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Out of memory / Unable to allocate memory

The error

Repeated "Out of memory" / "Unable to allocate memory" pop-ups during RAM preview or render; memory fills until AE crashes.

Why this happens

Too little RAM reserved for other apps, a memory-leaking effect, or background apps eating RAM. (The "RAM reserved for other applications" setting is shared across all open Adobe apps.)

How to fix it

1. Edit > Preferences > Memory & Performance: increase RAM reserved for other applications.
2. Edit > Purge > All Memory & Disk Cache.
3. Close other Adobe apps and background programs; remove any single effect whose memory keeps growing.

Source: Compass research report · "Out of memory" · id 6

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