Photos/iMovie Sync issues

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Photos/iMovie Sync issues

I'm having problems with iMovie syncing with Photos so I can import videos that I've taken from my phone. Here is what I'm doing. I have taken some videos on my iPhone X. I then add those videos to an Album. I wait for a few hours to ensure that they sync. I'm at home connected to my normally fast internet connection so I have a solid signal. I then open up my MacBook and access Photos to ensure that I can see the Album and the videos therein. They are there. I then open up iMovie and it sees the Album but not all the videos and pictures inside. Some of the videos and pictures I've added have shown up but others don't. I waited another day and more pictures showed up but not all the videos. I double checked in Photos on my MacBook and they show there and can be played.

Any suggestions on how I can either get iMovie to sync properly with Photos (the preferred method) or do I need to export the videos and pictures one by one and then manually import them into iMovie?

MacBook Pro, iOS 11.4

Posted on Aug 14, 2018 9:43 AM

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Answer 1

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Rich839

Level 8

48,168 points

Aug 14, 2018 11:12 AM in response to gsmckee

Hi,

First, the workaround is easy. Export to a file on your desktop the photos and videos as a batch from the Photos app. Then drag them as a batch into iMovie. (I am assuming that you are using iMovie 10 throughout this post.)

There may be a corrupted preference causing iMovie to erratically recognize photos and vids from the Photos app. Try opening iMovie while holding down the Option and Command keys, and selecting to delete preferences from the box that appears. iMovie will open in a new library. Reopen your old library to access your projects.

It may be that your photos and vids are in a format that is causing the issue. For example, your iPhone X may be taking photos in HEIF format, and vids in HEVC format. Sometimes that can cause problems. Check your formats and, if they are as mentioned go to your iPhone settings and select Camera/Formats. Uncheck high efficiency and check maximum compatibility. That will put your future photos and videos that you take into a compatible format. For your clips that you have already taken, go to Settings/Photos, for mac and pc transfer, uncheck Keep Originals, and check automatic. When you export your clips, they will be converted automatically into a compatible format.

All else failing, you might consider doing a reinstall of iMovie 10. Drag your current iMovie app from the Applications folder to the trash, but don't empty the trash. Don't touch your iMovie Library. Then go to the online app store and re-download a fresh version of iMovie 10. When you are satisfied that the new installation is successful, you can empty the trash.

-- Rich

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Photos/iMovie Sync issues

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