Tips to open AEP file

Can't open the AEP file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open AEP files as well as a list of programs that support AEP files.

AEP file extension

File Name After Effects Project
File Developer Adobe Systems
File Category Video Files

The AEP file is supported on 2 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the AEP files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the AEP file on each system platform.

Operating systems
  • 3
  • 1
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

What is AEP file?

The file in the AEP format belongs to the Video Files category. The creator of this file is Adobe Systems. Video Files consists of 546 similar files. After Effects Project is supported by 2 operating systems. These systems consist of Mac OS, Windows, although it may occasionally be found on another system, it will be non-functional. The main program that supports this format is Adobe After Effects. This was created by Adobe Systems Incorporated. There are also 3 alternative programs to handle the AEP file. You can use Adobe Creative Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud in case Adobe After Effects cannot be used.

How to open AEP file?

The main problem with After Effects Project is that the AEP file is incorrectly associated with programs. This causes the file AEP to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. This problem can be easily remedied.

The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the AEP file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.

Step 1. Install Adobe After Effects

In this case, you should first verify that the Adobe After Effects application is installed on the computer. To do this, enter the name Adobe After Effects into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below you will find a list of applications that support AEP files.

Step 2. Create association of Adobe After Effects with AEP files

However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the AEP file to open in the Adobe After Effects application, but you can set it manually. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Using the "Change" button we can select the desired program. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. Checking the "Always use the selected program ..." box will permanently associate the AEP file with the Adobe After Effects program.

Step 3. Update Adobe After Effects to the latest version

If, however, after binding Adobe After Effects with After Effects Project there were still problems, you should update the program to the latest version. Some applications allow you to update from the program level, and for others you need to download the installer from the Adobe Systems Incorporated page and install.

Step 4. Check for the following problems with the AEP file

Of course, it may happen that despite the above steps, the file still does not work. File problems can be divided into the following:

Very often, the file may be size 0 or incomplete. This suggests truncating the AEP file contents when downloading or copying. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The most common cause here is computer viruses. A virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should fix the problem. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. The scan should cover the entire computer, not only the AEP file that we want to open. However, remember that not every infected AEP file can be recovered, so it is important to take care of regular backups.
A typical compatibility error - the program does not support the older version of the AEP file. On their websites, developers usually offer free solutions to such problems, e.g. in the form of a conversion program or an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for the failure. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the option of recovering data from damaged AEP files. The easiest way to restore the file is from a backup or by contacting Adobe Systems, but this one can be expensive. Not all damage can be reversed.
The program indicates that the file is encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted file AEP except for the special designation, works normally, but only on the device where it was encrypted, before transferring it to another machine, decryption is required.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. These directories are write-protected to them and it's very hard to fix this problem. Copying the AEP file to another location will fix the problem.
This can happen on a file that does not support multiple access. In this case, the AEP file is blocked by the first application to open it. Just close unnecessary programs. If the error persists after closing other programs, wait for a while. Antivirus programs or a backup being made may lock the file for a while without the user's knowledge. If the problem persists, restart the machine.