Use This Trick To Manage Your iMovie Projects

By default every time you create a new iMovie Project it just adds on to your one and only iMovie Library. This makes it difficult to manage and archive your iMovie projects over the years. Instead, create a new Library each time you want to start a new project.

Comments: 11 Responses to “Use This Trick To Manage Your iMovie Projects”

    nick
    1 year ago

    Hey Gary, what's the file "iMovie Theater" that is located in the same folder? thx

    1 year ago

    nick: That was old functionality in iMovie that let you export a video and then play it across your Apple devices. No longer supported. If you exported something to iMovie Theater and don't have a copy of it anywhere else, then be sure to check out https://support.apple.com/guide/imovie/if-youre-looking-for-imovie-theater-mov893a71a30/mac to get them out of there before deleting.

    Dan
    1 year ago

    So I created a new library and moved one of my projects to the new library as you indicated. I then copied it to my NAS and deleted it from my locally attached SSD. I copied it back to the SSD to test. When I opened the library, there is nothing in the My Media section. The movie is there, just not the clips, etc. Did I miss something?
    Thanks. And by the way this is a great tip!

    1 year ago

    Dan: Sounds like those clips weren't in the project to begin with. Move them into the project first.

    Dan
    1 year ago

    Thanks. I believe when I opened the project the My Media section was empty. That was because I didn't click on the Project media on the left sidebar. It defaulted to the iMovie library instead. I think all is good now.

    Ann Dresselhaus
    1 year ago

    How do I open a new library in iMovie 7.1.4? (Running on Yosemite 10.10.5)
    My current library is 31 G.
    iMovie 7.1.4 will not (under FILE, Import Movies) will no longer let me select anything to import.
    I figure it is because this application cannot deal with any larger imovielibrary or perhaps my iMac can't?
    Ideas?

    I am trying to open new imovielibrary so I can make more movies!
    I cannot IMPORT any more clips/movies unless I solve this.

    1 year ago

    Ann: Quit iMovie. Hold the Option key down and launch iMovie.

    Gareth
    1 year ago

    Great selection of videos Gary. I think my query is related to the above. On my iMac I have a library for a recent holiday, with all the media. Several projects in here. I have started editing, arranging etc on the iMac. However I now want to work on same library on my MacBook Pro; I have not been able to figure out how to duplicate the projects with all associated media (if I use Finder to copy the library itself, only shortcuts to the media are copied, not the originals). Any ideas pls?

    1 year ago

    Gareth: It is hard to transfer an iMovie project from one Mac to another. You'll need to move the entire library over, and also the media files themselves. You just have to get organized and do all of that copying and maybe link the items. I don't think I've actually ever moved a project with external media and such. Is there a reason you can't just work on it on your iMac? That is probably the best way.

    Kevin Killion
    12 months ago

    OMG, this video is TREMENDOUSLY helpful!! Questions:
    Q: Can I rename a library "file" (e.g., "iMovie Library.imovielibrary" to "Fun trip.imovielibrary") or would that lose connections to other things?
    Q: If I open an imovielibrary package, what is allowed and what is verboten? For example, is it safe to rename a folder "Adam Birthday" to "Eve Birthday"? Could I copy a folder to a different imovielibrary package? Or should I just never touch a imovielibrary and do everything within iMovie?

    12 months ago

    Kevin: You should be able to rename it, yes. I wouldn't ever mess with the contents of an iMovie Library directly at all. Only deal with it through iMovie.

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