"After Effects warning: Unable to create AGM font ("Adobe Clean" - "Bold") unresolved AE bug

[Bikerscout72]

Hi all,

I recently upgraded to the latest version of AE (25.2.2) via the Creative Cloud Desktop app.
When upgrading from the previous version I chose to keep my old AE preferences.
After the upgrade installation was complete I now get the following error message and have been unable to open AE since:

After Effects warning: Unable to create AGM font ("Adobe Clean" - "Bold")
(Dell Precision 5770 \ Windows 10 Enterprise - 64bit \ version 22H2 \ OS build 19045.5737)

Microsoft Copilot returns the following answer to my query:
"The error "After Effects warning: Unable to Create AGM Font ('Adobe Clean - Bold')" typically occurs when After Effects is unable to load a specific internal font used by Adobe applications for UI rendering or internal processes. Here's a breakdown of what it means and how to fix it:

If the font is missing or corrupted:

• Try reinstalling Adobe Creative Cloud, which should restore the Adobe Clean font.
• Alternatively, copy the font from another working Adobe installation:
  • Look in: C:\Program Files\Common Files\Adobe\Fonts
  • Or: C:\Program Files\Adobe\Adobe After Effects [version]\Support Files\Fonts
    
    

When troubleshooting this issue I found that neither of the 2x Fonts folders (described above) existed in those directories. I tried copying them over from other Adobe app folders to those locations, but it did not fix the bug.

I've tried uninstalling\reinstalling AE completely and removing old preferences, as well as uninstalling\reinstalling  the Creative Cloud Desktop app, but the bug remains.

Can you please advise if there is already a ticket open to address this issue? I'm hoping once the bug is fixed a new update will finally resolve the problem.

Regards,
Justin

[jenkmeister]

Go to C:\Windows\Fonts and you should be able to find and remove the font from that folder. 

[Bikerscout72]

Doesn't AE require that font for the UI to display correctly?
I really appreciate your reply, but simply telling me to find\delete that font without any further explanation about the problem is pretty poor considering it's coming from an Adobe employee.

[josiah_0206]

Also dealing with this issue and unable to do any AE projects...

[jenkmeister]

The font was once needed for AE (and other Adobe apps) to display the UI, but the UI fonts have been changed to Adobe Clean UX. There are some system configurations where lingering copies of Adobe Clean fonts, installed indepedently of Adobe app installations is causing conflicts. The copilot response is not 100% correct/and is outdated from the current state of the applications. 

[Bikerscout72]

Thank you for this more detailed explanation. Much appreciated.

I successfully deleted that AdobeCleanFont-Bold font from my Windows\Fonts directory, but I also (mistakenly?) saved a copy to my desktop (just in case).

Now when I try to re-open After Effects, I still have the same issue (it won't load), and when I try to delete the 2 font files from my desktop (AdobeClean-Bold.otf & AdobeClean-Boldlt.otf) Windows won't allow me to, giving me an error message that reads" The action can't be completed becasue the file is open in another program.

[jenkmeister]

If you restart your machine, and then attempt to delete them, Windows should not have them locked and you should be able to delete them. 

[Bikerscout72]

After several restarts, I am still unable to delete the fonts.

[Bikerscout72]

ok, so I manged to delete the AdobeClean-Bold.otf file from my desktop using the Command prompt.

So the Font has been completely removed as you recommended, but the problem remains the same, and AE will still not load.

[jenkmeister]

Thanks for trying those steps. I've been digging through the source code to see what else might be causing this. There does appear to be some usage of Adobe Clean still (in shared code AE is utilizing) so we'll need to look at that font further. 

I know you've done this already, but please do another uninstall and reinstall of AE just so we know it's at its default state. Don't migrate any preferences as well so we know the state of those files. 

Then if you can search your whole system just to see if there are any other copies of "Adobe Clean" installed. Make a note of any incase we need to do something more with those.

Next step, I have a copy of the "Adobe Clean" fonts that I know are working located here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1trUxqwKqRD_CoGFKsQ7IypSCL_WvpMyN/view?usp=sharing

Download that, select all the .otf files and copy them into C:\Windows\Fonts and install the fonts. 

Try restarting After Effects at that point and see if you can get it to load. 

[Bikerscout72]

I completely uninstalled\reinstalled AE again and removed\reset all preferences.
I even deleted all the files in the adobeTEMP folder.
I checked again that there were no other Adobe Clean fonts on my system.
I also installed those Adobe Clean fonts (that you sent the link to) in my Windows Font folder.

However, the problem still remains and AE still won't open, giving the same "After Effects warning: Unable to create AGM font ("Adobe Clean" - "Bold").

[jenkmeister]

I'm honestly not sure what else to look at here. The OS seems to not be able to get the font to AE. I hate to suggest a full wipe and refresh of your computer, but I'm honestly not sure what else to recommend here. There are no known widespread reports of this issue as far as I know. 

[JohnColombo]

@Bikerscout72 Do the steps posted by @josiah_0206 here help at all? https://community.adobe.com/t5/after-effects-bugs/unable-to-create-agm-font-quot-adobe-clean-bold-qu... 

- John, After Effects Engineering Team 

[Bikerscout72]

That fix is for Windows 11...I'm on Windows 10.

[Bikerscout72]

That actually worked! Even for Win 10 John Colombo...
Thanks...I'll monitor how it goes.