Installation

This guide walks you through installing the LottieFiles plugin for Adobe After Effects, opening it for the first time, and granting the script permissions it needs to run.

Before you start

• Adobe After Effects CC 2015 or later (requires AE host version 13.0+)

• A LottieFiles account — free; you'll sign in after installation to browse and import animations

• macOS or Windows — the plugin supports both platforms

Choose your installation method

The plugin is available from three places. Pick one — the result is the same.

Option A — Adobe Exchange (Creative Cloud Marketplace)

1. Open the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app.

2. Go to Marketplace and search for "LottieFiles for After Effects".

3. Click Install.

Creative Cloud installs the plugin for you. Skip ahead to Opening the plugin below.

Option B — LottieFiles website

1. Visit lottiefiles.com/plugins/after-effects.

2. Click Download.

3. You'll get a .zxp file. Install it using ZXP Installer (next section).

Option C — aescripts

1. Visit the LottieFiles plugin page on aescripts.com.

2. Download the .zip file and extract it. The folder contains a .zxp file.

3. Install the .zxp using ZXP Installer (next section).

Installing with ZXP Installer (Options B and C)

ZXP Installer is a free utility from aescripts that installs .zxp extensions into Adobe apps.

1. Download and install ZXP Installer if you don't have it yet.

2. Quit After Effects if it's running.

3. Open ZXP Installer and select Adobe After Effects from the application dropdown.

4. Drag your .zxp file into the ZXP Installer window.

5. Wait for the success confirmation. The plugin is now installed.

Opening the plugin in After Effects

1. Open After Effects.

2. Go to Window > Extensions > LottieFiles.

The LottieFiles panel opens, docked or floating depending on your workspace setup.

First-time setup — Allow scripts to write files

The first time you open the plugin, you may see a prompt about script permissions. Resolve it once and the plugin works from then on.

1. In After Effects, go to Edit > Preferences > Scripts & Expressions (macOS: After Effects > Settings > Scripts & Expressions).

2. Check Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network.

3. Click OK.

4. Return to the LottieFiles panel and click Reload.

Verifying the result

You should see the LottieFiles panel inside After Effects, showing either a sign-in screen or your workspace if you're already signed in. From here you can browse animations, import them into compositions, and export your After Effects work as Lottie.

Troubleshooting

• Plugin doesn't appear under Window > Extensions — Confirm After Effects was fully closed before installing the .zxp. Reinstall via ZXP Installer if needed.

• "Allow Scripts" checkbox is greyed out — Quit After Effects and reopen it. On Windows, opening After Effects as Administrator the first time can resolve this.

• Plugin loads but shows a blank screen — Check your internet connection. The plugin needs network access to load the LottieFiles workspace.