Transitions not available in iMovie

You might also try redownloading iMovie. To update/redownload iMovie 10, drag your iMovie 10 app from the Applications folder into the trash, but do not empty the trash. Sign in to the app store and open your purchases folder by clicking on your name at the bottom of the app store side bar. You will see your purchases displayed, including iMovie 10. Redownload/update iMovie from there. If not successful, drag your present iMovie app out of the trash and return it to the Applications folder.

-- Rich

Others have reported absence of transitions after the updates, on this board and on the FCPX board. It is something that Apple will need to address.

In a pinch, you could put the clips in the upper timeline, above a black background, and use the fade handles to apply a transition similar to cross dissolve. The fade handles are revealed in the upper left and upper right hand corners of the clip when you put your cursor onto the clip. Hold down the Option key to move the fade handles independently of each other.

You could also put your photos and videos into the Photos app, and create a slide show with them where you can add from a selection of transitions. Then export the slide show as a movie and import into your iMovie project.

Another option would be to create your slide show in the KeyNote app and export as a movie and import into iMovie.

I realize that it is aggravating to resort to workarounds like the above, but in a pinch it is better than nothing.

-- Rich

You need to drag the iMovie app from the Applications folder to the trash. If you drag it from the Dock, for example, it will only be an Alias. So, if you are getting an "Open" option from the app store that means that your most current iMovie app is still on your computer. Click on "Open" and it will open wherever it is on your computer. Scroll through the Applications folder and see if you can find it and verify that you put the correct version in the trash. Also, unplug any external drives that might have a copy of the iMovie app on it.

-- Rich

The below listed diagnostic procedures have restored the transitions feature for some posters on this forum. They are very easy to do. Basically, boot up the Mac while holding down certain keys for a specified time.

Resetting the System Management Controller

Try resetting the System Management Controller:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

 Resetting the NVRAM or PRAM

Try resetting the NVRAM or PRAM, although this issue would be fairly rare:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

-- Rich

Unfortunately, if you are running the current iMovie 10.1.15 update, and have tried the above suggestions without success, the transitions issue along with the other problems you have noticed are something that Apple will need to fix.

If you keep a Time Machine backup you can restore your iMovie to the previous version that you were using before the update.

-- Rich

I quit iMovie and then opened it. Transitions are now back like they have been all along. Good but strange.

Literally after turning off my Mac and turning it on again everything seems fine.

Try these procedures and see if they help:

Resetting

the System Management Controller

Try resetting the System Managemen Controller. It is easy to do -- basically restarting while holding down certain keys.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201295

Resetting the NVRAM or PRAM

Try resetting the NVRAM or PRAM, although this issue would be fairly rare. Requires a restart while holding down certain keys.

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204063

-- Rich

Not really. Rebooted machine, created a new library in iMovie and they just started appearing. So far they’ve stayed.