An AETX file is usually interpreted as an After Effects XML template so the project can be stored in readable form rather than binary, making the structure easier to inspect across pipelines, capturing comps, folders, layers, timings, and settings, and typically containing comp parameters like resolution, frame rate, duration, nested comps, plus layer types, transforms, in/out points, parenting, 2D/3D features, blending, mattes, masks, and ordered effect parameters.
An AETX file captures keyframed motion data including keyframes, interpolation, easing, paths, and expressions, plus text and shape-layer details like the actual text, styling settings (fonts, sizing, tracking, alignment, fill/stroke), text animators, and vector shapes with strokes, fills, trim paths, repeaters, and their keyframes, but it lacks embedded media, fonts, and plugins, instead referencing footage paths and requiring After Effects to relink items or report missing effects; to use it properly, you open/import it in AE, fix missing assets or fonts, replace placeholders, and save as AEP/AET, whereas viewing the XML in a text editor is mainly for inspection rather than a functional substitute for AE.
Where an AETX comes from often dictates what follows because it signals what should be included with it—fonts, media, plugins, licensing—and what issues might arise, especially if it was downloaded as part of a template bundle that normally ships with an Assets folder, a Preview folder, and a readme of required fonts/plugins, so opening the AETX alone results in missing-footage errors that are resolved by keeping the folder setup unchanged or relinking, with licensed items purposely excluded and requiring separate downloads or replacements.
If an AETX originates from a client or coworker, it’s typically a streamlined way for them to hand over the project structure without bundling large footage files, which often depends on Git or shared pipelines, making it crucial to confirm if they also sent a Collected package or an assets directory; without those, expect heavy relinking and plugin/version issues, particularly if the file was created in a newer AE version or inside a studio environment where the file paths won’t exist on your machine.
When you get an AETX from a random or unclear source, the origin shapes what you do next because despite being XML, it may request external files or rely on expressions/plugins you shouldn’t install without trust, so the safe routine is to open it in a clean AE setup, avoid unverified plugins, and expect missing assets until you confirm the needs, then use the source to guide action: marketplace templates need accompanying folders/readmes, client files need a collected package, and pipeline exports may require certain folder structures and AE versions.
