Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-30

How to Fix: Why does Adobe After Effects on macOS keep on crashing on startup?

Adobe After Effects crashes on macOS startup due to outdated graphics drivers or corrupted system files. Update graphics drivers and run a System Report to identify potential issues.

Quick Answer: Update graphics drivers, as outdated versions can cause crashes. Run a System Report to help Adobe support diagnose the issue.

Adobe After Effects on macOS has been plagued by a persistent startup crash issue, affecting users across various versions since 22.x and even in the latest Beta releases.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

  • Outdated graphics drivers: Adobe After Effects relies heavily on graphics capabilities, and outdated drivers can cause crashes.
  • Corrupted system files: Corrupted system files or registry entries can lead to instability issues.
  • Insufficient RAM or hardware resources: Insufficient RAM or hardware resources can cause the application to crash during startup or while in use.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Verified Fixes

Method 1: Updating Graphics Drivers

  1. Step 1: Open the Apple menu and select 'System Preferences,' then click on 'Software Update' to check for any available updates.
  2. Step 2: Go to the Apple website and download the latest graphics drivers for your Mac model.
  3. Step 3: Install the updated drivers by following the on-screen instructions.

Method 2: Running a System File Checker

  1. Step 1: Restart your Mac in Safe Mode by holding the Shift key while booting up.
  2. Step 2: Open a Terminal window and type 'fsck -fy' to run a system file checker.
  3. Step 3: If any issues are found, use the 'repair disk' option to fix them.

💡 Conclusion

By following these steps and ensuring your system is up-to-date, you can resolve the Adobe After Effects startup crash issue on macOS.

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