FIXED! After Effects Error: File is Damaged (33:7) on Windows

After Effects is one of the most popular video editing software used by editors across the globe, the application offers a variety of effects for creating motion posters, videos, and graphics. Those aware of the Adobe ecosystem find it relatively convenient to work with the application as it is reliable. However, just like any other software, there is a chance of hiccups in the After Effects as well. The File is Damaged error when trying to save or export is one of those hiccups that troubles several users.  

Unfortunately, If you have encountered a file-damaged error on your PC while using After Effects(AE), you know exactly how irritating it is to get stuck in the middle of your editing process. The error can be a huge setback, especially when you have a deadline to meet. 

While the situations appear extremely difficult to deal with, there are a few ways you can fix the File Damage Error (33:7) . In this post, let’s take a look at what exactly causes the error and how to get rid of it. We will also try to cover similar errors on After Effects so look for them!

What Does It Mean if a File Is Damaged

When AE says a file is damaged, it means the software can’t read or process the file properly. It generally happens when you have a problematic file in use. The engine of After Effects is designed in such a way that even a single error in a file playback or processing stops the entire process completely. Hence the file is damaged and error is one of the most troublesome for any user. 

The error usually occurs due to either of the following reasons:

1. File Corruption

Files can become corrupted during a sudden power loss, interrupted transfers, or when stored on faulty devices.

2. Unsupported File Formats

It supports specific formats, attempting to load incompatible files or ones with mislabeled extensions can trigger this error.

3. Incomplete Downloads

A file downloaded halfway due to poor connectivity or interruptions won’t function correctly.

4. Outdated Software or Plugins

Older versions of After Effects might struggle to process newer file formats or effects introduced by plugins.

5. System Resource Limitations

If your computer lacks sufficient RAM, disk space, or processing power, it might fail to handle complex files or render tasks.

6. Malware or Viruses

Malicious software can damage files on your system, making them unreadable by After Effects.

7. Storage Issues

– Files stored on external drives with poor connections can become damaged during access.
– Using unverified cloud storage services can lead to partial uploads or downloads, causing errors.

Either way, when the error appears, you are practically stuck. You cannot make any changes unless the file error is resolved. One of the most interesting things about this error is that it can appear even after the file has once opened successfully on your computer. That means it is possible that you edited a project yesterday and today when you open it again, the error file is corrupt. 

On researching more about the error, we identified that the error is not restricted to the first contact of an incompatible file and can appear at different stages of your editing process. Some of the instances when the file is damaged error in After Effects appears include – 

1. Importing Media Files – This happens when After Effects detects issues with a file being added to your project. For instance, importing a corrupt .MP4 file might trigger this error.
2. Opening Project Files – If your .aep file becomes corrupted, either during a save or transfer, AE might refuse to open it.
3. Rendering or Exporting Projects – While rendering, AE may encounter problematic assets, leading to file corruption or failure.
4. Auto-Save Issues – If your project is auto-saved during a system crash, the saved file might get damaged.

Knowing what causes the error and when it appears can help you identify the core reason behind it, which in turn helps you eliminate the error. In case you were unaware of why your PC kept prompting files to be damaged, these factors might have brought you a bit of clarity. 

What to Do When After Effects Showing Damaged File Error (33:7)

Now that you are aware of all the factors causing the error, let’s take a look at some of the actionable solutions that can help you resolve this issue:

1. Replace the File

In case the file you are trying to run has become corrupted or is genuinely damaged, replacing it again with a fresh file can be a good solution. You can easily remove the file from the project and replace it with another one or use the previous file again just to ensure that the file in the project is not damaged anymore. 

Step 1: Locate the problematic file in the Project Panel.

Step 2: Right-click and choose Replace Footage > File.
Step 3: Select a fresh version of the file and ensure it’s in a compatible format (e.g., .MOV or .MP4).

2. Recover the Project File

If you feel that the file that is showing an error was working properly earlier and has gone corrupt just recently, you can use the auto-save folder to recover the previous version of the file. This can also be done when you have accidentally applied a plug-in that resulted in corrupting the file.

Step 1: Navigate to the Auto-Save folder and open the latest backup.

Step 2: Create a new project and import the damaged .aep file to recover usable parts.
Step 3: Change the .aep file extension to .zip, extract its contents, and look for recoverable assets.

3. Use Third-Party Recovery Tools

In case you are unable to find the damaged file in your Auto-save folder, you can use third-party recovery applications. These can be of great help as you can practically recover a file in its best health, allowing you to skip the damaged file error when you use it again.

For this process, we are using Advanced Disk Recovery, one of the most accurate data recovery software available today. 

Step 1 – Download and install the Advanced Disk Recovery Software.

Step 2 – Select the location you want to recover from your computer.

Step 3 – Run a quick scan and wait for it to find the files that are available for recovery.

Step 4—Check the list of available files and select the file you want. Remember that this will be an older version of the file that can be recovered and is not corrupt or damaged.
Step 5 – Use the recover option to finish the process. 

For further implementation of the steps, check out the video below!

4. Test on Another Device

Sometimes, the issue might be specific to your machine’s configuration. Transfer the file to a different system with a more powerful setup or updated After Effects version to see if the issue persists. 

5. Clear After Effects Cache

Overloaded cache files can sometimes prevent After Effects from processing your files correctly.

Step 1: Navigate to **Edit > Preferences > Media & Disk Cache.

Step 2: Clear the cache and restart After Effects.

Other than these fixes, you can also run a dependency check to identify the error. Not to forget, if there are plug-ins that are causing the issue, you can try toggling off all of them before using the file to check where the issue lies.

Tips to Prevent the “File is Damaged” Error

This error might seem daunting at first, but with the solutions provided in this guide, you can address and even prevent it. By staying vigilant and adopting good practices, you’ll ensure a smoother, error-free experience with After Effects. Some preventive measures that you can take so that the error does not appear again are as follows –

• Keep After Effects Update
• Backup Regularly
• Use Stable Connections
• Scan for Malware
• Verify Formats
• Enable Auto-Save
• Invest in Reliable Hardware

Keep in mind that errors like the file is damaged, error chunk in the file too big, after effects unable to import file, bad format or not readable, missing data in file 33:4,  moov file damaged unsupported, etc. are all common, hence you should not panic and try to fix them instead.

Remember, troubleshooting is part of the creative process, and each fix adds to your expertise as an editor. With that being said, we have reached the end of this post. Hope this helps you out. Thanks for reading, good luck!

Read Also: How Do You Fix Common After Effects Crashes