remotion-dev/remotion · warning · Error

The current composition is a still and cannot play.

Error message

The current composition is a still and cannot play.

What it means

The play tool refuses to play when getCurrentDuration() <= 1, i.e. the current composition is a still (single frame) with no animation to play.

Source

Thrown at packages/studio/src/components/WebMcp.tsx:1527

				{
					name: 'play',
					title: 'Play Studio composition',
					description:
						'Start playing the current Remotion Studio composition from the current frame.',
					inputSchema: {
						type: 'object',
						properties: {},
						additionalProperties: false,
					},
					annotations: {readOnlyHint: false},
					execute: () => {
						const compositionId = currentCompositionRef.current;
						if (compositionId === null) {
							throw new Error('No composition is currently selected.');
						}

						if (getCurrentDuration() <= 1) {
							throw new Error(
								'The current composition is a still and cannot play.',
							);
						}

						if (Internals.timeValueRef.current === null) {
							throw new Error('Studio playback controls are not ready.');
						}

						play();
						return Promise.resolve({
							currentContent: currentContentRef.current,
							playing: true,
						});
					},
				},
				{signal: controller.signal},
			),
			modelContext.registerTool(

View on GitHub (pinned to b2f4e34732)

Solutions

  1. Switch to an animated (multi-frame) composition before calling play
  2. Use a still-appropriate tool (e.g. frame navigation) instead of play
Defensive patterns

Strategy: type-guard

Validate before calling

const {durationInFrames} = await getCompositionTool();
if (durationInFrames <= 1) skipPlay();

Prevention

When it happens

Trigger: Calling play while a still composition (<Composition ... durationInFrames={1}> or a <Still>) is selected.

Common situations: Automations that assume a video composition but the user has a Still open.

Related errors

AI-assisted analysis of remotion-dev/remotion@b2f4e34732 (2026-08-28). Data as JSON: /api/errors/d53c4c9e4aa2599a. Report an issue: GitHub.