How to import movie files into imovie that are .mov files?

In order to solve "iMovie can't import MOV" issue and to successfully import various MOV files to iMovie, we had better convert MOV to iMovie more compatible video format like MPEG-4.

Why iMovie won't import MOV?

According to Apple support website, iMovie does support importing and editing MOV movie files. But it only supports some .mov file which is encoded with DV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, or AIC. However, MOV is a container, not a codec. It can contain any of the above codecs, but it may also contain other codecs that are not editable in iMovie, such as MPEG 1. If the MOV video is encoded with iMovie unsupported codec, we will fail to import this kind of MOV into iMovie for editing.

Why we can't import MOV files to iMovie sometimes?

iMovie only supports the MOV movie file whose video codec is DV, MPEG-2, MPEG-4, H.264, or AIC. If a .mov video contains an incompatible video codec, the file will either not import into iMovie or will exhibit playback issues after import. In this case, you may need to convert the video file to iMovie compatible video format.

To successfully import MOV and other video files like AVCHD, AVI, WMV, MKV,etc to iMovie, a widely recommended solution is to convert them to iMovie supported formats.

Hope it will help you more or less.

I have used the Bigasoft TVC and it does convert .mov into iMovie BUT it does not retain the date of the clip; instead in gives the clip the date of conversion.

Any convertors which retain the date when the clip was made?

Also, I used the Modify tool in iMovie to change the date of the converted clip but it corrupted the clip and I have to reload. Any ideas?

Thank you

I have two .mov files that I can't import into iMovie 09. I checked the codec using quicktime as suggested, and it's h.264. I thought iMovie 09 would import .mov files that are h.264. Any suggestions? Thanks Tom

Hello, id like to get advice on this problem as well. I recently bought a camera, it records MOV files, but i cant even convert them in MPEG Streamclip, or open in Quicktime, any thoughts please?

I would be greatful.

Hello Appleman. I tried your advice, to open it in Quicktime and check the specification, but this option isnt available for me. The camera should record AVI but it does MOV and i cant import it in to imovie neither, because it shows that video is 0:00 long. I can watch it with VLC and thats it. Any ideas please?

Thank you so much! This worked for me! I also noticed it wasn't saving to the destination because I didn't have "permission"..but that was because I was in the trial version. If you save it to your desktop, or wherever..it will work.

I have followed the steps depicted in this business article and worked for me just fine!

http://smallbusiness.chron.com/open-quicktime-movies-imovie-54987.html

Hi

Thanks for the useful responses so far, but I have another related question.

I have some MPEG-4 movie files that got corrupted when they were deleted from a portable hard disk. I managed to get all the files back and import 80% of them into iMovie for editing. But the last lot (and the ones I most want) won't show up.

I have tried what is recommended above: I open them in MPEG stream clip and convert them as suggested. They work and I can play them there.

I then import them into iMovie (latest version). It imports but as a blank file or sound only. I know the video information exists as I can watch it. Any ideas how I can get this back?

Much appreciated

Nick

AppleMan - you're the best. iMovie 10 and iMovie 8 kept crashing after importing these vids from the Nikon into Photos. The latter plays the movies well, so all seems ok. But then importing them into iMovie crashes them, as they seem to think the format is ok - and it is not.

The batch mode from MPEG Streamclip is brilliant.

@Apple: perhaps look into including a check between Photos and iMovie? The crashes are ugly...

you will have to convert them in to mp4 format with a video converter or its a long shot just double click on the name of the file and try renaming it to name.mp4 and see if it works otherwise you need to use a video converter i suggest handbrake.

MPEG Stream clip was that batch processor, as indeed mentioned elsewhere in this thread. So combine VLC to cut out the part you need and MPG Stream clip to transcode.

Care to share that solution? it's still not working for me.