I was working in iMovie and I had 5 projects in the works. I have had Mac computers for over 20 years and understand their function very well. I have never seen anything like this. It's like the projects were there on minute nd gone the next. I checked the trash, etc. Nothing. Any thoughts would be appreciated because one of then videos I was working on was for an upcoming memorial presentation. :(
Great! Glad you recovered your projects.
The reason that I asked about the Backups Folder file path issue is because sometimes the Library item does not show up after clicking on Go/Home. In that case click on the little gear icon at the top of the Home screen, and then from the drop down menu click on Show View Options and then from the pop up window that appears, click on Show Library Folder.
-- Rich
Great! Glad you recovered your projects.
The reason that I asked about the Backups Folder file path issue is because sometimes the Library item does not show up after clicking on Go/Home. In that case click on the little gear icon at the top of the Home screen, and then from the drop down menu click on Show View Options and then from the pop up window that appears, click on Show Library Folder.
-- Rich
Hi RetroDon,
Commiserations!
Unlikely, but is it possible you have two different versions of iMovie installed ... you could check in the "Applications" folder.
(Also, some of us may create a presentation in Keynote. instead of iMovie).
Have you tried viewing the "package contents" of the iMovie "Library" folder ....
(ie: projects may be there, just not not loading to iMovie?)
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Wondering which Mac Model,
which Mac OS version,
and which iMovie version you are using
Here are a couple of discussion threads on similar missing iMovie projects, with (maybe) some helpful tips
All my iMovie Projects have disappeared - Apple Community (Sierra 10.13.4 + iMovie 10.1.8)
https://origin-discussions-us.apple.com/thread/253524323. (Mojave 10.14 + iMovie 10.1.12)
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Resources:
Online iMovie User Guide for Mac:
iMovie User Guide for Mac – Apple Support
You might want to reach out to the iMovie support team:
(There's a "Get Support" link at the bottom of their website (link below.)
iMovie - Official Apple Support
All the best :-)
Open your projects browser screen (the one that displays all your projects as icons) and then go to the top of the screen to make sure that you have the correct library ticked and the "all projects" item selected.
-- Rich
You're welcome, RetroDon. Thank you for your reply, and for the helpful info. on iMac and your MacOS.
Now the system I have has the recent MacOS updates ... so the iMovie files are in an (Apple made) folder called "Movies"
I'm not sure your where your actual iMovie Library would reside ..you could try searching for it in a Finder window
If you find it ... two finger-click on it to reveal a menu with "Show Package Contents" or similar, will open the folder. for you.
Hi,
Thanks for your help on this!!!! I truly believe that I have not deleted the files, I simply think I inadvertently moved them without realizing I was moving them. iMovie saves files automatically and When I have intentionally deleted projects, I know the way to do that and I absolutely did not do that with the projects that are missing. I had a bunch of windows open at the time of the disappearing projects so who knows what prompt I may have initiated to move them. I have an older iMac desktop, OS El Capitan, version 10.11.6. iMovie version 10.1.6 Build Version 303325. I have tried to follow the link - Go/Home/Library/Containers/com.apple.iMovieApp/Data/Library/Caches/iMovieBackups but maybe because I have an older OS, it's not letting me get there.
Rich, For some reason, (maybe because my OS is so old) I could not get further than about half way and the link ended. No problem though because ultimately your suggestions helped. Thanks for taking thne time. The projects have been recovered!!!
Interesting. That's exactly what happened, I couldn't get to 'Library', but again, between your help and the other Apple Community people, we solved the saga of the lost projects and at the end of the day, that was the objective! Thanks again!
What happens when you try the file path?
— Rich
All good. You now know how to get the Library item to reveal from the Go/Home screen if you ever need to get to the iMovie Backups folder.
Cheers!
-- Rich
iMovie projects disappeared
