FX Console is a free plugin from Video Copilot. It has been around for years and it is still one of the most useful free tools in After Effects. If you do not have it installed, stop reading and go get it first — it is at videocopilot.net and takes two minutes to install.
What FX Console Does
FX Console adds a small overlay UI to After Effects, triggered by a keyboard shortcut (default: Ctrl + Space on Windows, or customisable). You type the name of any effect, preset, or expression, and it appears instantly. Hit Enter to apply it to selected layers.
That is the whole feature. It sounds simple. The difference it makes is significant.
The Problem It Solves
The standard After Effects Effects & Presets panel requires you to either scroll through a long categorised list or type into the search field and wait. When you apply effects constantly — which is most motion design work — this adds up to a lot of small interruptions.
FX Console eliminates the panel entirely. You keep your eyes on the composition, hit the shortcut, type the first few letters of the effect, and apply. The workflow stays uninterrupted.
Practical Usage
Applying effects fast: Hit the shortcut → type "gau" → Gaussian Blur appears → Enter. Two seconds from thought to applied.
Applying effect presets: FX Console searches your installed presets too. If you have custom presets saved, they are searchable here.
Snapshots: FX Console includes a snapshot tool — take a screenshot of the current composition frame and compare it against the live view. Useful for before/after comparisons when you are colour grading or adjusting an effect.
Combining FX Console With Scripts
FX Console and After Effects scripts solve different problems. FX Console makes applying individual effects faster. Scripts like the Liquid Glass Script automate complex multi-layer setups that FX Console cannot do.
The combination is powerful: use FX Console for quick individual effects, use scripts for any process that requires building a system of multiple layers and expressions.
Other Free Plugins Worth Installing
While you are at it, here are the other free tools worth having:
Motion Bro — organises and previews motion presets. Free version has limitations but the preset browser alone is worth it.
Overlord (paid, but worth mentioning) — transfers shapes and paths between Illustrator and After Effects. If you do any work that starts in Illustrator, this is essential.
GifGun (paid) — exports GIFs directly from After Effects without the Photoshop roundtrip. Not free but saves significant time on any project requiring GIF output.
Duik Ángela — free rigging tool for character animation in After Effects. If you do any character work, this is the industry standard free option.
Installation Notes
FX Console installs as a standard AE plugin. Place the %%CODE0%% (Windows) or %%CODE1%% (Mac) file in the After Effects plugins folder and restart. The shortcut is configurable in the plugin settings — I set mine to Ctrl + E which does not conflict with anything I use regularly.
The plugin is stable across After Effects 2021 through 2025. Video Copilot updates it periodically.