After Effects target version

Downgrade your project to After Effects 2023

Turn a newer .aep into a file After Effects 2023 opens directly. The conversion runs in your browser, so the file never touches a server. Widely regarded as the stable line — downgrading here is often about avoiding newer experimental changes.

Target version
After Effects 2023
Adobe version number
23.0
Stability
Stable
Source versions that can come down
3 (AE 2024 and newer)
Where the file goes
Nowhere — it stays in your browser
Cost
Free

Which versions can be downgraded to AE 2023

Any AE project newer than 2023 can come down to it.

  • AE 2024
  • AE 2025
  • AE 2026

What changes after downgrading to AE 2023

Anything 2023 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. 1

    Open the After Effects downgrader and drop in your .aep.

  2. 2

    Pick “AE 2023” as the target version.

  3. 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 2023?
Yes. 2023 is one of 9 target versions available here.
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 23.0. If it is lower, the target you picked is newer than your install.
Other target versions

After Effects downgrader