Projects doesn't open (freezing) after upgrading to MacOS Sonoma

[rtdc]

After upgrading from MacOS 13 to MacOS 14 Sonoma on iMac20,2 yesterday, After Effects (24.2.1) freezing while opening project files. I can see that files are being loaded in Project window, then Render Queue loads list with recently rendered comps, and it freezes (sometimes at 78, 98 or 99%). 

1) I tried to reboot;

2) tried to open in safe mode;
3) I tried to reset preferences ( helped with opening one project that was freezing before, but didn't help with other projects I tried to open later, even after resetting preferences multiple times).

4) uninstalled and installed AE 24.2.1

The only workaround is to import old project file in new project.

[ToolfarmJP]

Would you also try to install older versions of After Effects and try to open some project files?

[nishu_kush]

I agree with the expert's suggestion. In case you were using Cinema 4D files in the project, installing 24.1 would be a good idea because of a known issue. If that doesn't help, try importing your project file into a new project.

Let us know how it goes.

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

Thanks,

Nishu

[rtdc]

So I just tried to open project file with previous AE version (24.1) and it also was freezing. I'm not using C4D files. Projects have some comps, some precomps, imported footage (mp4), imported PSDs and other image files. And yes, I will be importing my projects files into project files, since it is only way I can edit projects from previous MacOS.

[rtdc]

Update: I have just upgraded to 24.3.0 and it didn't change anything. But have noticed that every time I use my workaround by importing freezing project into new project, I'm getting this warning message at the end of the import: 
After Effects error: Illegal XML character "" in string "ABB_Price-combo_LV_1080x1920_15" (23::0)
So it never says which character is wrong - just empty quotes, and string is usually a name of some comp or footage within imported project. It is strange that AE doesn't open projects, but it doesn't have a problem importing them. I assume that something has changed in character sets between MacOS13 and MacOS14, but I'm not using any special characters- just some underscores and dashes in comp names. For the keyboard input sorce I'm using "Latvian". 

[nishu_kush]

Can you share one if the project files with me to test? Feel free to DM me the download link if you don't want to share it publicly.

Looking forward to your response.

Thanks,

Nishu

[rtdc]

Hi @nishu_kush , 24.4 update also didn't solve this problem. Project files are still freezing while project is opening (basically when I can see that in the background all project files are loaded in project file list, and render queue also loaded previously rendered comps in queue, but it freezes and that's it). Sometimes It can be solved by force-quitting, opening AE, cleaning all file cache, and media DB cache, and sometimes I have to do it twice, or even 3 times, and it will finally opens, but sometimes importing project into new project is the only way. 

BUt the thing is - it's happening on a regular basis. And I'm not talking about very old projects the I open now, but completely new projects that I created few days ago, are not opening now. Or sometimes the project that I imported into new project file (as a workaround) is working that day (even after I close and open it multiple times while jumping from one project to another), but the next (or same) day it freezes. 
Is there a way I can debug this? Today when project froze, I opened a Activity Monitor and took a sample of unresponsive AE process. Would it help if I send yours is sample data in DM?

[nishu_kush]

I see! Where are the project and media files saved? In an external drive, shared location, or internal drive? Can you try bringing them locally (if they are not already) and open them? I did some research and found that changing the name of the folder (that contains media) helped them.

Let us know how it goes.

Thanks,

Nishu

[rtdc]

Hi, sorry for the dealy. At first I was checking for the reply, but then I was burried in work and noticed your reply just today.

Files are stored in Dropbox that is using MacOS FileProvider API, but all files are available/downloaded locally/offline (/Users/username/Library/CloudStorage/Dropbox-Private/Projects/...).

I also tried to move folder to another location, as you suggested. Since Desktop/Documents wasn't an option? because it uses iCloud to sync, I created new folder in "/Users/username/Offline/AE", but it didn't solve the freezing.

I have also a good news. I did some more debugging past month, and now I'm sure that project files are freezing ONLY when I open them by double-clicking (or CMD+O) from finder window. But if I go to "File>Open Project" (or hit CMD+O in AE), and I choose file from dialog box, then it opens just fine every time.
I have made a screen recording where I show both options, but I don't want to share it here publicly.

To recap, I have been having this issue since I upgraded to MacOS Sonoma this year, and none of the updates, and even latest 24.5 didn't solve this. 
On one hand I now have a way to open a project from AE, but on the other hand I'm still forgetting about this too often, because of muscle memory, and since I browse for project files using Finder windows most of the time.