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When I Complete a iMovie Project, Do I Just Leave It In iMovie?

I create many iMovie projects. When I want to show/watch a completed project I just open the iMovie app and play it in full screen. Should I export the file to a different location or format. If that is what I should do, do I then delete the project from iMovie?
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Ken V

Comments: 5 Responses to “When I Complete a iMovie Project, Do I Just Leave It In iMovie?”

    4 years ago

    It is up to you. Leaving it in iMovie and playing the video from there is fine. Or, you can export a file from iMovie and save it to a location you like.

    Exporting does have a few advantages. The exported file will likely be smaller than an iMovie project that has many clips and elements, some of which may be trimmed so there are parts you aren't using. Also, when you play a video in iMovie it has to compose it on the spot, so the quality may not be as good as exporting and then playing the "composed" final versions.

    If you export, then you can decide whether you want to keep or delete the iMovie project. Keeping it allows you to go back to it and make changes. If you delete it, then all you would have is the exported final version and your original clips, assuming you have those in Photos or in files elsewhere. Often people will keep the iMovie projects around for a while in case they want to make changes after watching the final export a few times. Then when they are sure they will never want to make changes again, they delete the iMovie project to save space.

    Ken V
    4 years ago

    Gary,
    Thank you for responding so quickly. I have tons of projects that I just leave in iMovie. I think that I will export them. I guess the finished/exported projects should "live" in Photos or should I just start a file for Finished projects (I guess they will be played in Quicktime). Thanks again
    Ken

    4 years ago

    Ken: You can choose lots of options for wherever e to store them. Some may want to put them as files in the Movies folder. Maybe create your own folder there to store them and name the files so you can find them easily. Others may want to put them in their Photos library, though I avoid putting videos in there since they take up a lot of space. If you want them available across all of your devices, putting them in Photos with iCloud Photos is one option, or you could put them in an iCloud Drive folder. Other people store them in external drives to free up space locally. Lots of options. Just make sure they are backed up too (like Time Machine).

    John Wiskin
    4 years ago

    I export all of my iMovie videos and delete them from iMovie but always thought I could re-import them for any possible future edits. I gather from your reply that you can't. Is there any other way to edit these videos?

    4 years ago

    John: You can re-import them, but just as a regular video. In other words, you don't have the layers with titles, audio, overlays, etc. It is all "baked in" to just a plain video. Plus, it is compressed, so working on it and then exporting again would make it compressed a second time and you'll lose some quality.

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