Can't Fast Forward/Slow down in iMovie

The clip must first be in a Project before you can speed it up or slow it down.

You can't modify a clip when it's just in an Event.

Matt

Did you ever figure this out? I am having the same issue. I have a clip in a project, but the fast forward options are greyed out when I try to modify the clip.

Manny

I think I may have figured it out...

For some reason, if you are working on the project and you have the timeline wrapped, it won;t work. But if the time line is not wrapping, it works. No idea why this should matter, but seems like it does.

Manny

Thank you for posting your solution, Manny! That was exactly my problem: wrapped timeline. Very odd that how you view the timeline affects whether or not slow motion works, but it does!

Thank you Manny! I am having the same problem!

Thanks for this tip. This is clearly an iMovie bug.

Thanks I had the same proble. Has Apple addressed this yet? I guess they just don't give a crap. They're becomming just like Microsoft. what a shame.

Hi All,

Ive never used iMovie before but just trying to for the first time. Ive had the same problem whereas im trying to slow down the opening title (in star wars type theme) which scrolls far too fast. Ive followed various suggestions and as far as I can see ive created a new Movie (not event) yet, the movie appears in the list of 'iMovie Librarys'.

Is that right?

Anyway, when selecting the clip within the movie I want to slow down or slo-mo, all options are greyed out.

Whats wrong? how do I fix it please?

You the Man, Manny. (Like you haven't heard than nine million times before.)

I would not have figured that out, nor even stumbled upon it.

Apple, are you listening? You need to fix this.

Just started using IMovie 10 after a long break from IMovie. The Project/Event thing is totally confusing now, but the man problem is as mentioned by others since Deb , that you forward the project in Wrapping Timeline. Really Apple ? No fix yet ?

Guys,

I did put my movie into Projects, I did switched off wrapping, and still... I can't speed up / slow down the movie.

It's really annoying.

I made my movie from still photos, but I hope It doesn't matter?

Please help. 🙂

I' working on 10.0.5 version of iMovie, I'trying to work... 😉

kasia_plus3 wrote:

I made my movie from still photos, but I hope It doesn't matter?

Yes, it does matter. The speed controls don't work on still images.

Instead you want to change the duration of the clip. Select the clip, click the Adjust Button then choose Clip Information (the little "i"). Enter the duration you wish you clip to last.

Changing the duration effective speeds up or slows down the clip with still images.

Matt

Sorry, what is timeline wrapping, and how do I turn it off?

I am having the same problem where the clip(s) are in project but the fast forward options are all grey.

Thank you,

C.S.

1. While in iMovie, click "View" at the very top of your screen. A menu should appear.
2. Halfway down the menu, you'll see "Wrapping Timeline." Click this to uncheck it.

Thank you so much for figuring this out for all of us. This original question was posted in 2013. It is now 2015 and Apple still has yet to fix this bug. I believe they've even updated iMovie during that time period.

Apple, we really need this fixed! Thank you.