Composition window empty/not updating - AE CC 2019

[ImPettyImportant]

I just launched After Effects again for the first time in a couple months just to make a very quick and basic edit. Unfortunately whenever I create a composition the window just won't update and when I resize it just goes haywire. Moving the window around to different parts of AE doesn't fix the problem, neither does restarting the program or my computer. Reinstalling to a different drive didn't change anything. What's in the composition doesn't seem to matter, I've tried it at full res, low res, even with an empty comp and the problem is exactly the same. I checked my hardware and everything is fine, nothing is being throttle, overheated, etc.

[OussK · Accepted solution]

Try to stop the GPU accelerator, File/Project settings/video rendering and effects/Mercury software only

[ImPettyImportant]

Opened again to try this, but it randomly started working again. If it happens again though I'll try that, thanks.

[sueborchardt]

It's almost a year later but I've been having a similar problem in AE 2020 (composition window not updating) and found this thread.

I tried the suggested fix under File->Project Settings->video rendering and effects but my settings were already on Mercury Software only so I went the other direction and switched it to Mercury GPA Software (Metal). That fixed my issue!

Fingers crossed it'll stay fixed. AE is so unpredictable.

[sueborchardt]

update: not a lasting fix. It works for a few minutes after toggling the Mercury setting and then the comp window stops updating again 😞

[MaxAppian]

I am also having this issue.  Swapping the video rendering does nothing.  Have restarted everything.  Have emptied the cache multiple times.  Have tried importing the project into a new AE project file.  Only thing I can think of that I havent tried is reinstalling- and I am loathe to do that since I'll have to reinstall everything else too.

[paul.os]

I have the same issue.

[dylnjones]

I am also having this issue in the 2025 version...

[PhiH]

I'm also having the same issue. I had the same issue a week ago and could fix it by cleaning the database and emptying cache, but this time nothing I do does anything.