Layer Controls are not staying visible

Question

I want to turn on Layer Controls and keep them on, but I’m running into a bug that constantly turns them off.

If I turn on Layer Controls (In View → Show Layer Controls, or the Toggle Mask and Shape Path Visibility button at the bottom of the composition window) and hit Spacebar to preview the composition, switching to a different composition and back again turns off Layer Controls. I then have to turn it on again. This happens constantly.

I am on Windows 10 and After Effects v 26.2.1, but this has been happening for a long time. I’m unsure if this is a bug or intended behaviour, but I’d love a way to lock Layer Controls on until I need to turn them off. I’ve attached a screen recording of the issue.

Thanks!

Nishu Kushwaha · Answer

Hi magnetic_gemstone5455, thanks for the screen recording. Two things I noticed:

Layer Controls are intentionally hidden during preview playback so masks and shape paths don't get in the way of what you're previewing. They come back automatically once playback is paused.
In your recording, you're switching to another composition while playback is still running. At that moment AE registers the Layer Controls as off (because preview is in progress), and that state carries over when you switch back.

Try pausing the preview before switching compositions. Layer Controls should stay on as expected.

Let me know if that matches what you're seeing! Moving this thread from Bugs to Questions for now.

Thanks,

Nishu

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