Adobe · Platform not recorded
Troubleshoot Missing Audio in After Effects
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Check that the layer has audio enabled, preview from a cached work area, verify the selected output device, then isolate the file or project before changing it.
Confirm the source contains playable audio
Save the project, identify the silent layer and time range, reveal its waveform, confirm its audio switch is enabled, and play the source file outside After Effects. A silent or unsupported source cannot be repaired by preview settings.
Check layer audio and work area
Confirm the audio switch and work area include the section you need.
Preview the selected audio output
Use Preview controls and the selected audio output to test the cached work area.
Isolate the audio problem
Test another project and known-good audio before resetting preferences.
Retest the same work area
Preview the same work area after each change and watch the Audio meter. Then render a short delivery test because preview routing and exported audio settings are separate.
Understand the limits and consequences
Cached preview, work area, output mapping, muted layers, unsupported media, and hardware routing are different failure layers and should be tested separately.
Escalate with the audio path isolated
If known-good audio is silent in every project, record the After Effects version, operating system, selected Audio Hardware device, and Audio Output Mapping. If only one file fails, preserve it and check its current format support before transcoding a copy.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If known-good audio also fails, record After Effects version and Audio Hardware settings, then follow Adobe support before resetting preferences or transcoding originals.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Platform not recorded.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.