Replace Image or Composition on Timeline in After Effects (Retain All Animation)

Learn how to replace an item on the After Effects Timeline while keeping all of the keyframes. Details below...

1. Select the layer that is to be replaced on the Timeline.

2. Hold down the Alt/Option key.

3. Grab the replacement item in the Project panel and drag it onto the layer to be replaced on the Timeline.

The above method works whether the items are layers or compositions.

Images by:
Zdeněk Macháček

[giuliodigiusto]

THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT AFTER EFFECTS TUTORIAL EVER!

[C_Creature]

Oh man, THANK YOU! What a time saver and didn't have to watch 15 minutes of intro before getting to it. Well done!

[alienenthusiast]

Short, sweet, and told me all I need to know - thank you!

[adamolsen]

Dude this is such a small but amazing video. Exactly what I was looking for, and you made this video so simple. It's taking me more time to write this comment then it took to figure out how to do this. 😂

[westfield]

Thank you. This was a lifesaver. Couldn't figure it out no matter what.

[kitty-fx]

Omg tysm man ! I was struggling how to replace files in my pre compose and finally your tutorial helped me out I'm so grateful ^_^

[phillipporter]

Everything about this video is perfect ❤

[_ekul]

THANK YOU! Now I can save so much time doing this instead of copying and pasting all the keyframes

[luizfelipemello]

So simple and yet, helps a lot... for those that are in the very beginning

[msFiBi]

Jesus!!!! Why haven't I known this before??? THANK YOU GOOD MAN!!! Perfect video!

[GreenthumbsGarden]

thanks mate! I remember it been something to do with ALT but couldn't remember :-)

[wikie]

man you are a life saver... thank you so much.

[MMmm]

thanks... u just saved me 12 hours of extra work 😅😅😅 subbing !

[TheKashiraderKashiraHanazumu]

I wish they taught me this. Thank you very much! Very good tutorial. Sweet and straight to the point.

[Kaldrin]

Short, perfectly what I needed, thank you.

[luna_ramirez]

I cannot believe it was that easy all this time...

[pewerwah]

boom! clear and concise. thank you, michael!

[AlienDude]

The video just ahead of this when you google this question is like 5 minutes long, god bless you

[zedsenjougahara]

Thank yoouuuu sooo much it saved me hours

[kramyshan]

This will save me a lot of time, bro. Thanks!