Level 1

28 points

Install iMovie on El Capitan

I have iMac Early 2009 which can support up to El Capitan. On a new disk I installed Snow Leopard and then El Capitan. However, El Capitan does not contain iMovies. It was part of the original Leopard installation (which I did not use as I immediately used Snow Leopard DVD). When I go to app store, and try to get iMovies, I get reply that the purchase cannot be completed as the minimum required osx has to be 10.12.2

What can I do to get iMovie on El Capitan?

Thank you.

iMac, OS X El Capitan (10.11.6), Early 2009

Posted on Oct 10, 2017 12:51 PM

Top-ranking reply

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Posted on Dec 22, 2017 7:56 AM

Hi,

As you have found, you won't be able to purchase current iMovie version 10.1.8 because High Sierra is required. And the older versions are no longer for sale.

You might still have the old iMovie 9 on your computer. It is separate from your old Leopard operating system and should still be on your computer in the applications folder if you haven't erased it. However, iMovie 9 does not work well with El Capitan and later. Yosemite was the last operating system where iMovie 9 was fully functional.

You might try signing in to your account at the app store, using your apple I.D. and password. Then look at your purchased folder and see if some version of iMovie is still downloadable, though I doubt it.

If you kept a Time Machine backup, you can restore iMovie from that.

Also, search Amazon online and see if you can purchase iMovie as part of the iLife '11 package. For example:

Amazon.com: iLife '11 [OLD VERSION]

The only other thing I can think of is to purchase a new computer with the current version of iMovie on it, or a used computer that has iMovie on it.

-- Rich

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30 replies

Feb 15, 2018 4:14 PM in response to leosenko

Download iMovie 3 (iMovie 3.0.3) and then it will you give you the option to update to the latest version that's compatible with your mac. Hope this helps!

vudo2

Level 1

10 points

Oct 30, 2017 10:50 AM in response to leosenko

Please let me know if you are able to get a resolve to this question (via any means including outside of this forum). I too am running El Capitan v10.11.6 and need to install a version of iMovie that will work with no issues. Would even consider installing ANY older version of it will work OR would like to find a source where v10.2.1 can be downloaded SAFELY (100% clean).

Thanks in advance!

Oct 30, 2017 12:08 PM in response to leosenko

iMovie is not a part of Mac OS and to have the newest version means you must have that same newest version of OS X.

Your 2009 iMac can't run the the most current version of iMovie unless you can upgrade to High Sierra.

Dec 3, 2017 3:42 PM in response to logic79

How can i find iLife 09 ? I have this same issue :/

Dec 17, 2017 1:46 AM in response to logic79

Does iLife 09 help you install iMovie 10.1.6 on a MacBook Pro running 10.11.6 Capitan?

Dec 17, 2017 1:48 AM in response to logic79

Does iLife 09 help you install iMovie 10.1.6 on a MacBook Pro running OS X 10.11.6 El Capitan?

Dec 17, 2017 5:28 AM in response to 1234Movie

The most current version of iMovie requires 12.2, or above.

It can't install on El Capitan.

Dec 22, 2017 5:15 AM in response to FilmGuyFromPA

I guess I was treading lightly. First time on this forum. :)

But yes, that was exactly what I was suggesting.

Jan 3, 2018 2:33 AM in response to logic79

Hey. Can you send me a link to download ilife 09. I need iMovie for my 09 Macbook

Jan 8, 2018 8:12 PM in response to Sam Holloway

Thanks man. I really appreciate it

Feb 15, 2018 11:55 PM in response to bdostal90

That 15 year old version will not run on a older machine with an Intel processor.

Feb 27, 2018 11:16 PM in response to 1234Movie

I made a movie with videos and photos that worked great after all the updates.

eli59

Level 1

4 points

Mar 6, 2018 6:19 PM in response to ChuckReid

I tried to download one of these versions but it says I need to have iMovie already on my computer and these are just updates.

Mar 28, 2018 3:42 PM in response to leosenko

Can someone send me the link to download iMovie and iLife on a Mac 09?

lisajoy

Level 2

389 points

Mar 28, 2018 4:11 PM in response to TravelDiaries

see below

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Install iMovie on El Capitan