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March 29, 2019
Answered

Can't move videos/keyframes in After Effects. Help?

  • March 29, 2019
  • 12 replies
  • 33607 views

Hi, all,

I've recently purchased After Effects CC 2019 for my Mac and I'm completely new to the program, and I'm having a few issues with it. I've been watching some tutorials and I see that everyone's able to drag clips/keyframes easily along the timeline, but whenever I try that on my project, it's like they're frozen. I can move them using brackets—[]—but that's all, and it's getting really annoying to do. Even trying to use the little arrows beside the clips to shrink them/make them longer and all of that doesn't work. I'm not sure what's going on.

    This topic has been closed for replies.
    Correct answer Shivangi_Gupta

    Hi mariat,

    Thanks for reaching out and choosing After Effects. As @OussK suggested, you may have locked your layer that prevents it from being edited. If you have tried that and it still does not work, then please test this with a new composition.

    Also, you may go ahead and make all the settings default by resetting the preferences: Reset After Effects Preferences | Welcome to kevinmonahan.net

    Let us know if any of the above works. We're here to help

    Thanks,

    Shivangi

    12 replies

    Dave_LaRonde
    Inspiring
    March 29, 2019

    I heartily agree with Towerguy -- learn the basics!

    Ever use a video editing application?   Learning how is like learning to drive the family car.  Learning After Effects?  That's like learning how to fly an F-22 Raptor for combat missions.

    Known Participant
    February 4, 2021

    Yes, but an F-22 that crashes and kills the ground crew. The steps the original poster is describing are very simple. After Effects is garbage.

    Warren Heaton
    Community Expert
    Community Expert
    February 4, 2021

    Garbage?  How so?

     

    This issue is most likely a user error.  It happens.

    Participating Frequently
    March 29, 2019

    Hi. Click somewhere along the clip and drag from there (four little lines appear showing you can drag it). When you place your cursor over the very beginning or end of the clip a double sided arrow appears showing you can shorten (or lengthen) the footage.

    AE is not an intuitive program so I would strongly suggest that you look at some basics tutorials before trying to dive in or you'll end up driving yourself crazy.

    These are great:

    After Effects basics tutorials by Andrew Devis

    Participant
    July 7, 2021

    same problem to me i loved you way of comment its exactly return to me