How to Allow Network Access in After Effects

This guide explains script security preferences in Adobe After Effects and provides direct instructions on how to permit network access and file writing for your scripts and extensions. By default, After Effects restricts automated scripts from interacting with your local drive and the internet to protect your system from malicious code. However, many legitimate third-party workflow tools, asset managers, and licensing engines require these permissions to operate correctly.

What Are Script Security Preferences?

Script security preferences in After Effects serve as a sandbox mechanism. Because After Effects scripts (written in ExtendScript or JavaScript) can execute powerful operating system commands, Adobe disables external read, write, and network privileges by default.

When restricted, scripts cannot:

  • Connect to external servers (such as verifying a product license or downloading online motion graphics assets).
  • Read or write files to your local hard drive (such as exporting logs, saving preference files, or importing external media).
  • Communicate with other software via local network sockets (such as bridging assets between Illustrator and After Effects).

How to Permit Network Access and File Writing

Enabling network and disk access is a global setting that applies to all scripts and extensions running in After Effects. Follow these steps to grant permission:

  1. Open Preferences:
    • Windows: Go to the top menu and select Edit > Preferences > Scripting & Expressions.
    • macOS: Go to the menu bar and select After Effects > Settings (or Preferences in older versions) > Scripting & Expressions.
  2. Enable Script Permissions:
    • In the preferences window, locate the Application Scripting section.
    • Check the box labeled Allow Scripts to Write Files and Access Network.
  3. Save Changes:
    • Click OK at the bottom of the window to apply the change immediately. You do not need to restart After Effects for the setting to take effect.

Security Best Practices

Because this setting grants elevated privileges to any script executed within the application, only install and run scripts, plugins, and extensions from verified developers and trusted marketplaces. If you frequently test unverified scripts, consider disabling this setting when experimenting with unfamiliar code.