How to Group Layers in After Effects (3 Easy Steps)

Working with a messy timeline in After Effects? It happens fast when you’re juggling dozens of layers. Grouping them can make your workspace much easier to manage.

After Effects doesn’t have a “group” feature like Photoshop, but you can get the same result by precomposing layers. Here’s how to do it.

1. Select the Layers You Want to Group

1. Click on the first layer you want to group.
2. Hold Shift and click another layer to select a range.
3. Or hold Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) and click individual layers if they’re not next to each other.
4. Make sure all the layers you want grouped are selected before moving on.

2. Precompose the Selected Layers

1. With your layers selected, go to the top menu and choose Layer > Pre-compose.
2. Or use the shortcut:
   Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows)
   Cmd+Shift+C (Mac)

In the dialog box that appears:

1. Give your new composition a name.
2. Select “Move all attributes into the new composition.”
3. Click OK.

Now those layers are grouped into one precomp layer on your timeline.

3. Edit Inside the Precomp if Needed

1. Double-click on the precomp layer in your timeline.
2. This opens a new tab where all your original layers still exist.
3. You can edit them individually inside this nested comp without affecting other parts of your main timeline.

Why Use Precomps Instead of Layer Groups?

After Effects is built around compositions, not layer folders like Photoshop. Precomposing gives you:

• A cleaner, more organized timeline
• The ability to apply effects or transformations across multiple layers at once
• A way to reuse animations across different comps
• Better control over complex animations

It’s not just about staying organized—it also helps with building more flexible projects.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I group layers in After Effects?

Yes, but not with folders or groups like in Photoshop. In After Effects, grouping is done by precomposing selected layers using Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+C (Mac). This creates a single nested comp that acts like a grouped layer.

How to combine layers in After Effects?

To combine multiple layers:

1. Select them in the timeline
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+C (Mac)
3. Choose “Move all attributes into the new composition”
   This creates one precomp that contains all selected layers.

How to group and ungroup in After Effects?

To group:

1. Select multiple layers
2. Use Ctrl+Shift+C (Windows) or Cmd+Shift+C (Mac)
   To ungroup:
3. Double-click the precomp
4. Copy individual layers back into your main comp if needed

How do I group layers in Adobe?

In Adobe After Effects, use precomposition instead of traditional grouping:

1. Select desired layers
2. Go to Layer > Pre-compose
   This nests them into one composition for easier editing and organization.