Select Layers by Label Color in After Effects

Color-coding layers in Adobe After Effects is an essential practice for keeping complex composition timelines organized and manageable. This guide provides a straightforward walkthrough on how to quickly select all layers sharing the same label color simultaneously, allowing you to move, edit, or adjust properties across multiple related assets in seconds.

Method 1: Click the Layer Label Swatch (Fastest)

  1. Open your composition and locate the Timeline panel.
  2. Find any layer that has the label color you want to select.
  3. Click directly on the small colored square (the label swatch) located to the far left of the layer's name or number.
  4. From the pop-up menu that appears, click Select Label Group.

After Effects will immediately highlight and select every layer in that composition that shares the exact same label color.

Method 2: Use the Application Menu

  1. In the Timeline panel, click on a layer that has the target label color.
  2. Go to the top application menu bar and click Edit.
  3. Scroll down and choose Select Label Group.

All layers assigned to that color group will now be selected.

Method 3: Set a Custom Keyboard Shortcut

By default, After Effects does not assign a single-key shortcut to this action, but you can create one for a faster workflow:

  1. Navigate to Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts (or press Ctrl + Alt + ' on Windows, Cmd + Option + ' on macOS).
  2. In the search bar of the shortcut editor, type Select Label Group.
  3. Click in the shortcut column next to the command and press your desired key combination.
  4. Click OK to save your changes.