Troubleshooting and FAQ · Editing and playback problems

Editing and playback problems

Fixes for selection, keyboard focus, drafts, previews, components and comments that don't behave as expected.

Most editing surprises come from three things: which part of the window has the keyboard, a preview that's on, or a component that's open. This page collects the common cases.

Selection and keyboard

If this happens	Try this
Shortcuts do nothing	Click into the stage or timeline first. In text fields, the standard text shortcuts apply.
`⌘↑` / `⌘↓` move the text cursor	A text field has focus. Click the stage, or use Stage → Open Component / Back to Parent.
Arrow keys step frames instead of nudging	Nothing is selected, or keyframes in the timeline have the keyboard. Select the layer on the stage.
`⌥⌘C` doesn't start comment mode	Open an animation first: comment mode needs something on the stage.
A click selects the group	Click again to go inside, or `⌘`-click.

Drafts and versions

If this happens	Try this
My edits disappeared after an AI answer	They were set aside. Click Restore in the pill at the top within 10 seconds.
The AI built on an old version	You were looking at it. Click Use v5 in the chat to go back to the latest first.
Undo does nothing	Undo works on the draft. After Apply, one more `⌘Z` removes the applied version.

Previews

If this happens	Try this
Tuning disappeared when I edited	It was baked into your draft (one undo step, Apply Tuning).
Reduced Motion switched itself off	Editing ends the preview so your edit lands on the real animation.
A layer is invisible on the stage but exported	It's hidden in the preview (the eye on its lane). Click the eye again.

Components

If this happens	Try this
Double-clicking an instance goes to another level	That component is already open further up the path; a component can't open inside itself.
Music can't be added	You're inside a component. Press Done first.
The open component closed by itself	An undo or delete removed it; EaseKit shows the nearest level that still exists.
A variant switch cuts instead of tweening	Its transition is Instant. Pick another under Transition in the instance's Variants section, or in the variant set's menu.

Shapes, corners and Auto Layout

If this happens	Try this
Drawing a rectangle left vector mode	Each drawn shape becomes a layer of its own. Hold `⌥` while drawing to add it to the path you're editing.
No Corners row or radius dots	They're for rectangle layers. A rectangle you draw becomes one; ellipses, stars, stroked or edited shapes stay vector paths (round them with Round Corners in Edit Points). The dots also hide while playing and on tiny rectangles.
A child in a layout snaps back after dragging	The layout places it. Turn on Absolute position, or offset it with `x` / `y` keys. To reorder, use Bring Forward / Send Backward: the flow follows the layer order.
Siblings don't follow when a child scales	Scale and rotation don't reflow. Animate `width` or `height`, a text morph, or a fade with Collapse when hidden.

Interactions

If this happens	Try this
A drag trigger's layer doesn't move	The trigger targets Scene. Set its target to the layer to drag.
Scrolling over the stage doesn't scrub	Only in the interactive preview, with the pointer over the stage, and only when the scene has a Scroll progress trigger.
A recorded color didn't stick	Gradients aren't state colors; only solid fills, strokes and text colors are recorded.

Playback

If this happens	Try this
The preview doesn't repeat	Turn on Repeat non-looping animations in Settings → Appearance.
Video stutters while scrubbing	The stage seeks tolerantly while scrubbing and exactly at rest; renders use exact frames.
Record Screen… says EaseKit isn't allowed	Turn on EaseKit in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording (the alert's Open System Settings goes there), then record again.
Comments don't show on the stage	They show near their moment. Turn on View → Show Comments.