Help AE is COMPLETELY blank and everything is greyed out

[NitroDesign]

Hi im using AE for years and i had my fair share of trouble shooting to do but this one is new and nothing helped so far. I started AE today and it is absolutely blank and almost every menu text is greyed out.

I have tried: Close+reopen AE, Mirror my screens (to see if the panels hide somewhere), tried to access the view menu or shortcuts, Restarting my mac.

Is there anyone who had this or has an idea how to fix it? My version is 17.1.0 (Build 72)

[ToolfarmJP]

Would you try to reset your preferences?

To restore the default preference settings, press and hold the following keys while the application is starting.

Command+Option+Shift (Mac OS)

https://helpx.adobe.com/after-effects/using/preferences.html

[Rick Gerard · Accepted solution]

This has nothing at all to do with your preferences. You have opened the Render Engine. You can confirm that by opening the About panel.

Close the app then re-open using the correct application. The program icons are identical, but the app names are different. 

[tunghoy]

I had the same question and your answer was correct for me too, thanks. The application icons are identical and the names of the applicationson on the launchpad are truncated with ellipses. Adobe needs to do user testing.

[nishu_kush]

Hi NitroDesign,

Were you able to solve the problem? If so, would you mind sharing what did you do to make it work? It'll be helpful for other users.

Thanks,

Nishu 

[NitroDesign]

Sorry for my late reply. Rick is 100% correct! I figured it out during the day when i restarted it a few times and saw the small (Render Engine) text next to the name of the starting app. This doesnt change my confusion as to how the AE in my app menu got switched out with the AE Render Engine but im sure this must have been an OS derp and not an Adobe Bug.