Satvrn

Maxon Troubleshooting Guide ​

Please pay attention while reading this guide and it's descriptions!
This guide goes over a couple different issues, find the one that applies to you.

You installed the plugins but it wont show in After Effects: ​

If you are using After Effects 2023 or a version prior (2022,2021,2020..), Red Giant and Universe will not install correctly. This has been an "issue" since their 2024 releases. While they are compatible and fully functional once installed, you'll have to force them to install with a few extra steps following one of the methods below.

Windows - Automatic Method ​

  1. Open PowerShell and copy paste this: Get-ChildItem -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects"

  2. Under "Name", you will see your version.

Version

Change "XX.X" in the next step to this number. ​

  1. Open PowerShell as Administrator and paste this in: Copy-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects\XX.X" -Destination "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects\28.0" -Recurse

Remember to change XX.X to your own After Effects version, else this will not work!

  1. Now run the plugin installers (Red Giant & Universe).
    Once done, check if all installed in After Effects, then run: Remove-Item -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects\28.0" -Recurse
  2. Close After Effects & run the patch (service unlocker).

Windows - Manual Method ​

  1. Download and install After Effects 2024 or 2025.
  2. Run Red Giant installer and Universe installers.
  3. Patch the plugins through the Service Unlocker.
  4. Open your main After Effects version and verify that it works.
  5. You can now delete After Effects 2024/2025 if you wish.

MacOS - Automatic Method ​

  1. Download maxoninstallerfix: https://pixeldrain.com/u/YLwyGEPK
  2. Mount your installers (double click the .dmg files Red Giant and Universe)

Note: Do not install the plugins, ONLY mount them.

  1. Open Terminal
  2. Type sudo sh (space after sh), then drag and drop the maxoninstallerfix.sh file into Terminal and press enter.

MacOS - Manual Method ​

  1. Download and install After Effects 2024 or 2025.
  2. Run Red Giant installer and Universe installers.
  3. Patch the plugins through RLM_MaxonApp2025.sh
  4. Open your main After Effects version and verify that it works.
  5. You can now delete After Effects 2024/2025 if you wish.

Your plugins are unlicensed: ​

Unlicensed

Your plugins will be unlicensed if it shows a grey box on screen when effect is applied.

Open Maxon App and look in the top right corner — are you logged in (do you see your email?).

If you are logged in, log out and stay in RLM mode, then run patcher again. RLM mode = logged out.

Check Maxon App version in bottom left corner.

  • Mac: Your Maxon App should be 2025.5
  • Windows: Your Maxon App should be 2026.0

Mac: Show your terminal output. What does it say when patching? Did it give any errors?

If it still shows as unlicensed despite being patched correctly (It would shows a green circle in maxon app, with the words "license found") next to the product, try clearing your cache.

Only some effects are unlicensed: ​

This typically happens with Trapcode plugins, such as Particular. When After Effects is installed on drive that isn't your main, the patcher isn't able to locate the files correctly to patch them. Create a support post in our discord and one of our staff should be able to supply you with patched copies which you can manually replace, latest version.

Service Unavailable / Security Alert: ​

Maxon App

Completely uninstall maxon using the cleaners below

Windows: https://pixeldrain.com/u/sRTL2X7a

Mac: https://pixeldrain.com/u/FHk7XHzu

Run the Maxon App installer and patch again.

Is your antivirus quarantining "Red Giant Service"? - If so, remove the quarantine.

You can check manually if you have Red Giant Service here:

Windows: C:\Program Files\Red Giant\Services

MacOS:~/Library/Application Support/Red Giant/Services/

*Thank you to Doug for providing the scripts.

If none of these solutions work for you and you are positive you did everything correctly, or if you simply prefer older versions of Red Giant, you can use the Serial Filler Method. Note that this is only a last resort and not recommended.