Can't open iMovie library on new Mac mini M2

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Can't open iMovie library on new Mac mini M2

I recently upgraded to a mac mini M2 from an iMac 2017, and never had an issue opening an imovielibrary file until now. I had moved the library file to my external hard drive and when I launched iMovie on the new mac, I received an error that the library could not opened because "one or more of the libraries were created with a newer version of iMovie and the library would be ignored." Is this something with the new M2 chip system, a known issue, or possibly some type of corruped file issue?

Mac mini (M2, 2023)

Posted on Nov 7, 2023 4:31 AM

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Answer 1

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Rich839

Level 8

48,168 points

Nov 7, 2023 10:41 AM in response to Alex Crabb

Your iMovie version on your iMac 2017 may be a newer version than the iMovie app that is on your Mac Mini. That would cause the library created on your iMac 2017 to be created with a newer version if iMovie than exists on your Mac Mini. Try updating your iMovie app on your Mac Mini to the same or a newer version of the iMovie app that is on your iMac2017. You should then be able to open the library, because it will automatically update when you open it with the newer iMovie version. Unfortunately, it is not backwards compatible, so opening with an older version will not work, as you have found.

Also, make sure that the external drive to which you moved your library is formatted Mac OS Extended (Journaled) or APFS. If you need to reformat the drive, be aware that reformatting deletes all data on the drive. So you would need to move off or back up elsewhere the data on the drive before reformatting.

-- Rich

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Answer 2

Alex Crabb Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 8, 2023 4:11 AM in response to Rich839

I was just about to try the uninstall trick last night when I noticed there was an update available for iMovie in Apps. Post update and launch, iMovie found the library and opened the file just fine. Thanks!

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Answer 3

Rich839

Level 8

48,168 points

Nov 7, 2023 11:01 PM in response to Alex Crabb

Take a look at the thread in this link and see if anything in there helps you.

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/251148527?&followedChain=true&previousThread=253752385021

-- Rich

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Answer 4

Nov 8, 2023 11:09 AM in response to Alex Crabb

Your SSD should really be formatted as APFS.

Mac OS Extended (Journaled) is used for HDDs

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Answer 5

Alex Crabb Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 7, 2023 7:38 PM in response to Rich839

Thanks for responding, Rich. The version of iMovie on the old iMac 2017 was older, as I did the original DV archive way back in 2019. The mac mini M2 is brand new out of the box with the current software and hardware (Sonoma 14.1. And as for the External SSD, it is indeed formatted as Mac OS Extended (Journaled). I went into the Time Machine for iMac 2017 but the only file I could find when searching for 'iMovie" is this same exact imovielibrary file I already have backed up on the external drive. The two Imacs I have have been restored to factory settings since I plan to recycle them, but I am hoping somehow that project/libary will be able to be opened somehow.

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Answer 6

Alex Crabb Author

Level 1

22 points

Nov 8, 2023 11:18 AM in response to Ian R. Brown

Thank you Ian I never knew that! Had that drive since 2020 (it's a Samsung T7) and formatted it based on recommended specs. I will definitely offload, reformat, and transfer data back if that is a huge deal- or can cause any kind of latency issues. (I use the drive for running and storing Logic Pro X projects mostly).

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Can't open iMovie library on new Mac mini M2

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