How to Enable Keyframes in Adobe After Effects

Keyframing is the fundamental method used to create motion and drive changes over time in Adobe After Effects. This guide explains how to enable keyframe animation on any layer property—such as Position, Scale, Rotation, or Opacity—by activating the stopwatch icon, setting initial values, and adding subsequent keyframes across the timeline to produce smooth transitions.

Step 1: Reveal the Layer Property

Open your composition and locate the layer you want to animate in the Timeline panel. Click the arrow icon to the left of the layer name to expand its properties, or use dedicated keyboard shortcuts on the selected layer:

  • P for Position
  • S for Scale
  • R for Rotation
  • T for Opacity
  • A for Anchor Point

Step 2: Position the Current Time Indicator (CTI)

Drag the blue playhead (Current Time Indicator) along the timeline ruler to the exact frame where you want your animation to start.

Step 3: Activate the Stopwatch

Click the Stopwatch icon located directly to the left of the property name.

Clicking the stopwatch turns it blue and automatically creates your first keyframe at the current position of the playhead. In the timeline, this keyframe appears as a small blue diamond.

Step 4: Move the Playhead and Adjust Values

To create motion or change, advance the CTI further down the timeline to where the animation should finish or transition.

Change the numerical value of the property by scrubbing the numbers, typing a new value, or manipulating the layer directly in the Composition viewer. After Effects will automatically generate a new keyframe at this new time point.

When you play back the timeline (press the Spacebar), After Effects interpolates the values between the two keyframes, creating an animated transition.

Important Keyframing Controls

  • Do Not Toggle the Stopwatch Off: Clicking the stopwatch a second time disables keyframing for that property and permanently deletes all existing keyframes on that layer.
  • Manual Keyframe Button: To add a keyframe at the CTI without changing the property's value, click the diamond-shaped Add/Remove Keyframe button located to the left of the property name in the timeline header.
  • Navigating Keyframes: Press J to jump the playhead to the previous keyframe, or press K to jump to the next keyframe.