Other possible causes include insufficient RAM allocation, complex compositions, a small disk cache size, or running multiple applications simultaneously. Fortunately, we’ve put together a list of solutions to help you fix this error and get back to work smoothly.
1. Expand the Work Area
If the work area is set to a single frame or a very short duration, After Effects won’t have enough frames to generate a preview. Expanding the work area ensures that After Effects has enough frames to cache and render for proper playback.
2. Reset After Effects Preferences
When After Effects’ settings are changed or conflict with other system elements, it can cause unexpected behavior. Resetting the preferences restores After Effects to its default state, potentially resolving issues related to corrupted configurations or misbehaving settings.
3. Remove Puppet Tool (if applicable)
The Puppet Tool is a powerful feature for animating characters and objects, but it can be very resource-intensive, especially when applied to high-resolution or vector layers. If you’re encountering issues while using the Puppet Tool in your project, it could be the source of the problem. Removing the Puppet Tool can reduce the strain on your system, which may help resolve the cached preview error.
4. Clear the Cache of After Effects
After Effects stores cached data to improve loading times and performance. However, if this cached data is left for too long, it can become corrupted or outdated, leading to errors. Clearing the cache frees up memory and ensures that After Effects can process frames properly.
