How to Stabilize Video in After Effects (3 Simple Steps)

Got some shaky footage that’s throwing off your edit? No need to reshoot or invest in fancy gear. After Effects has a built-in tool called Warp Stabilizer that can clean up most handheld shots with just a few clicks.

Here’s how to do it in three easy steps.

1. Apply the Warp Stabilizer effect

1. Select your clip in the timeline
2. Go to the top menu and click Effect > Distort > Warp Stabilizer

After Effects will immediately start analyzing your footage once the effect is applied.

2. Let it analyze and stabilize

1. Wait while After Effects processes the clip (you’ll see a blue “Analyzing” bar)
2. Once it finishes, hit spacebar to preview
3. Most of the time, the default settings already give you a much smoother result

If it looks good, you’re basically done.

3. (Optional) Adjust settings if needed

If something feels off or too floaty, try tweaking these:

1. Change Result from Smooth Motion to No Motion for a locked-off look
2. Lower Smoothness (try around 10–20%) if things feel unnatural
3. Switch Method between Subspace Warp, Position, or Position, Scale & Rotation depending on how shaky your original footage was

You don’t need to adjust anything unless something looks weird, most clips work fine with the default settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a way to stabilize video in After Effects?

Yes! Just use Warp Stabilizer. Drag it onto your clip from the Effects panel, let it analyze automatically, and that’s it. It smooths out camera shake without needing extra plugins or tools.

How do I stabilize a video after filming?

You can fix shaky footage by using software like After Effects:

1. Import your clip
2. Apply Warp Stabilizer
3. Let it analyze
4. Preview and export

No need for reshoots or extra gear.

How to make video smooth in After Effects?

To smooth out video:

1. Import your footage
2. Add Warp Stabilizer from Effects & Presets
3. Wait for analysis
4. Adjust Smoothness if needed

It works great for handheld shots or bumpy movement.

How to correct a shaky video?

Use these steps in After Effects:

1. Drop your clip into a composition
2. Apply Warp Stabilizer
3. Let it analyze automatically
4. Preview and export

It’s one of the fastest ways to fix camera shake without re-recording anything.