Select After Effects > Settings > Disk for macOS.
Last updated on
Jan 21, 2026
Learn about how Lossless Compressed Playback helps you preview longer timeline segments with minimal disk usage and no loss in visual quality.
Lossless Compressed Playback enables you to preview longer segments of your timeline while using significantly less disk space, without compromising visual quality. After Effects automatically compresses cached frames using a lossless format, preserving full image fidelity while optimizing disk usage.
This process runs seamlessly in the background. As you work, After Effects stores compressed frames on disk, enabling more frames to be cached within your disk limit and extending playback duration all without changing your workflow.
This feature is turned on by default, but you can change it if needed.
For Windows, select Edit > Preferences > Disk.
In the Disk Cache section, uncheck the Enable Compressed Frames (Lossless) option.
Select OK.
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