After Effects target version

Downgrade your project to After Effects 2018

Turn a newer .aep into a file After Effects 2018 opens directly. The conversion runs in your browser, so the file never touches a server. This is the **oldest** target we can reach. CS6 through CC 2017 are not supported yet, so if you need those, this page is the end of the line.

Open the After Effects downgrader All target versions

Target version: After Effects 2018
Adobe version number: 15.0
Stability: Experimental
Source versions that can come down: 8 (AE 2019 and newer)
Where the file goes: Nowhere — it stays in your browser
Cost: Free

Which versions can be downgraded to AE 2018

Any AE project newer than 2018 can come down to it. Note that 2018 is the oldest target available here — CS6 through CC 2017 are not supported yet.

AE 2019
AE 2020
AE 2021
AE 2022
AE 2023
AE 2024
AE 2025
AE 2026

What changes after downgrading to AE 2018

Anything 2018 cannot read is cleared out, which is what lets it open the project. That is the nature of downgrading, not a conversion error. Layers, effects and expressions are kept wherever possible.

1
Open the After Effects downgrader and drop in your .aep.
2
Pick “AE 2018” as the target version.
3
Download the converted file from the browser; your original project stays as it is.

Questions about this page

Can I downgrade a project from the newest AE to 2018?

Yes. 2018 is one of 9 target versions available here. It is also the oldest one we can reach.

Is my project uploaded during conversion?

No. After Effects conversion runs entirely inside your browser. The file is never sent to a server, and your original project is never modified.

The result will not open — how do I check?

Confirm the AE you have installed is at least version 15.0. If it is lower, the target you picked is newer than your install.

Other target versions

After Effects downgrader

AE 2019 AE 2020 AE 2021 AE 2022 AE 2023 AE 2024 AE 2025 AE 2026