I used to think waiting hours for a render was just part of the After Effects grind. Hit render, grab a coffee, maybe even take a nap, and pray the progress bar doesn’t freeze at 99%.

Then I realized something: most of my render pain wasn’t “just how it is.” It was my setup, my project structure, my render settings, and even how my hardware was being used. Once I started tweaking things, renders that used to take an hour were done in 15 minutes.

If you’re staring at a slow render right now, you’re not alone. The good news? You don’t need a NASA-level PC to speed things up. With a few smart changes, some quick, some a little more advanced, you can make After Effects render faster without losing your mind (or your weekend).

Here are 15 actionable tips I’ve learned (and tested) to help you spend less time watching a progress bar and more time creating.

Tip #1: Enable Multi-Frame Rendering the Right Way

Multi-Frame Rendering (MFR) is one of those features Adobe shipped to make our lives easier, and it does. But only if you set it up right.

By default, After Effects will try to use all the CPU cores it can, rendering multiple frames at once instead of one at a time. That means faster renders, smoother previews, and fewer overnight sessions. But here’s the catch: not every effect plays nice with MFR.

Here’s what I recommend:

• Check the Effect Controls panel: Effects that don’t support MFR will show a little warning icon. If you’re stacking multiple unsupported effects, you won’t see much of a speed boost.

• Give AE enough RAM to work with: Go to Preferences → Memory & Performance and make sure you’re not starving your system. I usually reserve around 4–6GB for other apps, and let AE take the rest.

• Combine MFR with a clean project structure: The fewer nested compositions and chaotic pre-comps, the easier it is for After Effects to distribute rendering tasks across cores.

When it works as intended, you’ll feel the difference. I’ve seen a 1080p render that normally takes 20 minutes drop to under 10, just by letting MFR do its thing.

Tip #2: Identify Slow Layers with Render Time Viz

Here’s the truth: sometimes it’s not your whole project that’s slow, it’s one layer acting like a diva.

After Effects has a tool that most people ignore: Render Time Visualization. Think of it as a magnifying glass for your timeline. It shows you which layers are eating up the most processing time so you can actually do something about it.

Here’s how I handle it:

• Turn on Render Time Viz in the Composition → Preview menu.

• Scrub through your timeline and watch for spikes in render time.

• Once you’ve found the culprit, you’ve got a few options:

  • Pre-render that layer. Export it as a PNG sequence or ProRes clip, then drop it back into your comp.

  • Simplify complex assets. For example, convert Illustrator vector layers into high-resolution PNGs to save AE from recalculating paths every frame.

  • Disable unnecessary effects during previews. Things like motion blur or heavy glows can wait until the final render.

I once had a 30-second animation stuck at a two-hour render time. Turned out one shape layer with a complex expression was slowing everything down. Pre-rendered it, boom, down to 25 minutes.

If your renders are dragging and you’re not using this tool, you’re basically flying blind.

Tip #3: Optimize RAM and Disk Cache Smartly

Your RAM and disk cache are like After Effects’ personal assistants. Treat them right, and your renders fly. Treat them wrong, and… well, enjoy watching that spinning beach ball.

Here’s what actually works:

• Give AE enough RAM — but not all of it: Go to Preferences → Memory & Performance. If you’ve got 32GB of RAM, let AE use around 28GB and leave 4GB for your OS and background apps. Starving your system slows everything down.

• Move your disk cache to a fast SSD or NVMe drive: Don’t let your cache sit on the same slow drive as your OS. A dedicated SSD means faster reads and writes, especially with larger comps.

• Purge your cache regularly: Go to Edit → Purge → All Memory & Disk Cache. If AE starts feeling sluggish or previews aren’t updating properly, this usually fixes it.

• Allocate enough disk space: I like to keep at least 100GB free for the disk cache. If you’re dealing with 4K footage or multi-layer comps, even more is better.

I’ve seen render times drop by 30–40% just by moving the cache to a faster drive and clearing it out once a week. It’s a boring fix, but it’s free and it works.

Tip #4: Use Proxies for High-Res Footage

If you’re working with 4K, 6K, or RAW footage, here’s a secret: you don’t need to preview in full resolution every time. That’s just punishing your machine for no reason.

This is where proxies come in, lightweight, low-res versions of your footage that make previews and edits way smoother.

Here’s how I usually handle proxies:

• In the Project Panel, right-click your footage and choose Create Proxy → Movie.

• Use a lower resolution and a lighter codec, like ProRes Proxy or even H.264 for rough previews.

• Toggle proxies on for all heavy layers during editing. Switch back to full-res when it’s time for the final render.

I’ve done projects where previews dropped from 3 frames per second to a buttery 30 fps just by flipping proxies on. It doesn’t affect quality, it just keeps your machine from overheating while you’re refining your composition.

If you’ve been suffering through choppy previews or hour-long test renders, proxies are your new best friend.

Tip #5: Simplify Your Project Structure

Messy projects slow everything down. Layers everywhere, comps inside comps inside comps, it’s like asking After Effects to solve a maze every time it renders a frame.

Here’s how I keep things tidy (and fast):

• Name your layers clearly: “Shape Layer 37” means nothing three hours into a session. Rename it to “Logo Glow” or “BG Mask.”

• Limit nesting: Deep pre-comp hierarchies make AE work harder. If you don’t need that third level of nesting, collapse it.

• Delete unused layers and assets: Old solids, hidden layers, and test comps? They’re just dead weight in your project file.

• Use adjustment layers wisely: Global effects are great, but stacking five adjustment layers with glows and blurs will eat your render time alive.

Once, I cleaned up a 90-second animation that was lagging on every preview. Just removing unused assets and simplifying comps cut render time from 45 minutes to 18.

Think of your project like a clean kitchen. Everything in its place makes the work faster, and way less frustrating. While you're at it, brushing up on essential After Effects keyboard shortcuts can also help you speed through edits and adjustments.

Tip #6: Optimize Hardware for Your Workflow

Here’s the hard truth: sometimes, your hardware is the bottleneck. After Effects loves power, but not in the way most people think. It’s picky.

Here’s how to think about it:

• CPU: AE loves high clock speeds more than a huge number of cores. A fast 6–8 core CPU often outperforms a slower 16-core chip for most workflows.

• GPU: Great for GPU-accelerated effects, but don’t expect miracles. Unless you’re doing heavy 3D, your GPU won’t always be the main driver.

• RAM: 32GB is a comfortable baseline. If you’re handling big comps, 64GB or more will help.

• Drives: SSDs are good. NVMe drives are better. If your OS, footage, and disk cache are all on the same old hard drive… that’s your problem.

Here’s a quick example: I swapped my older i7 for a newer i9 and upgraded to an NVMe drive. Same project, same settings, render time dropped by almost 40%.

If you can’t upgrade everything, start with storage and RAM. They’re the cheapest fixes with the biggest payoff. If you’re thinking of upgrading, check out this breakdown of the best laptops and prebuilt PCs for After Effects—it’s a solid guide whether you’re after portability or raw power.

Tip #7: Pick the Right Codecs and Resolution

Not every project needs to be rendered at 4K with a lossless codec. Choosing the wrong settings can easily double, or triple, your render time without adding any real value.

Here’s how I decide what to use:

• H.264 – Perfect for drafts, quick previews, or client review links. It’s light, fast, and easy to share.

• ProRes – My go-to for final renders that need quality without insane file sizes. ProRes 422 is a solid balance for most projects.

• Image sequences (like PNG or EXR) – Best for projects that need heavy compositing later. They render slower, but if your system crashes, you can resume from the last frame instead of starting over.

• Resolution downscaling – If the final output is 1080p, don’t render at 4K “just in case.” It only eats up render time and storage.

Quick tip: I keep a preset list of export settings in Adobe Media Encoder. Saves time and avoids those “oops, wrong codec” moments on deadline days.

Tip #8: Leverage GPU Acceleration

Turning on GPU acceleration feels like flipping a magic switch. And yes, it can speed things up. But only if your project actually uses effects that the GPU can handle.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

• Check the effect list: Effects like Lumetri Color, Gaussian Blur, and 3D Camera Tracker benefit from GPU acceleration. But plenty of others? Still CPU-only. If you want to dig deeper, here’s a great guide on how to use GPU in After Effects to boost your performance the smart way.

• Use Mercury GPU Acceleration: Go to File → Project Settings → Video Rendering and Effects and make sure you’re using the Mercury GPU Acceleration option instead of software-only.

• Balance your workload: A strong GPU won’t help if your CPU is choking or your RAM is maxed out. Think of your system as a team, the slowest member sets the pace.

• Update your drivers: Outdated drivers can tank your performance or cause crashes mid-render.

I’ve seen performance jumps of 20–30% in some projects just by enabling GPU acceleration, but I’ve also seen almost no difference in comps full of CPU-heavy expressions. Know what your project actually needs, and you won’t be disappointed. Not all GPUs are created equal, and the best GPU for After Effects depends on your typical workload—this guide walks you through it.

Tip #9: Free Up System Resources During Renders

After Effects is greedy. It wants every ounce of your system’s resources, CPU, RAM, GPU, everything. And if you’ve got Chrome open with 27 tabs while rendering? Good luck.

Here’s what I do before I hit render:

• Close unnecessary apps: Browsers, music players, even Slack, shut them down. Every background app eats resources that AE could use.

• Close extra preview windows: Only keep the Composition or Layer panel open if you actually need it.

• Pause syncing services: Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud… they slow disk access, which slows AE. Pause them until the render finishes.

• Turn off Wi-Fi if you can: It sounds silly, but it keeps your machine focused on rendering instead of background network tasks.

I’ve shaved 10–15% off render times just by closing apps and freeing up RAM. Plus, fewer distractions mean you’re less tempted to mess with the project mid-render.

Tip #10: Keep After Effects Updated

I get it, updates can be annoying. But here’s the thing: Adobe actually sneaks in performance improvements and bug fixes with almost every update.

One time, I ignored an update for months. Then I finally installed it, and suddenly, Multi-Frame Rendering worked smoother, and a crash bug during H.264 exports disappeared overnight.

Here’s my rule:

• Check for updates monthly: Go to Creative Cloud → Updates.

• Read the release notes: Even minor tweaks can fix annoying slowdowns or stability issues.

• Don’t update mid-project: Always finish your current job first, just in case something changes in your workflow.

It’s the lowest-effort way to keep AE running faster and crashing less.

Tip #11: Choose Between AE Render Queue and Adobe Media Encoder Wisely

Not all renders are created equal, and neither are your export options.

Here’s the quick breakdown I use:

• Use the AE Render Queue: If you want the fastest, most stable render for a single project, stick with the built-in Render Queue. It’s more direct and usually faster because it’s not handing frames off to another app.

• Use Adobe Media Encoder (AME): If you need to keep working in After Effects while exporting, AME is the way to go. It lets you queue up multiple exports or create multiple versions of the same project, like a high-quality ProRes and a lightweight H.264, without babysitting.

• For heavy compositions: Sometimes AME adds overhead that slows things down. If you notice your renders are slower in AME, try switching back to the native AE queue.

For me, it’s about workflow balance: quick single renders? AE queue. Batch exports or background rendering? AME every time. If you're still figuring out your go-to toolset, this After Effects vs DaVinci Resolve breakdown can help clarify when each one shines.

Tip #12: Pre-Render Heavy Sections

Sometimes the best way to speed up your render is to stop making After Effects work so hard.

If you’ve got a comp that’s packed with effects, 3D layers, or expressions, pre-render it. Export that section as a high-quality ProRes or PNG sequence, then drop it back into your main timeline as a flat video layer.

Here’s why it works:

• AE doesn’t have to recalculate every single frame from scratch.

• You reduce the number of layers being processed at the same time.

• It lowers the chance of a crash during final renders.

I had a 45-second animation with tons of particles and glow effects that was taking almost two hours to render. After pre-rendering the particle comp, the final render dropped to under 40 minutes, no other tweaks needed.

Think of it as giving AE a head start. Less heavy lifting during the final export = more time saved.

Tip #13: Monitor Real-Time Performance

If your renders feel slow but you’re not sure why, it’s time to play detective.

After Effects gives you some tools to figure out what’s happening under the hood. Combine those with your system’s monitoring tools, and you’ll know exactly where the bottleneck is.

Here’s my go-to checklist:

• Task Manager (Windows) or Activity Monitor (Mac): Check CPU, RAM, and disk usage during renders. If your RAM is maxed, you’ve found the culprit.

• AE’s internal Performance Panel: Go to Window → Performance and see what’s eating your resources frame by frame.

• Temperature checks: Overheating can throttle performance. Apps like HWMonitor or iStat Menus can help keep tabs.

One time I thought my project was just “heavy,” but it turned out my disk cache drive was nearly full. Cleared it out, boom, render times dropped by 20%.

Don’t guess. Monitor, diagnose, and fix.

Tip #14: Speed Up Your Renders with Vagon Cloud Computer

Sometimes no amount of tweaking will save you. If your laptop is five years old and you’re trying to render a 4K comp full of particles, glows, and 3D layers, you’re fighting a losing battle.

This is where a cloud workstation like Vagon Cloud Computer changes the game. Vagon gives you instant access to high-powered GPUs, massive RAM, and storage that’s optimized for creative workloads, without spending thousands on new hardware.

Here’s when I switch to Vagon:

• Heavy particle simulations or complex 3D animations that crush local GPUs

• Multi-cam 4K or 8K projects where previews and renders need more horsepower

• Deadline pressure, where shaving hours off a render can save the day

The best part? You don’t have to overhaul your workflow. Fire up Vagon in your browser, load your project, and render like you’re on a top-tier studio machine, even if you’re on a basic laptop.

I’ve cut render times by up to 80% on client projects using Vagon. One animation that took eight hours locally rendered in just over an hour on a Pro-G2 tier machine.

Wondering what the cloud workflow looks like in real life? Here's a deep dive into using After Effects on a cloud computer, including tips for syncing files, setting up your projects, and getting the most out of virtual workstations. If you’re serious about speed and reliability, especially for demanding projects, Vagon Cloud Computer isn’t just an upgrade, it’s your safety net for every heavy render.

Need to stay mobile? With the right setup, you can even run After Effects on iPad using remote workflows, perfect for edits on the go.

Tip #15: Test, Tweak, and Benchmark Your Renders

If you’re not tracking your render times, you’re guessing. And in After Effects, guessing slows you down.

Here’s what I do:

• Run a baseline render: Before making changes, render a short section and time it.

• Tweak one thing at a time: Whether it’s switching codecs, enabling Multi-Frame Rendering, or moving your cache to an SSD, test the impact individually.

• Document your results: Keep a simple log, “4K ProRes, Multi-Frame ON, 16 min,” etc. Over time, you’ll know exactly which settings make the biggest difference for your workflow.

I’ve saved countless hours by building my own benchmarks. It’s also a great way to show clients or teammates why investing in better hardware, or jumping to Vagon Cloud Computer, is worth it. Data speaks louder than “it feels faster.”

If you want to stop guessing and start working smarter, testing and tweaking is the habit that keeps paying off.

Final Thoughts

After Effects will never be “instant,” but it doesn’t have to be painfully slow either. Most of the time, speed comes down to a mix of smart workflow habits, optimized settings, and knowing when your hardware just isn’t enough.

Start with the quick wins: clean up your comps, use proxies, and optimize your cache. Then move into the deeper fixes like tweaking Multi-Frame Rendering, monitoring performance, or upgrading your drives.

And when your machine just can’t keep up? Don’t waste time fighting it. That’s where Vagon Cloud Computer steps in, letting you tap into studio-grade power right from your browser, so you can focus on the creative, not the waiting.

The faster your renders, the more time you have to refine your work, take on extra projects, or, you know… actually sleep. And if After Effects is starting to feel like a bottleneck in your workflow, it might be worth exploring some alternatives to After Effects that better match your creative needs.

FAQs

1. Why is my After Effects render so slow?
   Rendering slows down for a mix of reasons, heavy effects, high-resolution comps, or inefficient project setups. Start by checking your project complexity. Are you using 4K assets when your delivery is just 1080p? Do you have too many nested pre-comps or layers? Make sure Multi-Frame Rendering is turned on, and that your disk cache is on a fast SSD or NVMe drive to prevent bottlenecks.

2. How much RAM do I really need for After Effects?
   The answer depends on your projects. Sixteen gigabytes is the bare minimum for light motion graphics work, but it will feel limiting. Thirty-two gigabytes is the sweet spot for most professional projects, giving you enough headroom for smooth previews and renders. For high-resolution footage, 3D-heavy scenes, or when multitasking with other apps like Premiere or Cinema 4D, sixty-four gigabytes or more is ideal. Remember, though, that RAM alone won’t solve every issue, a slow CPU or outdated storage can still slow you down.

3. Does upgrading my GPU always improve rendering times?
   Not necessarily. The GPU helps a lot with GPU-accelerated effects such as Lumetri Color, Gaussian Blur, or the 3D Camera Tracker. However, many effects remain CPU-bound, meaning they rely more on processor speed than on graphics performance. Always check your Project Settings and make sure Mercury GPU Acceleration is enabled, but keep your expectations realistic.

4. How do I know what’s slowing my render?
   The best way is to monitor your project. Use Render Time Visualization inside After Effects to see which layers and effects are eating the most processing time. Outside AE, keep Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac open during renders. If your RAM, CPU, or disk usage is maxed out, you’ve found your bottleneck.

5. Should I always use proxies?
   Not always, but if you’re working with high-resolution footage such as 4K, 6K, or RAW, proxies are a game-changer. They make previews and test renders much faster and smoother without compromising the quality of your final export. You can toggle proxies off when you’re ready for the final render.

6. What’s the difference between the AE Render Queue and Adobe Media Encoder?
   The built-in After Effects Render Queue is usually faster and more stable for single renders, especially when you want maximum reliability. Adobe Media Encoder, on the other hand, is perfect when you need to keep working in After Effects while exporting or when you want to queue multiple versions of the same project in different formats.

7. How often should I clear my disk cache?
   Clear it whenever After Effects starts feeling sluggish, previews start glitching, or your storage space runs low. For heavy projects, clearing the cache every few days helps maintain performance. For lighter workflows, doing it once a week or every couple of weeks is often enough.

8. How can I speed up renders without buying new hardware?
   Start by enabling Multi-Frame Rendering and using proxies where possible. Clean up and simplify your compositions, pre-render complex layers, and close unnecessary background apps. Move your disk cache to a faster drive and keep it clean. These workflow adjustments alone can cut render times significantly without spending a dime.

9. When is it time to upgrade my computer?
   If even simple renders are taking far too long, or you constantly hit RAM and CPU limits, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Start with smaller improvements like adding more RAM or upgrading to an NVMe drive for faster storage. For significant performance gains, upgrading your CPU is often the most effective move.

10. How does Vagon Cloud Computer fit into my workflow?
    Vagon Cloud Computer works like a remote, high-performance workstation accessible through your browser. It’s perfect for situations where your local setup simply can’t keep up, such as particle-heavy animations, 4K and 8K edits, or time-sensitive client projects. You can upload your project to Vagon, render with studio-grade hardware, and continue working on your local machine while the cloud takes care of the heavy lifting.