Adobe · Windows & macOS
Use GPU-Accelerated Rendering in After Effects When Supported
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Open File > Project Settings > Video Rendering and Effects and set Use to the Mercury GPU Acceleration option that After Effects offers for your computer. GPU acceleration is a project setting and speeds only supported effects, so verify it with a short render from the actual project before committing to a full export.
Open the project and save it
Open the After Effects project you intend to render and choose File > Save. Move the work area over a short section that contains the project's heaviest effects so the renderer can be tested on real content.
Open Video Rendering and Effects
Choose File > Project Settings, then select Video Rendering and Effects. Under Use, note the renderer that is currently selected before changing it.
Choose the offered GPU renderer
Open the Use menu and select the available Mercury GPU Acceleration option, such as CUDA or OpenCL on Windows or Metal on macOS, then select OK. If After Effects offers only Mercury Software Only, do not force another option.
Render the representative section
Add the active composition to the Render Queue, restrict the render to the prepared work area, choose a temporary output file, and select Render. Wait for the queue to show Done.
Check quality and stability
Open the test file and inspect frames containing GPU-accelerated and third-party effects. Continue with the full export only if color, transparency, timing, and effect output match the composition without errors or artifacts.
Understand what the setting accelerates
Mercury GPU Acceleration affects only supported effects. A third-party effect can use the GPU through its own system, so check that effect publisher's compatibility guidance when one effect remains slow or fails.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If Mercury GPU Acceleration is missing, compare the installed GPU and driver with Adobe's current requirements. Obtain a compatible driver from the computer or GPU manufacturer, not a driver-download site.
- If the test render crashes or shows artifacts, return to File > Project Settings > Video Rendering and Effects, choose Mercury Software Only, and rerender the same range to isolate the renderer.
- If only one third-party effect fails, keep the project renderer unchanged and check that effect publisher's supported GPU and version requirements.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows, macOS.
Adobe documents Mercury GPU Acceleration as a project setting for supported effects; the offered technology depends on the operating system and compatible GPU.