Can't upload iMovie to Youtube

Question

Can't upload iMovie to Youtube

A “Communication error with server” message appears partway through an upload of a 3 minute iMovie to Youtube and it stops. I am using iMovie 11 with Mountain Lion. The iMovie was created as a trailer converted to a project then finalized as I usually do. It was sent to Youtube as HD 720p. It will upload to iTunes, but not to Youtube. I also tried uploading a test 5 second video from iMovie to Youtube and it worked, but for the 3 minute iMovie, the communication error with server message appears usually whenI go back to check on the upload process. It says to check your connection and try again, which I have done many times. This issue has started only since I upgraded to ML and iMovie11. What is the solution or alternative?

iMac 27, Mac OS X (10.6.4)

Posted on Oct 1, 2012 7:03 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

AppleMan1958

Level 7

27,492 points

Oct 2, 2012 6:31 AM in response to Guidofisherman

A good alternative is to use the Upload feature of YouTube's website. You can upload multiple movies at once in this way.

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Answer 2

Oct 16, 2012 1:25 PM in response to AppleMan1958

I think I'm having trouble because Youtube was bought by Google, and the interface in Movie '09 is no longer correct ? When I go to Youtube, I now have to log in through my google account...

I wonder if there is a fix for this?

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Answer 3

Oct 16, 2012 2:00 PM in response to Jefferis Peterson

You need to sign into your Google account in iMovie, too.

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Answer 4

Oct 16, 2012 2:47 PM in response to AppleMan1958

Yeah, thanks. I figured it out on my own. The problem is/was the multiple accounts I now have with google, and didn't realize that I should use my Google account as a Youtube account. My original Youtube account login info no longer works at all, even though it kept my original username...

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Answer 5

Oct 17, 2012 7:14 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Hey, something weird happened yesterday. I uploaded two movies just fine with my google account, and then I uploaded a shorter movie from iMovie and all appeared to go well, with iMovie confirming the upload, but the upload never happened. I tried twice or three times with the same positive message, but the upload did not occur. I had to upload the last movie manually.

Any idea what might be going wrong?

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Answer 6

brookpap

Level 1

0 points

May 1, 2013 9:28 PM in response to Jefferis Peterson

Having the same issue - brand new Retina Macbook Pro and latest version of Imovie, and get the Failed (unable to convert video file) error after processing the uploading. Tried an upload at 1080 and 720 but failed on both. Source was gopro and ipad 4 in 1080, but still no joy (used 30fps)

Suggest maybe best option for now is to output as a standard movie then use the youtube uploader until apple update imovie to deal with youtube.

Found one good article that verfies the change that Youtube did http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDce070-QpY but it seems like a lot of mucking around to get a video on youtube!

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Answer 7

Oct 30, 2013 4:42 PM in response to brookpap

Yes! I can upload 5 second short videos and such but I cant seem to upload a video vlog! I can upload screen recordings, yet no IRL videos. I've even tried to export it back to quicktime and retry from there but the video still wont. I then tried with a different video from quicktime player X and it worked as well. Could something be wrong with the file?

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Answer 8

Maxoblue

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2013 5:36 PM in response to brookpap

The same thing happened to me but I have an ipad 2 and I tried to upload it from camera roll and iMovie but nothing worked

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Answer 9

Dec 11, 2013 3:08 PM in response to Guidofisherman

I've had these same issues today and thought it was my Comcast connection, but having reset the modem, plugged ethernet direct to modem, etc, I am doubting it was the 'net. I am using iMovie '11 with ML on a 2011 iMac.

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Answer 10

Jan 26, 2014 12:17 PM in response to Guidofisherman

I experienced the same problem. My work-around was to go to youtube and sign in using my google account, which I was forced to create.

Then upload your video from Youtube as the front end and your computer as the back end. That worked for me. Hope it helps.

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Answer 11

Aug 2, 2015 11:46 AM in response to AppleMan1958

Thank you! As a novice YouTube user/"creator" and one who has traditionally used the iMovie: Share -> YouTube method of uploading iMovie videos/movies to YouTube but recently found this method of upload no longer working from my iMovie '09 this was a very helpful reply. I simply used iMovie: Share - Export to create a movie file locally (in this case the Documents folder) then opened YouTube, logged into my account, selected the Upload button in the upper right-hand corner, found the movie file, selected then uploaded it!

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