Spike up system data storage usage after failed exporting video file to MacBook from iMovie

I created a 1 hour video and wanted to save the video on MacBook.

It was failed while it was downloading, because of not enough storage.

Even though there was enough space when I checked it before start downloading.

So I wondered why there was not enough space and checked storage.

Well, my system data took a lot of space ridiculously.

Yeah System data usage has spiked up while my video was downloading.

It was my first time using iMovie and creating video, so I do not have much knowledge.


Even though I do not really how the process the video, however, I guess iMovie uses system data while it process creating video and it needs a space as much as video file size?

so eventually, device needs double amount of the space of video size?

I had barely enough space to save the video file when i tried to save it on device.

Like, my device would be full 98% if video saved on my mac.


Does anyone know the reason why it was failed and my system data storage takes so much space right now after failed to save video?

And, I would like to know clear the system data storage if it was because of the video.


Thanks

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Jul 22, 2023 2:02 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jul 23, 2023 9:19 AM

When your Mac is 98% full, or in any event has barely enough space to fit a one hour video, the import of the video will abort as it did. You would want at least 10 GB, and 20 GB is better, of extra space beyond the size the of the video so that iMovie has enough application space to process the video.


Try deleting or moviing off some data from your drive and see if iMovie is able to render the movie. You can free up some space by opening iMovie and the clicking on iMovie/Preferences and then from the preferences box that pops up, click on Delete Render Files.


You also might want to consider purchasing an external drive to store your iMovie library. It should be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS.


-- Rich



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2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jul 23, 2023 9:19 AM in response to Sunny_613

When your Mac is 98% full, or in any event has barely enough space to fit a one hour video, the import of the video will abort as it did. You would want at least 10 GB, and 20 GB is better, of extra space beyond the size the of the video so that iMovie has enough application space to process the video.


Try deleting or moviing off some data from your drive and see if iMovie is able to render the movie. You can free up some space by opening iMovie and the clicking on iMovie/Preferences and then from the preferences box that pops up, click on Delete Render Files.


You also might want to consider purchasing an external drive to store your iMovie library. It should be formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS.


-- Rich



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Spike up system data storage usage after failed exporting video file to MacBook from iMovie

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