17.0 or 17.0.1?

Have you connected any external audio devices to your computer like earphones, mic or any Bluetooth devices?

I'd suggest that you go to Preferences > Audio Hardware and make sure that the audio device is configured properly.

 

Let us know if that helps.

Rameez

 

 

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user5092779
Participating Frequently
Jan 2, 2020 1:32 PM UTC

I'm using 17.0.1.  I use the Bluetooth phone all the time. Happens recently.

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kirkeric
kirkeric
Inspiring
Sep 19, 2017 1:02 PM UTC

Definitely need additional information on what you are working. 

At a glance, I'd at minimum be sure you have more than 1 frame in the comp as a single frame comp will see no movement.

That seems different than "having no idea" where it is playing.  What do you mean, no idea where it is playing?  Is the viewer above your timeline not appearing?

You may have inadvertently hidden/closed the views in which case you may need to reset the view to see.

But, this is all just speculation at this point.


Eric

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Mylenium
Mylenium
Legend
Sep 19, 2017 11:13 AM UTC

Without eaxct info about your system, version of AE, your composition, your project, items used, framerates, preview settings and so on it is unlikely anyone will be able to give you a useful answer based on your generic "This doesn't work." post. Sorry, but you have to be a lot more specific.

Mylenium

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JessehrAuthor
Participant
Sep 19, 2017 1:02 PM UTC

Im currently using After effects cc 2014 13.0. I've added some screenshots to try and clear the situation. The thing I meant is that I want

the current time indicator to move along when I'm previewing my video but its not doing that at the moment. Ive tried different versions of after effects aswell like after effects 2017.


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kirkeric
kirkeric
Inspiring
Sep 19, 2017 1:20 PM UTC

That's a bit more helpful.

Ok, so the video IS playing and the time indicator remains static OR it is playing, you hear it, and see no movement on the video or the timeline indicator?

Have you purged cache?  I'd purge, restart AE and try again.

Eric

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