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Gerhard_Draws
Known Participant
Apr 25, 2025 1:03 PM UTC
Answered

View > New viewer option gone in recent update

After effects recently did an auto update and now I see the New viewer option is gone??

This is a crucial funtion I need to see how my precomps update in the main comp. 

 

Is this a mistake? Has it moved somewhere else??

 

After Effects 25.2.2

 

David.Arbor
David.ArborCorrect answer
Community Manager
Apr 25, 2025 1:13 PM UTC

Hey @Gerhard_Draws,

 

Sorry about the panic attack. You can blame me for this one, as I spurred this change. I realized that the menu command called "New Viewer" wasn't actually running the "New Viewer" command (which you can see from the Keyboard Shortcut Editor). It's actually running the far more useful "Split with New Locked Viewer" command.

As an AE user, I wanted people to realize how helpful this command actually is, since it's more useful to have side-by-side viewers for the classic ETLAT ("edit this, look at that") workflow, which is something you clearly already use. You'll also find the updated nomenclature for the Effects Controls panel, since you also can have two instances of that open (I use this feature all the time). 

 

Sorry again for the panic attack!
- David, After Effects Engineering Team

7 replies

Participant
Oct 12, 2026 8:29 PM UTC

Also, it’s on a left click where it used to be on the right. It’s still throwing me off, I’ve used it for years and so my muscle memory isn’t helping, grrr David ;)

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David.Arbor
Community Manager
David.ArborCommunity ManagerCorrect answer
Community Manager
Apr 25, 2025 1:13 PM UTC

Hey @Gerhard_Draws,

 

Sorry about the panic attack. You can blame me for this one, as I spurred this change. I realized that the menu command called "New Viewer" wasn't actually running the "New Viewer" command (which you can see from the Keyboard Shortcut Editor). It's actually running the far more useful "Split with New Locked Viewer" command.

As an AE user, I wanted people to realize how helpful this command actually is, since it's more useful to have side-by-side viewers for the classic ETLAT ("edit this, look at that") workflow, which is something you clearly already use. You'll also find the updated nomenclature for the Effects Controls panel, since you also can have two instances of that open (I use this feature all the time). 

 

Sorry again for the panic attack!
- David, After Effects Engineering Team

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Gerhard_Draws
Known Participant
Apr 25, 2025 2:07 PM UTC

Hey thanks David, sorry I totally see the more logical naming now. That's
pretty much what I've been doing manually since forever so this just
eliminates one step.

I was on a crazy deadline today with these deep layers with craploads of
keyframes in precomps... so just freaked out when I couldn't see the
button... you know how your brain sometimes shuts down in those situations.

Have a rad weekend there!

Gerhard Human
Personal info reamoved by Mod.

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David.Arbor
Community Manager
Community Manager
Apr 25, 2025 5:07 PM UTC

I feel ya! We never want to break anyone's workflow. Thanks for posting, though, we want to help out users whever we can.

 

- David, After Effects Engineering Team

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Gerhard_Draws
Known Participant
Apr 25, 2025 1:04 PM UTC

OK... sorry I see they changed it to that split to new locked viewer thing. Just had a panic attack. No worries

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