Tom Wolsky
Level 10 (118,448 points)
Apple TV

Q: Can you take an iMovie iOS project to iMovie on the Mac?

I can see how to get the .iMovieMobile project from iOS onto my computer, but I can't see any way in iMovie on the Mac to get it into that application. Not sure what the benefit is of having the option to save the project on the Mac if it can't be brought in iMovie Mac.

 

Any guidance would be much appreciated.

 

Thanks.

MacBook Pro with Retina display, OS X Yosemite (10.10.3), Mid 2012 2.6G i7

Posted on Jun 15, 2015 5:03 PM

by Admiral Spacebar,Solvedanswer
Admiral Spacebar Admiral Spacebar
Level 2 (258 points)
A:

You can choose to share the project file to iTunes (instead of iCloud) if you don't want to use up bandwidth or take up your iCloud storage space. On your Mac, you can grab the file, while your device is connected, in iTunes by clicking on your device, clicking Apps and scrolling down to where it says 'File Sharing'. Click iMovie in the list and you will see your project(s) on the right. Drag it to your desktop and import in iMovie. (Just remember to delete the copy from your device later since it takes up extra space)

Posted on Oct 15, 2015 11:43 AM

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Tom Wolsky

Q: Can you take an iMovie iOS project to iMovie on the Mac?

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  • by Brett L,

    Brett L Brett L Jun 17, 2015 2:49 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Community Specialists
    Jun 17, 2015 2:49 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Greetings Tom,

     

    So if I understand you correctly, you have created an iMovie project on your iOS device and want to move it to your Mac to continue working on it, is that right?

     

    The following article addresses your issue with instructions on how to bring the project into iMovie on your Mac -

     

    iMovie '11: Import an iMovie project from an iOS device

     

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

     

    Be well,

     

    Brett L 

  • by Brett L,

    Brett L Brett L Jun 17, 2015 2:49 PM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Community Specialists
    Jun 17, 2015 2:49 PM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Greetings Tom,

     

    So if I understand you correctly, you have created an iMovie project on your iOS device and want to move it to your Mac to continue working on it, is that right?

     

    The following article addresses your issue with instructions on how to bring the project into iMovie on your Mac -

     

    iMovie '11: Import an iMovie project from an iOS device

     

    Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.

     

    Be well,

     

    Brett L 

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Jun 17, 2015 3:09 PM in response to Brett L
    Level 10 (118,448 points)
    Apple TV
    Jun 17, 2015 3:09 PM in response to Brett L

    Thanks. The problem is this line

     

    1. Open iMovie on your Mac, and choose File > Import > iMovie for iOS Project.

     

    The only function under the File menu is Import Media. There is no submenu for Import.

     

    ScreenSnapz001.png

  • by The Brucester,

    The Brucester The Brucester Jul 26, 2015 10:39 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jul 26, 2015 10:39 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    This is the newest iMovie (although named iMovie 10), and it seems, unless I can be corrected and per the screen shot Tom shows, iMovie 10 no longer supports 'Import > iMovie for iOS Project'.  Apple Support keeps sending people to the iMovie 11 import instructions, but this feature needs to be added back to the latest iMovie.

  • by Ketan Khandkar,

    Ketan Khandkar Ketan Khandkar Aug 12, 2015 2:08 PM in response to Brett L
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 12, 2015 2:08 PM in response to Brett L

    Brett - the link only valid for old versions of iMovie. Based on everything that I have researched, if I have the latest iMovie for Mac and the latest iMovie for IOS, there is no ability to transfer the movie. I spent multiple hours creating a movie on my iPhone only to realize now that I can't transfer and work on it on my Mac

  • by reformdesigns,

    reformdesigns reformdesigns Oct 10, 2015 4:23 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 10, 2015 4:23 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Also wondering why this isn't possible.

     

    You're able to save it to iCloud Drive from iMovie iOS...but I can't open the file in iMovie on Mac?

     

    How is that possibly a good idea?

     

    Does anyone know how to take iMovie files from iPad to Macbook for finalizing?

  • by Admiral Spacebar,Helpful

    Admiral Spacebar Admiral Spacebar Oct 14, 2015 4:22 PM in response to reformdesigns
    Level 2 (258 points)
    Oct 14, 2015 4:22 PM in response to reformdesigns

    In case you haven't discovered yet, the iMovie for Mac update (released yesterday) now allows you to import iOS projects and edit them on your Mac (again). File > Import iMovie iOS Projects

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Oct 14, 2015 4:25 PM in response to Admiral Spacebar
    Level 10 (118,448 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 14, 2015 4:25 PM in response to Admiral Spacebar

    Be warned this requires an upload and download from iCloud Drive. You don't want to be doing this if you need a fast turned around. Really, really unfortunate for the vast majority of the planet that basic backup and copy functions are being forced to more and more often have to rely on high speed network connections.

  • by Admiral Spacebar,Solvedanswer

    Admiral Spacebar Admiral Spacebar Oct 15, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 2 (258 points)
    Oct 15, 2015 11:43 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    You can choose to share the project file to iTunes (instead of iCloud) if you don't want to use up bandwidth or take up your iCloud storage space. On your Mac, you can grab the file, while your device is connected, in iTunes by clicking on your device, clicking Apps and scrolling down to where it says 'File Sharing'. Click iMovie in the list and you will see your project(s) on the right. Drag it to your desktop and import in iMovie. (Just remember to delete the copy from your device later since it takes up extra space)

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Oct 15, 2015 12:12 PM in response to Admiral Spacebar
    Level 10 (118,448 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 15, 2015 12:12 PM in response to Admiral Spacebar

    This works I think. Thank you very much.

  • by A.M.081,

    A.M.081 A.M.081 Oct 18, 2015 12:17 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 12:17 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    HI all,

    i would like to open an iOS iMovie 'trailer' in iMovie for MacBook, to convert into a project. Following the steps above (via iTunes) is successful until I try to open the iOS trailer file in iMovie, at which point I receive an error message from iMovie that the file was created in an old version of iMovie for iOS and is incompatible. I believe the iMovie on my phone is the latest version (2.1.2) and can't see any upgrades. imovie on the Mac is the latest version, upgraded yesterday. Has anyone come across this issue? Appreciate any thoughts!

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Oct 18, 2015 12:25 AM in response to A.M.081
    Level 10 (118,448 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 18, 2015 12:25 AM in response to A.M.081

    TThe current iOS version is 2.2.

  • by A.M.081,

    A.M.081 A.M.081 Oct 18, 2015 2:41 AM in response to Tom Wolsky
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 18, 2015 2:41 AM in response to Tom Wolsky

    Thanks Tom! I hadn't realised originally, as Imovie is not listed in the 'update' tab in the app store.  Still not sure how to update, as when I go to iMovie in the app store the button just says 'open', which takes me to the currently installed version?

  • by Tom Wolsky,

    Tom Wolsky Tom Wolsky Oct 18, 2015 4:07 AM in response to A.M.081
    Level 10 (118,448 points)
    Apple TV
    Oct 18, 2015 4:07 AM in response to A.M.081

    WWhat iOS are you using?

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