After Effects freezes when starting up on initialising Media Core

Report · Dec 11, 2024

I hope someone could help because I'm at a loss with this problem.

I had several versions of after effects installed (23/24/25). I was working in 25, all went well and suddenly there was a crash. Since that moment I'm not able anymore to open any of these AE versions anymore.

When opening AE it freezes on "Initializing Media Core", it hangs and that's it.

Things I tried so far:

- removed all third party plugins

- removed all files in the Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common map

- uninstalled andn reinstalled all AE

- even did the total Adobe clean up and installed everything again

- but the problems is still there

Needless to say this is really frustrating and stressfull because I have projects to deliver. I am a user of Adobe and after effects since 2001 (!) now, and I never experienced such a severe crash problem as this one. Adobe how on earth is this posssibe.

So far my complaint, I hope someone can help me.

I'm on Mac, M1, 15.1.1 (Sequoia). Updated a few days ago, maybe that causes the problem?)

This is where it freezes:

Last log message was: <70496> <AppDirs> <5> Required Dir = /Applications/Adobe After Effects 2024/Adobe After Effects 2024.app/Contents/Required

Hope anyone can give me advise!

Report · Dec 16, 2024

Would you try to run After Effects, using sudo command? The cause may be related to the permission of MediaCore.

Report · Dec 16, 2024

Hi Gerbren Boere,

Sorry to hear about the issue. Here's what I think:

If you're opening After Effects by double-clicking a project file and the file is corrupt, you may see the crash. Try opening After Effects by clicking its icon.
There are some third-party plug-ins or their residue files that are interfering with After Effects. Go to the following location and remove (or move to a different location to keep a backup) all the files and folders except dummy.txt and try to launch After Effects. Location on macOS - HD/Library/Application Support/Adobe/Common/Plugins/7.0/MediaCore

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Nishu