How to Push Down Action to NLA in Blender

This guide explains how to convert active keyframe animations into Non-Linear Animation (NLA) strips in Blender. Pushing down an action converts your active keyframes into a modular strip, allowing you to layer, blend, loop, and organize complex character animations without overwriting your raw keyframe data.

Step 1: Open the Necessary Editors

To work with the NLA system, you need access to both your keyframes and the animation tracks.

  1. Open the Dope Sheet and switch its context menu (top header) to the Action Editor.
  2. Open the Non-Linear Animation (NLA) editor in an adjacent area.

Step 2: Select Your Object and Action

Ensure your animated object or armature is selected in the 3D Viewport. In the Action Editor, make sure the action you want to convert is active and visible in the timeline.

Step 3: Push Down the Action

Blender provides multiple quick methods to push an action down into an NLA strip:

  • Method A (Action Editor Header): Click the Push Down button located on the top header of the Action Editor (next to the action name and the fake user shield icon).
  • Method B (NLA Editor Track): In the NLA Editor, find the top row corresponding to your object (highlighted in orange with the active action name). Click the Push Down button (the double-down arrow icon) on the right side of the track name.
  • Method C (Shortcut): Hover your mouse over the NLA Editor or Dope Sheet and press the Push Down operator shortcut (or search for "Push Down Action" via the F3 search menu).

Step 4: Verify and Adjust the NLA Strip

Once pushed down, the action is removed from the active keyframe track and placed into a new NLA strip on a dedicated track layer:

  1. Rename the Strip: Select the strip in the NLA Editor and press N to open the sidebar. Under the Strip tab, you can rename the strip for better organization.
  2. Adjust Extrapolation and Blending: In the sidebar under Active Strip, adjust the Extrapolation (Hold, Hold Forward, Nothing) and Blending mode (Replace, Combine, Add, Multiply) to control how the strip interacts with other animation layers.
  3. Loop or Scale: Use the Playback Settings in the NLA sidebar to scale the strip duration or repeat the animation multiple times.