"Missing Remote Media"

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Level 2

161 points

"Missing Remote Media"

I m in iMovie and have been dragging and dropping photos from my Photos App directly into my Timeline for my project. It seems to be fine but when I quit and come back in many of the photos show "Missing Remote Media". What does that tell me? MUST I import the photos into iMovie then drag them down into the timeline? Are there any photo formats that cannot be used: HEIC,.... I can't get the Ken Burns effect to work on some of the photos and I have tried some of the suggestions from the message board (eg. open iMovie while holding the Option and Command keys). Please help.

iMac 27″ 5K, macOS 13.6

Posted on Dec 26, 2023 12:08 PM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Dec 27, 2023 8:57 AM in response to MD_Gene

Hi,

Possibly the photos that you are trying to import are still stored in the cloud. That can happen if you have activated optimized storage. Check to see if that is the case and, if it is, then download the photos to the Photos app library. Then they should be recognized by iMovie, provided that the Photos app library that contains the photos has been designated as the system photo library in the Photos app general preferences.

-- Rich

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Answer 2

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Jan 1, 2024 10:09 AM in response to MD_Gene

Try deleting/resetting preferences. To delete/reset preferences, close and then open iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys and select to delete preferences in the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new empty library. Reopen your old library to get back to your projects. Possibly you may need to reboot to set

the changes. Deleting preferences is a safe procedure that will not cause data loss or disruption to your project.

-- Rich

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Answer 3

MD_Gene Author

Level 2

161 points

Dec 31, 2023 12:43 PM in response to Rich839

I have my photos library set to be downloaded on my Mac (see attached photo). I drag photos into iMovie and hours go by and try to quit the app. But it still says iMovie has "tasks to complete". I really don't know what to try next. Perhaps exporting my photos from the Photos App onto my local storage?

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Answer 4

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Jan 1, 2024 10:11 AM in response to Rich839

The Ken Burns feature works properly on my Mac iMovie. I can start with the full photo and then zoom into showing the heads. However, I am running iMovie 10.1.12 on Mojave, so my findings may not be relevant to yours.

-- Rich

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Answer 5

MD_Gene Author

Level 2

161 points

Dec 27, 2023 4:12 PM in response to MD_Gene

The Photos Library is correct and the photo has been downloaded (viewed). I still have limited Ken Burns capability. Please check it. (see attached).

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"Missing Remote Media"

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