After effects 2021 won't import or save

[ayotunde5C5A]

I've worked with after effects 2020 and 2019 and I've never had this problem before but I recently switched to an M1 mac and upgraded to after effects 2021 and now for some reason I can't import any file or save what I'm currently working on, it doesn't bring up any error code or anything , it just doesn't work, I've tried reinstalling it but still the same problem, please help

[Jose Panadero]

On newer macOS versions you need to allow applications to access your hard drive for read and write purposes. What you need to do is to enter into System Preferences > Security and Privacy. Then go to the Privacity tab, locate the Disk Total access and add After Effects into the allowed apps. Restart After Effects.

[ayotunde5C5A]

Thanks! This worked at first, then I closed after effects, started work on another project another day and the error seems to have returned for some reason, i already restarted my mac, restarted after effects and confirmed that after effects has all the necessary permissions

[Pern]

• Having the exact same problem (although haven't tested importing) and the problem persists even on root user. 

[nishu_kush]

Hi ayotunde5C5A & Pern,

Do you see any error message? What's the version of the macOS you're on? For testing, please try this:

1. Sign out of the Creative Cloud desktop app.
2. Sign in with a different email id. It's fine if it doesn't have a subscription. You may need to start the trial.
3. Launch After Effects and see if it works.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Nishu

[Pern]

No error messages, AE thinks save was successful. Only way to save is to send it to Media Encoder and take the newly created project file from there. 

I'm on the latest MacOS version on a MacBook Pro m1 max. Encountered the same problem back in April as well, on earlier builds of macOS and AE. 

Haven't tried signing in to a different account, haven't even tried signing out and signing in with the same account actually, so I'll definitely try both.