iMovie 10.1.7 crash

If you have an external monitor attached to your MacBook try to open iMovie with the lid open.

Hello,

I've struggled with this problem for hour now (2014 Macbook Pro Retina 15"), while trying to debug based on what I know from experience, combined with the crash reports.

The ONLY thing that worked for me, was opening the Macbook lid before starting iMovie. It still works after closing it again though.

After "connecting the dots", I have a couple of theories/hunches/guesses:

• The webcam/Facetime video source is not available in "clamshell" mode. iMovie's initial dialogue & first responder is the command "Import media". It could be an inconsistency bug that occurs if no camera/live video source can be found even though the iMovie startup hardware check reports otherwise, proceeds to kickstart the Quartz filters and import mechanisms etc, and..yeah, you get the idea.
• From what I can recall, I had the Macbook lid open (i.e. not in clamshell mode) the last time I used iMovie, literally ages ago. Even though I'm pretty sure I deleted every preference file, it is not unlikely that this specific configuration is "forced" on the subsequent iMovie launch.
• On top of that, if you add the fact the Photos database was upgraded while installing High Sierra (and with that, also the structure of your files inside the photo library, which ultimately is critical with regards to the import/export procedures in iMovie (and other apps, of course).

Even though it appeared to work flawlessly after I opened/closed the MB lid - just to be on the safe side, I quit iMovie, and relaunched it while holding down ⌥ , and (when prompted), I chose to create a completely new iMovie project library.

Lastly, here's some general, well-meaning advice and things to concider when facing similar problems/bugs:

1. When was the last time the app/software worked without any problems?
2. Is there any minor/major differences in hardware or system configuration, compared to before?
3. The first, perhaps obvious thing to try, is to wipe the preference file(s). However, if it doesn't help, try to "reverse" it (by making sure the preference files are exactly the same as the last time it actually worked).

On a far note...

Come to think of it, that's pretty much the spirit of any emulator software out there. You actually "trick" the software into working, circumstances where it shouldn't (and in most cases, on completely different hardware - but that's another story).

Hi,

What has worked for some users when iMovie opens but crashes later, is to restart the computer and open iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys, and then selecting to delete preferences in the box that appears.

-- Rich

Rich, did that, still crashes. I'm not using an external monitor either.

iMovie 10.1.7, Sierra 10.12.6, 4GB 1333Mhz DDR3, 1TB RAM

Even with every thing else closed, it still crashes.

Never the less, thank you for your suggestion!

Try opening iMovie while holding down the Option key, and selecting a new library, or creating a new library, for iMovie to open in. This is to determine if there is corruption in your original library.

Another thing you can do is try opening iMovie in a new user account, such as the guest account on your Mac. This is to determine whether there is a conflict in your original user account.

If the problem still persists, try upgrading to High Sierra.

-- Rich

Having the same issues on multiple iMacs, some with no additional monitors.

I also tried Adobe Premiere as an option and it crashed on outputting as well. I did see some complaints about Final Cut Pro crashing after it's last update as well. Sounds like a CODEC problem/bug, not an application specific one?

You're not the only one Jim. I uninstalled and reinstalled iMovie, upgraded to High Sierra, created another library, and deleted preferences. It crashed every time.

Movies/projects made prior to the upgrade are still playable, as recently as Sept. 20th.

I used it this past weekend to edit my son plating football, and it would allow me to insert text and transitions, but when trying to play the movie, it was very choppy and would crash less than 20 second in.

I haven't had time to speak directly with Apple support (yet).

Sounds identical to what I am seeing. I noticed a reference to a fault in the de-interlacing function in the bug report that gets auto-generated and sent to Apple.

I haven't come up with a solution yet.

I have the same issue. Cant do anything. It crashes every single time. Tried restarting iMovie, Mac Pro. Did not help. I deleted and reinstalled iMovie and still have the same issue. Looks like I'm stuck at this point until apple releases a fix. Called apple support. They put me on hold for 10 minutes and disconnected the call.

I'm on OS Sierra 10.12.6. iMovie version is 10.1.7.

Please let me know if you found a workaround.

This update is well and truly broken. I have seen and tried all of the solutions: keep lid open, delete preferences and all Library Preference files, create new library etc. All have ultimatelly failed. I stopped short of trimming 0.4sec or so off each clip (not on with a project containing upwards of 180 clips).

My solution - go back to 10.1.6 (drag from Time Machine backup into Applications Folder). I do not know if 10.1.6 will work on High Sierra as I am still on Sierra 10.12.6.

If it doesn't, and I would appreciate information, then a good reason to leave High Sierra alone as well.

Hi, after several hours of trying I realized that my SONY HDR-CX360VE camcorder is no longer compatible with IMOVIE, hallucinating and incredible .... (until 25.09.2017 it has always worked fine) ...... in the list there are several models but come to 350 and go to 370 .... I understand that the crash problem is this. APPLE, SONY ..... I ask for your help, I can not use IMOVIEEEEEEEEEEEE !!!!!!! Thank you.

Find this difficult to understand as that camera, like all HD cameras, records images in AVCHD format. This is OK for iMovie.

What exactly is your problem? I doubt it has anything to do with your camera, but just the update of iMovie that appears to be incompatible with anything other tha High Sierra. Apple should have recognised this and only put it out to High Sierra users.

I called Apple Support. They asked me to shut down my iMac and turn it on again with the shift ket down.

It did not help

I was then told to upgrade Sierra to high sierra...I did it and still have the crash issue. Apple does not seem to take this issue as seriously and promptly as they should.

I was planning to change my iMac and i start thinking going back to PC now

Hi,

I wrote that the problem is my SONY HDR-CX360VE camcorder, because importing movies into Imovie made with IPHONE6, Imovie does not crash.

Now I'm forced to do it:

1) Import movies with "PlayMemories Home"

2) Convert movies to mp4

3) Import MP4 movies into Imovie

4) Create a project and export it to mp4.

In this way Imovie does not realize that the movie comes from my Sony ... and so does not crash

amazing ...... but true !!!!

It's an awkward system ...... but for now I'm forced to work this way.

I did the update and i couldn't install movies anymore. I tried everything, preferences etc. and nothing worked. I had a backup and recopied over the back app into that applications folder and preferences from that back up and it works again. don't update!