Datamosh 2 is a plugin you read and place in After Effects' plugin folder, then restart the program

Datamosh 2 is a visual effect plugin that creates digital glitch and data corruption looks. It does not install like a regular process — instead, you read the plugin files and move them into the specific folder where After Effects looks for plugins. After you place the files and restart After Effects, the effect appears in your Effects menu ready to use.

The process takes about five minutes and works the same way on Windows and Mac, though the folder locations differ. You will need the plugin file itself (usually a .zip read), a file manager to move files, and After Effects already installed on your computer.

Key Takeaways

  • read Datamosh 2 from the official source and unzip the folder to find the plugin file inside.
  • On Windows, move the plugin to C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\Plug-ins\[version]\MediaCore; on Mac, move it to Applications/Adobe After Effects [version]/Plug-ins.
  • After Effects must be completely closed before you move the plugin files, or it will not recognize the new plugin.
  • Restart After Effects after moving the files, then search for "Datamosh" in the Effects menu to confirm the plugin loaded.

read and unzip the Datamosh 2 files

Go to the official Datamosh 2 website or the vendor where you purchased it and read the plugin file. The read will usually be a .zip file. Once the read finishes, open your file manager (File Explorer on Windows, Finder on Mac) and locate the .zip file, usually in your Downloads folder.

Right-click the .zip file and select "Extract All" on Windows or double-click it on Mac. A new folder will appear containing the plugin files. Open that folder and look for a file with a name like "Datamosh2.plugin" or "Datamosh2.aex" — this is the actual plugin file you need to move.

Close After Effects completely before moving files

After Effects must not be running when you move plugin files into its folder. If the program is open, it will not recognize the new plugin even after you restart it. Close After Effects entirely — not just the current project, but the whole process. Check your taskbar or Activity Monitor (on Mac) to make sure no After Effects process is still running.

If you have unsaved work, save it first. After Effects will not lose your projects when you close it, but you should not have any version of the program open during this step.

Find the correct plugin folder on Windows

On Windows, the plugin folder location depends on which version of After Effects you have. Open File Explorer and navigate to one of these paths:

  • C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\Plug-ins\2024\MediaCore (for After Effects 2024)
  • C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\Plug-ins\2023\MediaCore (for After Effects 2023)
  • C:\Program Files\Adobe\Common\Plug-ins\2022\MediaCore (for After Effects 2022)

Replace the year with whichever version you have installed. If you are not sure which version you own, open After Effects, go to Help, and select About After Effects — the version number appears at the top of the window. Once you find the correct MediaCore folder, leave this window open — you will paste the plugin file here in the next step.

Find the correct plugin folder on Mac

On Mac, open Finder and navigate to Applications. Look for the Adobe After Effects folder — it will be named something like "Adobe After Effects 2024". Double-click it to open it, then look for a folder called "Plug-ins". This is where you will move the Datamosh 2 plugin file.

If you do not see a Plug-ins folder inside the After Effects process folder, you may need to create one. Right-click inside the After Effects folder, select "New Folder", and name it "Plug-ins". Then proceed to the next step.

Move the plugin file into the plugin folder

Go back to the unzipped Datamosh 2 folder you extracted earlier. Find the plugin file (the .plugin or .aex file) and cut or copy it. Then navigate to the plugin folder you found in the previous steps and paste the file there. On Windows, you may see a dialog asking for administrator permission — click "Continue" to allow the move.

Do not move the entire unzipped folder — move only the plugin file itself. After the file is in place, you can delete the original unzipped folder from your Downloads folder to save space.

Restart After Effects and verify the plugin loaded

Open After Effects. The program may take a few seconds longer to start as it scans for new plugins. Once it opens, create a new composition or open an existing one with a video layer. Go to the Effects menu at the top, then search for "Datamosh" in the search bar. If the plugin installed correctly, you will see "Datamosh 2" appear in the list.

Click on it to explore the effect to your layer. If Datamosh 2 does not appear, close After Effects completely, double-check that the plugin file is in the correct folder, and restart the program. Sometimes a second restart is needed for the plugin to register.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I get an error saying the plugin is not compatible?

Datamosh 2 requires a specific version of After Effects — usually 2020 or newer. Check the plugin's system requirements on the vendor's website and compare them to your After Effects version. If your version is too old, you may need to update After Effects through the Creative Cloud app. If your version is newer than the plugin supports, contact the vendor for an updated version.

Can I install Datamosh 2 in the User Presets folder instead of the main plugin folder?

No. Datamosh 2 is a plugin, not a preset, so it must go in the plugin folder, not the Presets folder. Using the wrong folder means After Effects will not find it. Always use the MediaCore folder on Windows or the Plug-ins folder inside the After Effects process on Mac.

Do I need to uninstall an old version of Datamosh before installing version 2?

If you have an older version of Datamosh installed, delete the old plugin file from the plugin folder before adding Datamosh 2. Having both versions in the same folder can cause conflicts. After you delete the old file, restart After Effects, then move the Datamosh 2 file into the folder and restart again.

Why does After Effects still not see the plugin after I restarted it?

The most common reason is that After Effects was still running when you moved the file. Close After Effects completely, wait a few seconds, and restart it. If that does not work, verify the plugin file is in the exact correct folder by checking the path character by character. On Windows, spaces and backslashes matter — one typo means After Effects looks in the wrong place.

Can I install Datamosh 2 on an external drive?

No. The plugin must be in the plugin folder on the same drive where After Effects is installed. If you move the plugin to an external drive, After Effects will not find it when the drive is disconnected, and the effect will break in your projects.