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User profile for user: sosa_1313
sosa_1313 Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

iMovie Library still taking up storage

I'm having a problem that doesn't seem uncommon for iMovie users. However, all solutions I've found have not been applicable to my specific situaiton. In the app, my iMovie Library is essentially empty. At least it's not 50 GB worth of content which is what my Mac is telling me exists. Even in my iMovie Library/Show Package Contents, the only files in there is what I currently have.


To preface this, I had the issue with 100 GB a couple of days ago and just ended up deleting the entire iMovie file which caused iMovie to act all weird and randomly crash. I restarted my computer, uploaded 2 hours worth of basic video (definitely not 50 gigs worth) and the app began working properly again. There's no extra files or "events" anywhere that I've been able to find. Should I delete the entire file again or is there a step I'm missing?

MacBook Pro

Posted on Feb 22, 2021 4:09 PM

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User profile for user: sosa_1313
sosa_1313 Author
User level: Level 1
10 points

Posted on Feb 23, 2021 1:24 AM

Yes, deleting the render files brought it down to 15 GB which is much more likely. Even though it's still about twice as much as the exported video, this is way more manageable. Thank you so much!

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User profile for user: Rich839
Rich839
User level: Level 8
47,676 points

Feb 23, 2021 12:51 AM in response to sosa_1313

So, if it says 50 GB that should be what is in the library. What makes you think that it’s less?


Two hours of video might well be 50 gigs, depending on the format, bitrate, frame rate, compression, etc.


Perhaps you have a lot of render files. Open the iMovie preferences box and delete the render files. It is a harmless procedure. See if that makes any significant difference.


If you move your library to an external drive, formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled), how much does that decrease the GB on your internal drive?


— Rich


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iMovie Library still taking up storage

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