How to recover iMovie library from iCloud backup?

I just opened iMovie for the first time in over a year and it's behaving like it's been opened for the first time! I don't have any projects there or media.


I've gone to the iMovie folder and found the library, it looks like it was only created half an hour ago. The files in the package were only created today too.


I've tried to find the backups as a few people have recommended, in Finder I go to Go - Home but there isn't a folder called Library or Containers.


I don't have a time machine and rely on iCloud to do my backing up for me.


Is the library lost or is there something else I can try?



[Re-Titled by Moderator]

MacBook Air 13″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Mar 4, 2025 7:49 AM

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Mar 4, 2025 12:09 PM in response to skankyrich

Hi,


An iMovie library cannot be stored in the Cloud, so therefore it cannot be recovered from the Cloud. You can recover an iMovie ibrary from a Time Machine backup, if you keep one, or from the iMovie Backups folder. Also, possibly your iMovie library is not located in your Movies folder, but somewhere else on your Mac, or on an external drive. Do a spotlight search to see if it shows up on your Mac. Look in your Documents folder and Applications folder. Check any external drives that you might have to see if the iMovie library is there.


Regarding not seeing a Library folder in Go/Home, possibly it is hidden. Open your Go/Home folder. Click on the Action button at the top of the screen. A pop up menu will appear. Click on Show View Options. Another pop up will appear. At the bottom of the display box, check the box that says Show Library Folder.



If your Library now appears in the Home folder, click on it and follow the file path to the iMovie Bacups folder.


Go/Home/Library/Containers/com.apple.iMovieApp/Data/Library/Caches/iMovieBackups



NOTE:  If running Ventura or later, in the above

file path substitute iMovie for com.apple.iMovieApp.  So, for Ventura,

the file path would read:


 Go/Home/Library/Containers/iMovie/Data/Library/Caches/iMovieBackups


When you get there you will see a list of previous backups of your iMovie library.  Click on one dated just before your issue started.  iMovie will open in that library.   Navigate to your projects browser (where your projects are displayed as icons) and see if your projects are intact.


-- Rich

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Mar 4, 2025 2:27 PM in response to Rich839

Thanks for the clear instructions Rich.


Spotlight search only finds the library that was created today.


You were correct that Library was hidden, but navigating through to Caches there is only one folder - com.apple.iMovieApp. This folder contains two archives, both created at 3.19 today, and neither is a backup. It’s not looking good, is it?

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Mar 5, 2025 8:39 AM in response to skankyrich

Hmmm. Looks a bit like a dead end unless you have a Time Machine or other kind of backup. Otherwise you could try some kind of Mac recovery app that possibly might work. Google Mac Recovery app and you'll find some options, many of which are free.


For example, with a quick search I found this link of a list of recovery apps for the Mac that you might check out:


https://news.macgasm.net/reviews/10-best-data-recovery-software-mac/


I haven't used any of the listed apps, so unable to make a personal recommendation.


-- Rich



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How to recover iMovie library from iCloud backup?

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