AE 2019 crashing a lot - Out of memory (sometimes)

Report · Jun 04, 2019

Same for me.

Usually, my system (Windows 10 / 64 bits) becomes unstable when 4 or 5 Adobe apps (Illustrator, Photoshop, Animate, Acrobat, Flash Builder) are running at the same time with big projects loaded + multiple web browser windows running.

With After Effects CC 2019, it becomes unstable right away, even when nothing much is running on the PC, even before loading any project, or working on a very small project (full vector based, small, simple animations).

I need to start AE 4 or 5 times before I get a chance to basically open a project and work on it normally.

Most of the time, AE doesn't start, or starts and freezes, or the project opens but the comp doesn't show up.

And sometimes, an "out of memory" warning pops out, and then I pray that I'll be able to save my work...

I tried to adjust memory settings, but it didn't help.

I have actually reached a point where I cannot seem to start and use the app anymore... (I've already uninstalled and re-installed it as recently as yesterday.)

Report · Jun 25, 2019

I've branched your post into a new discussion for better support.

Report · Jun 25, 2019

I have actually reached a point where I cannot seem to start and use the app anymore..

Does it crash on launch? Do you get an error or crash report? If yes, please share that with us.

or the project opens but the comp doesn't show up.

Do you open a project directly by double-clicking it or do you launch After Effects first and then open the project file?

Which version of After Effects are you using exactly? FAQ: How to find the exact version of After Effects you're using?

Please provide more details about your computer. [Memory, CPU, GPU, video driver version]

Thanks,

Rameez

Report · Jun 25, 2019

Thank you Rameez for your help.

Here are the AE info:

Version 16.1.1 (Build 4)

I've used it only for vector-based animation so far, exported via the Bodymovin extension.

I always open AE first and then try to open the project (usually via the recent project list showing on startup).

About the computer:

(information translated by me from French–actual wording might be different)

Intel Core i7-6700 CPU @ 3.40GHz 3.41GHz

RAM 16,0 GB

64-bit

Windows 10 Professional version 1803

OS version 17134.1

2 screens connected:

1920x1080 @ 60Hz

8 bits RGB SDR

AMD Radeon Graphics Processor (0x6610)

Internal DAC(400MHz)

AMD Radeon R7 350X

BIOS info: 113-C8720100-103

Graphic memory available: 12250 MB

Dedicated video memory: 4096MB

System video memory: 0 MB

Shared system memory: 8154 MB

I've just noticed that the second display was @ 59Hz (no idea why) and switched it to 60Hz, just in case...

AE usually crashes on startup. It sort of freezes while the UI is building. Why it crashes sometimes, and sometimes not, seems to be completely random.

When I get to the point of opening a project, it works fine, until I open some additional app and it becomes too much obviously.

Then AE shows a modal box with a memory warning and a "OK" button. At this point, I can try to close all other apps to release memory, but anyway, the modal box remains open, and finally I have to crash AE myself.

Report · Jun 25, 2019

denisr70421873 wrote
RAM 16,0 GB

There's your problem.

Report · Jul 01, 2019

Do you see the crash reporter after it crashes? Have you sent any crash reports to us?

If you have, please send me a private message with the email address that you used to send the crash report. If you haven't, please send a crash report to us: How to submit crash reports for Digital Video applications

Additionally, check if After Effects has generated a crash log on your machine: FAQ: How to find After Effects crash logs on your computer?

Looking forward to helping you with this.

Rameez

Report · Jul 01, 2019

I usually don't see the crash reporter, but it may have popped out sometimes (in which case I must have sent it), I don't remember for sure if it was AE.

All "logs" folders for all versions are empty.

Thank you Rameez.

Report · Jul 01, 2019

I don't see any crash logs via the email address you shared with me in the private message.

Let's try something else. Do you see any After Effects logs in Event Viewer? Follow these steps to find out: Event viewer

Choose Windows Logs > Application and filter the log to find After Effects

-Rameez

Report · Jun 25, 2019

After Effects will hoover up all the available RAM for the frame cache and during rendering, even if you have many hundreds of gigabytes. You need to adjust the memory allocation settings in After Effects Preferences to give your OS room to breathe. Windows 10 x64 can require 5gb just to tick over, it depends how much background stuff is running. If you're near the limit and then something like Windows Update kicks into action, everything dies.

Trying to do anything in After Effects with less than 32gb of system RAM is just asking for trouble. As soon as you start working heavily with 4K footage, 16-bit color and Cinema4D objects then you should be looking at 128gb and above ("above" means a Xeon processor). Consumer software it ain't.

Report · Feb 23, 2024

I never had this problem until recently