How to Open an AEP File on Windows or macOS

Adobe's After Effects software uses AEP files, which stand for After Effects Project files. As a powerful post-production video tool, AEP files utilize this extension to compile project files that contain references to all elements used in a project, such as effects, video clips, and audio clips. While AEP files do not include the media files themselves, they provide instructions on how these elements should be combined.

Now that you know what AEP files are and why they won't open on Windows or Mac, it's time to explore how to open AEP files on both operating systems. Let's get started!

How to Open an AEP File on Windows

If you can't open an AEP file on your Windows PC, there are a couple of good ways to open these files. Here's how to do both:

Method 1: Open an AEP File with After Effects

The main problem with AEP files is that they are not accurately associated with the After Effects program, which can cause system applications (not designed for this purpose) to open your AEP file, or you may receive a message indicating that the appropriate merge program cannot be found. However, you can use the steps below to open an After Effects Project file:

Step 1: Install "Adobe After Effects".

Step 2. If the AEP file does not open in the application and you see a "files won't open on double click" error text, try looking for an app that can open it.

If you are very familiar with an application that can open AEP files, launch the program and look for a main menu option like File > Open.

Step 4: If you're not sure which program to use to open your AEP file, search online for "AEP viewer," "open AEP file," or "app to open AEP files" or something similar.

Step 5: Download the program and see if it can open your AEP file.

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Method 2: Create the Correct File Association

Please follow these steps to create the correct file association:

1. On your Windows computer, open the “File Associations” settings.

Step 2: Generate file association for the AEP files.

Step 3. Right-click the AEP file and select "Open With," then choose "Adobe After Effects 2023" from the programs you downloaded on your Windows computer.

Select "Adobe After Effects 2023"

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How to Open an AEP File on a Mac

To open an AEP file on macOS, you can follow these steps:

Step 1. In the macOS Finder, locate an AEP file and double-click it to open the corresponding application.

If you see an error that says “There is no app on your Mac that can open this file,” click Search App Store in the error dialog, and macOS will show you apps that are compatible with AEP files.

Step 3. If you know of an app that can open an AEP file on macOS, you can choose “Choose Application…” in the error window, merge the file extension, and open the AEP file.

Step 4. If you don't know which program can open an AEP file, search online for “AEP viewer,” “app to open AEP files,” or “read AEP files.”

Step 5. Download the app and check if it can open AEP files.

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How to recover AEP files with software

If your After Effects project was unsaved, you might be able to recover it by using the Windows File History or Mac Time Machine feature, or with specialized data-recovery software to retrieve the .aep file.

Recovering lost AEP files with the Data Recovery Wizard software is straightforward. Most applications come with a detailed step-by-step wizard to guide you through the recovery process. However, the likelihood of different software recovering your files may vary.

Considering both functionality and usability, it is a recovery tool that...

• Free scan for up to 2 GB of data on Windows 11/10/8/7.
• Recover deleted documents for free, including emails, images, and other files.
• Utilize advanced file repair features to fix corrupted videos and photos, among other files.
• Equipped with optimized algorithms for the fastest and deepest scanning modes.

Complementary recovery software for various data loss scenarios, including Recycle Bin Recovery, Lost Partition Recovery, Hard Drive Recovery, Deleted File Recovery and Damaged OS Recovery.

Step 1: Select the location to scan

Select the specific device or drive from where you deleted files using “Shift + Delete” or emptied the Recycle Bin. Click on the “Scan” button to look for lost files.

Step 2: Check the results

The software will automatically start scanning all contents on the selected drive. Once the scan is complete, select the "Deleted Files" and "Other Lost Files" folders in the left panel. Use the "Filter" feature or click the "Search for Files or Folders" button to quickly locate the deleted file.

Step 3: Recover the deleted files

Select the deleted files you want to restore, and click “Preview.” Then, hit “Recover” to save them to another secure location or device.

If you've lost your AEP files, we recommend that you install the Data Recovery Wizard tool right away! And if you liked this article, don't forget to share it with your friends on social media.

Final Award

Are you wondering why your AEP files usually fail to open on both your MacBook and Windows computer? The reason could be an AE (After Effects) crash that corrupts the project file. If attempts to import it into another project fail, you should consider using an auto-save version of AE and continue from there.

Losing your Adobe After Effects project files is one of the most disastrous things that can happen. Whether you accidentally deleted them or failed to back them up correctly, there are several ways to recover corrupted files. And, you don't need to be a computer expert to do any of these. Just make sure to go through each of the steps mentioned above carefully.

Data Recovery Wizard is the best tool to recover all your AEP files. To increase the chances of data recovery, you should start the retrieval process as soon as possible and avoid writing new files to the damaged storage device.

FAQ: How to Open an AEP File

Get started with AEP files quickly by referring to this FAQ:

1. Which programs can open AEP files?

An AEP file contains information about layers, compositions, effects, keyframes, and other essential elements that make up a project in After Effects. You can open these files using the Adobe After Effects software.

How to convert AEP to MP4?

To convert an AEP to MP4, follow these steps: 1. Open the composition you want to export. 2. Go to "Composition" > "Add to Media Encoder Queue." 3. Under "Format," select "H264." 4. Under "Preset," choose the desired preset. 5. Click the "green play button" to start the export process.

Can I open an AEP file in Premiere Pro?

In Adobe Premiere Pro, choose File > Adobe Dynamic Link > Import After Effects Composition. Then, select an After Effects project file and choose one or more compositions. Finally, choose an After Effects project file and click Open.

4. How do I import an AEP file?

Once you're done with your composition in After Effects, launch Premiere Pro, and go to the Project panel. Right-click and select "Import." Finally, locate the "After Effects project" that contains the composition you need, select it, and click "Open."