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multimedia-communications
Participating Frequently
June 17, 2020
Answered

Unable to Export Preferences

  • June 17, 2020
  • 3 replies
  • 1245 views

The new Hands-on Tutorial Creator in v20.5 requires you to select an Animate preferences file (.anp).

However, it's impossible to create such a file. The menu item

Animate > Preferences... > Export Preferences 

always returns this error:

"Unable to export the settings to the specified location."

Actually, to any location at all.

Moreover, a search on my Mac shows no file exists with that extension .anp.

Where do I locate my preferences file, and how do I export/import one?

Thanks.

      Correct answer Mohanaraj

      Hi,

      The application preferences are stored at the below location

      "/Users/labuser/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Animate\ 2020"
      "/Users/labuser/Library/Preferences/Adobe/Animate/2020"

       

      You may want to Quit Animate and clear the above preferences folder/files and then launch Animate to create anp file from Animate > Preferences > Export Preferences and see if that helps.

       

      Thanks!

      Mohan

      3 replies

      John Hepworth
      John Hepworth
      Inspiring
      August 14, 2025

      What is the minimum workflow to migrate preferences from an old OS ?

       

      just dig into the library files like some kind of hacker and copy the whole thing over?

      kglad
      Community Expert
      kgladCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      August 14, 2025

      it's more reliable to just recreate your preferences.  but it's possible to have so many custom keyboard shortcuts that copying the relevant file might be worhwhile.

      Franck Payen
      Franck Payen
      Inspiring
      October 26, 2020

      Hey there. I'm answering here because I had the exact same question a few minutes ago :

       

      Do you know where the animate preferences are located on a brand new machine - fresh install - first launch ? I don't and cannot even try the tutorial maker…

       

      I eventually located .anp files, but they seemed to be named after a project, and I couldn't find the right one to start with.

       

      Ps : is there something like a uservoice for Animate ? Seeing the new color of the app, it should get its dedicated section in the adobe video uservoice…

      kglad
      Community Expert
      kgladCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      June 17, 2020

      reset your preferences, http://helpx.adobe.com/flash/kb/re-create-preferences-flash-professional.html

      or remove

      Win:
      C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Adobe\Animate CC \ and
      C\Users\\AppData\Roaming\Adobe\Animate\\

      Mac:
      /Users//Library/Application Support/Adobe// and
      /Users//Library/Preferences/Adobe/Animate//

      M
      multimedia-communicationsAuthor
      Participating Frequently
      June 17, 2020

      Thanks.

      But those directories contain no file ending in .anp. They contain only .xml files.

      I did a test, and Animate refuses to save to either one of those directories.

      Again, how can I be asked to import an .anp file that I am prevented from creating?

       

      Mohanaraj
      Adobe Employee
      MohanarajCorrect answer
      Adobe Employee
      June 18, 2020

      Hi,

      The application preferences are stored at the below location

      "/Users/labuser/Library/Application\ Support/Adobe/Animate\ 2020"
      "/Users/labuser/Library/Preferences/Adobe/Animate/2020"

       

      You may want to Quit Animate and clear the above preferences folder/files and then launch Animate to create anp file from Animate > Preferences > Export Preferences and see if that helps.

       

      Thanks!

      Mohan

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