iMovie is one of the best free video editors on Mac. If you want to edit a short video or create a clip out of several vacation pictures, iMovie can come in handy to do the job. After all, not everyone requires professional video editing software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premier Pro. However, the iMovie experience isn’t smooth for everyone. Many have complained about iMovie crashing during opening or while exporting a 4K file. If you occasionally face the same, here are the best ways to fix iMovie keeps crashing on Mac.
Several factors can affect your iMovie experience on Mac. You can’t pinpoint the iMovie problem to a specific factor. Before you switch to an alternative app or a web-based video editing solution, use the tricks below to fix iMovie problems on Mac.
Table of Contents
1. Corrupt File – Try with Another File
Are you trying to open a corrupt video file in iMovie? The software may crash due to such files. You can try opening the same in the QuickTime video player on Mac. If the issue persists, try opening another video in iMovie. You should properly download or transfer the video file on your Mac to avoid any such issues.
2. Force Start iMovie on Mac
You can force-start iMovie and try opening it again.
1. Open Activity Monitor from the Applications menu.
2. Select iMovie and hit x at the top.
3. Unsupported Codec
iMovie may not be compatible with several video, audio, and image formats. When you try to open such files in iMovie, the video editor may crash on Mac. You can read the Apple Support page to learn about supported file formats on Mac. You need to convert your images and videos to supported file formats and try again.
4. Insufficient RAM
iMovie may crash due to a lack of physical RAM on a MacBook. It’s time to close irrelevant apps on Mac. Here’s how.
1. Open Activity Monitor on Mac. Move to the Memory tab. Check the free RAM at the bottom.
2. Select irrelevant apps and hit the x mark at the top to close them.
5. Delete Render Files
Corrupt render files also lead to iMovie crashing on Mac. You can delete render files and try again. It also frees up space on Mac.
1. Open iMovie and click the same in the menu bar. Select Settings.
2. Delete render files.
6. Open iMovie in New Library
This trick worked like a charm for one of the Apple forum members. You can create a new library and copy your existing projects to it.
1. Keep pressing the Options key and double-click on iMovie.
2. Click New to create a new library.
3. Copy projects from an old library to a new one.
Now, close iMovie and try using it again.
7. Check Mac Storage
Does iMovie crash while exporting a 4K file on your Mac? If your Mac runs on low storage, you may face issues during the export process. Here’s how you can check Mac storage and take the necessary steps.
1. Click the Apple icon in the menu bar and open System Settings.
2. Select General and open Storage.
3. Check the storage breakdown on your Mac. You can empty Bin, delete unnecessary apps, and optimize storage to free up space.
8. Change Export File Format
It’s another handy trick that worked for many to resolve iMovie crashing issue. You can change the file format during the export process.
1. Open iMovie, create a project and use all the necessary editing tools.
2. Hit the Share icon at the top. Select Export File.
3. Lower resolution, and quality; check the export file size, and hit Export.
9. Update iMovie
An outdated iMovie app can be the main culprit behind iMovie crashing on Mac. You can head to the App Store and update iMovie to the latest version.
10. Reinstall iMovie
Does iMovie still crash on Mac for you? You should reinstall the app on Mac.
1. Open Finder and select Applications from the sidebar.
2. Right-click on iMovie and select Move to Trash.
3. Download iMovie from the App Store and try your luck with it.
Edit Videos Like a Pro
iMovie not opening or crashing on Mac can impact your workflow. When none of the tricks work, move to an alternative to complete the project. You can download a video editor from the Mac App Store and use a web-based video editing solution.
