{"id":125990,"date":"2023-03-01T10:18:06","date_gmt":"2023-03-01T10:18:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/?p=125990"},"modified":"2025-07-25T15:16:00","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T15:16:00","slug":"recover-unsaved-or-lost-after-effects-file","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stellarinfo.com\/blog\/recover-unsaved-or-lost-after-effects-file\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Recover Unsaved or Lost After Effects Files?<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"

I started working on a new After Effect project and saved it manually only once at the beginning. But suddenly my After Effect crashed. What should I do? Please help me recover the AEP files.<\/em><\/p>

Adobe After Effect is a motion graphic tool, which animators and designers use to create 2D and 3D animations, motion pictures, and visual effects. It saves After Effect projects in .aep file format and exports the final piece as .mov file format. Many After Effect users complain about project files lost after sudden OS or app crashing, accidental or intentional deletion, etc. So now the question arises how to recover unsaved After Effect Projects files in such a situation.<\/p>

Read this blog to learn different ways to recover unsaved or lost files in After Effects after crashing or freezing the app, system shutdown and deletion, or more.<\/p>

You can use these methods for any After Effect versions, including CS5, CS6, CC, version 2023 (23.2), and others.<\/p>

How to Recover Lost After Effects Files?<\/strong><\/h2>
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  1. Recover Deleted AE Project Files from Recycle Bin \/ Trash<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Recover After Effects Project File from Recent Files<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Recover Unsaved After Effects Project File from AutoSave<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Recover Unsaved AEP Files Using Adobe Creative Cloud<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Recover AE Project Files from the Backup<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Recover After Effect Project Files with Software<\/li>\n<\/ol>

    1. Recover Deleted AE Project Files from Recycle Bin \/ Trash<\/strong><\/h3>

    Check the Trash Folder in macOS and Recycle Bin in Windows for deleted AE project files. If you accidentally or deliberately deleted them, Trash or Recycle Bin will keep these projects for 30 days or until you emptied them.<\/p>

    If you have Mac, open the Trash<\/strong> folder. Right-click on the desired AE project files and select the ‘Put<\/strong> Back’<\/strong> option. The deleted AE files are restored to their original location.<\/p>

    \"recover<\/figure>

    To recover AE project files, open Recycle Bin<\/strong> in Windows. Locate the file you want, right-click on the file, and chose the ‘Restore’<\/strong> option.<\/p>

    \"recover<\/figure>

    How to Recover AE Project Files if You Emptied Recycle Bin and Trash?<\/strong><\/p>

    If you emptied your Recycle Bin and Trash folder, then After Effect projects will be no longer available. The only possible way to recover permanently deleted AE project files is with the help of After Effect Recovery Software.<\/p>

    2. Recover After Effects Project File from Recent Files<\/strong><\/h3>

    Using the ‘Open Recent files’<\/strong> option is the easiest method to recover unsaved After Effects project files. If your system crashed unexpectedly or you forgot to save the file you were last working on, it is probably saved under the list of recently opened files.<\/p>

    Follow these simple steps to recover AE project files:<\/strong><\/p>