# Importing from URL
Bring a Lottie animation from a URL directly into your After Effects composition — without needing to download and re-upload the file. Useful for teammate-shared links, public Lottie URLs, and dotLottie host links.

## How to access this

1. Open the LottieFiles plugin in After Effects.
2. Click **Import** in the top tab bar.
3. Copy a Lottie URL to your clipboard.
4. Paste anywhere inside the Import tab (the plugin's paste listener catches the paste).

## Supported URL formats

The paste listener accepts:

- **`lottie.host` URLs** — direct dotLottie host links shared from LottieFiles.
- **`lottiefiles.com` animation URLs** — public library or workspace shareable links.
- **Direct `.json` / `.lottie` URLs** — any publicly accessible Lottie file.

{/* [needs review] confirm full list of accepted URL patterns */}

## What happens after paste

1. The plugin detects the pasted URL and validates it's a Lottie source.
2. Fetches the file (this requires an internet connection).
3. Shows the animation in the preview area, same as a local file import.
4. You can then insert into your active composition.

<Image src="https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/bd8aecb0fc-640.webp" alt="Import tab after pasted Lottie data is loaded, with the preview player and Insert to AE action" caption="Pasted SVG or Lottie JSON follows the same preview flow as a local file" zoom variant="default" srcSet="https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/bd8aecb0fc-640.webp 640w, https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/bd8aecb0fc-1024.webp 1024w, https://assets.docs.lottiefiles.com/static/bd8aecb0fc-1920.webp 1920w" width="1920" height="1080" loading="lazy" data-blur="data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAgAAAAFCAYAAAB4ka1VAAAACXBIWXMAAAPoAAAD6AG1e1JrAAAAaUlEQVR4nGPwjUj5D8JGdq7/tcxs/+s7uP53SSr87xmTDhL/xwBToGnl9N/OxuO/urXTf4PS3v8uicVgcbgCPQuH/wmO4f+1zK3BfBiGK1AyNP8voa77X9HADLsCDW///8p+/mAaScE/AFeOTA1GGT3iAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC" />

## When paste isn't recognized

If you paste something that isn't a recognized Lottie URL, the listener ignores it — your clipboard content remains intact. You'll see no error; it's silently skipped.

To verify a URL is valid: open it in a browser first. If the URL serves a Lottie JSON or dotLottie file, the plugin will accept it.

## Sign-in considerations

Some workspace URLs (private animations) require you to be signed in to the same account that has access. Public URLs (lottie.host, public lottiefiles.com pages) work without sign-in.

If a paste fails to load and you're signed out, sign in via the top-right account area and try again.

## Tips for motion/product designers

- **Use `lottie.host` for handing files off** — those URLs are stable and don't require recipient sign-in.
- **Paste-from-URL doesn't copy the file locally.** The animation is fetched and imported; if the source URL goes down later, you have the imported layer but no live link back.
- **For client work, snapshot the source.** If you paste from a URL, also save the Lottie to your workspace (or download) so you have a copy independent of the original link.

## Troubleshooting

- **Paste doesn't trigger anything** — your clipboard content may not be a recognized Lottie URL. Check the URL opens a Lottie in a browser.
- **URL recognized but load fails** — connectivity issue or the source requires authentication you don't have. Try opening the URL in a browser to confirm.
- **Inserted animation looks different from the source** — the source may use Lottie features that don't preview the same way inside After Effects. Run the file through the [Feature checker](/en/integrations/after-effects/08_feature-checker) to see exactly what's in it.

## Related

- [Importing from file](/en/integrations/after-effects/03_import/importing-from-file) — for local files instead.
- [Workspace](/en/integrations/after-effects/10_workspace) — your saved animations, no URL paste needed.