After Effects 24, Keyboard shortcut for split layer (Shift+cmd+D) doesn't work

[aarons16248723]

I recently upgraded to 24 and there are some bugs, but most go away by closing and reopening.  One just popped up that despite closing and opening and restarting, it won't go away.   The keyboard shortcut for split layer (Shift+cmd+D) doesn't work.  I went into keyboard shortcuts and it said that was the shortcut.  When I got rid of it and tried to reassign it to that, it turns out that it AE won't even accept that as a keyboard shortcut.  Can anyone think of a solve for this, short of uninstalling and reinstalling AE?

Title edited by Mod.

[nishu_kush]

The shortcut seems to be working fine at my end. Try running After Effects in Safe Mode. If it helps, you may need to reset the preferences of After Effects.

Let us know how it goes.

Note: Moving this thread from Bugs to Discussions for troubleshooting.

Thanks,

Nishu

[aarons16248723]

Neither option fixed the issue.  Additionally, another member of my team has had the same issue with the same shortcut and for me the main delete button above return on the keyboard isn't recognized by After Effects any more and I have to use the one above the arrows.

[AWAIS288663960ehc]

Try resetting Adobe After Effects preferences by holding down Ctrl+Alt+Shift (Windows) or Command+Option+Shift (Mac) when launching the software.

[aarons16248723]

Should there be some indication of this working?  I tried it and AE went through the natural boot up through the list of recent projects, and nothing had changed.  It reacted as if I didn't do anything.

[Warren Heaton]

While After Effects is open, you can go to After Effects > Settings... > Setup and Repair > Preference Management > Reset All Preferences to Defaults; however, you may not need to do this.

Go to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and check if you are using "After Effects Default.txt" (in which case shift + command + d should work) or if you're using a Custom preset where Split Layer at Current Time has unintentionally been cleared.

 Pictured: After Effects 2024, Keyboard Shortcuts, After Effects Default, Split Layer at Current Time

Depending on what you see and how you would like to proceed, you can restore the After Effects Default or add ⇧+⌘+D to your Custom shortcuts.

[Dave_BSM]

I am having the exact same problem, extreemly frustrating!

The shortcut appears in the Keyboard Shortcuts

I additionally added it into custom shortcuts, didn't fix the issue.

I reset all preferences as per @Warren Heaton suggestion, still didn't fix it.

I can assign a totally different key to Split Layer and it works fine but Shift+Ctrl+D is just not working.

@aarons16248723 did you end upfinding a fix for this?

[A3user]

Hi! I have the exact same issue even having the correct shortcut configured

Did you solve it @Dave_BSM @aarons16248723 ?

[Warren Heaton]

@A3user 

Sorry to hear that the keyboard shortcut for Split Layer isn't working as expected.

Most likely, an add-on or extension is preventing control shift d from working as expected.

What do you see if you go to the Edit pull down menu while the Layer is selected?

Pictured: The Edit pullout menu with Split Layer selected (After Effects version 25.4).

Do you see the keyboard shortcut in the Edit pull down menu and does the action work as expected if you choose it there?

Which version of After Effects are you running?

While you're troubleshooting this issue, you can try switching to control d (Duplicate Layer), alt right bracket (Trim Layer In to Current Time Indicator), control down arrow (Select Layer Below), control left arrow (Preview Frame), and then alt left bracket (Trim Layer to Out to Current Time Indicator).  And yes, that's too many keys to press when control shift d should just work.


- Warren

[A3user]

Hi Warren, I do see the keyboard shortcut in the edit pull menu and it does the action when I choose it, that's how I have been doing it since the keyboard shortcut does not work. I'm using version 25.4 (the latest update).  The other shortcut process you mention does work but I think it's quicker to select the edit menu and select the split layer option if I already have my right hand on my mouse. The split shorcut (Control+Shift+D) is even quicker since I do it with my left hand without needing to let go of the mouse. 
How can I confirm if it's an addon or extension what's not letting me use the shorcut? Wouldn't something happen when doing the shorcut instead of splitting the layer? Nothing happens when I press it. 

[Warren Heaton]

@A3user 

To disable add-ons and extensions, run After Effects in Safe Mode.  If you haven't' done this before, go to Edit > Preferences > Setup & Repair and then click Startup in Safe Mode....

When AfterEffects relaunches, create a Comp, create a Solid, and then try Slit Layer.

To get out of Safe Mode, relaunch After Effects.

Instead of corrupt preferences, an add-on, or an extension, it could be another application or background utility intercepting the keystroke - even though nothing happens when the keys are pressed.

Some other things that come to mind:

• Double-check that Windows is not set to a different input language/keyboard layout.
• Try a different keyboard.

[A3user]

Hi Warren. I started AE in Safe Mode like you suggested and created a new project, composition and layer. The split layer shortcut still does not work when clicking Control+Shift+D.  The duplicate (Control+D) works just fine like always, but the split layer does not. 
If it is another application or background utility intercepting with the keystroke, how can I find out? Is there a way In windows 10 to search for keyboard shortcuts applied to background utility / apps ?
I only have 2 input languages in my keyboard, English and Spanish. I have tried with both with no luck. I doubt that is the problem because I always had those 2 options and the split layer shorcut used to work just fine. 
I haven't tried using another physical keyboard (I don't have another one right now) but I just tested with the on screen keyboard function that windows have and did the shortcut using that and it still won't work.

I did a test changing the shortcut from control+shift+D to control+shift+Q  and using that one, the split layer function does work.  I guess then it is deffinetely the case of some background utility or app intercepting the keystroke but I don't know how to find which one and change it or remove it. 

[A3user]

Defiinelty something is stealing that Control+Shift+D combo even if I don't see anything happening because I just tried the same combination on Premiere Pro where it's supposed to apply the default audio transition and it also does not work.

I googled other programs that use that combination and for example the windows calculator should erase the history when using that combo but it doesn't do anything. Supposedly Notepad should delete a line with that combo but also does nothing. Microsoft workd should double underline the text, also does nothing. 

I even found this keyboard tester ( https://defkey.com/keyboard-tester )and it shows all the combinations of keyboards I do and a list of the programs that use it. And I can get it to show other keyboard combos but if I press control+shift+d  it only recognizes like I typed control+shift  . It's not that the D key is damaged since I can type it everywhere.  I have no idea what can be causing that the combination control+shift+d is not recognized anywhere. 

[A3user]

I FINALLY solved it!!!!! I downloadd a tool called Hotkey Detective ( https://github.com/ITachiLab/hotkey-detective/releases ) and with that I found out that the screen recording app iTop Screen Recording uses that shortcut to activate the Magnifier option. I'm not sure what it does since nothing happens but I just deleted that shorcut from there and now the Control+Shift+D combo works everywhere!! 

[Warren Heaton]

@A3user 

Good detective work!

iTop Screen Recording probably has a preference setting for how much it should zoom when activated that hasn't been set yet.  As such, the screen remains unchanged when the short cut is used.

[A3user]

Yes! thank you! what a relief!!