How to Fix Runway Motion Brush Not Animating the Selected Area

Runway is widely used for using the Motion Brush to animate parts of a scene, but lately more users are reporting motion brush not animating the selected area. Rather than a sign of a deeper failure, this is typically something you can resolve slot yourself in a few minutes.

Because using the Motion Brush to animate parts of a scene depends on a stable connection between your device and Runway’s backend, small interruptions on either side can produce exactly this kind of symptom.

Possible Causes

• A weak or unstable internet connection can interrupt the process partway through, leading directly to motion brush not animating the selected area.
• A recent update to Runway can introduce a temporary bug that hasn’t been fully patched yet.
• Being logged into the wrong Runway account, or multiple accounts at once, can create unexpected conflicts.
• Using an unsupported file format or an unusually specific setting within Runway can trigger unexpected behavior.
• High server demand during busy hours can slow down or interrupt processing related to using the Motion Brush to animate parts of a scene.

Initial Troubleshooting Steps

1. Confirm your Runway account is in good standing and hasn’t hit a usage or credit limit.
2. Close other open tabs or apps that might be competing for the same resources Runway needs.
3. Double-check your internet connection by loading another site or app, since using the Motion Brush to animate parts of a scene depends on a steady connection.

Advanced Steps

1. Disable browser extensions one at a time to check whether one of them is interfering with Runway.
2. Check Runway’s official status page for any reported outages that might explain motion brush not animating the selected area.
3. Clear cached data and cookies specifically tied to Runway, then log back in with a fresh session.
4. Break a large or complex request into smaller pieces before running it through Runway again.
5. Test using the Motion Brush to animate parts of a scene again during a quieter time of day to see if server load is a factor.

Security and Data Warning

Only install updates or extensions for Runway through official app stores or the company’s own website, since unofficial versions are a common source of stolen data. Treat any unexpected request for your login details as a red flag, no matter how official it looks.

When to See a Technician

If none of these steps help and the issue is consistent rather than occasional, it’s worth filing a support ticket with Runway so their team can check for an account-specific cause.

Conclusion

While frustrating in the moment, motion brush not animating the selected area is typically resolved through simple troubleshooting rather than a deeper account or software failure. Keep these steps handy in case it happens again during future sessions of using the Motion Brush to animate parts of a scene.