I am trying to reduce the size of my iMovie library which is currently just over 16 GB. I opened iMovie and deleted nearly all of my video clips and I closed down iMovie, following instructions I saw on the internet. But the file size of my library did not reduce. I even restarted my computer, but it is still over 16 GB. How can I reduce this library file size?
I'm using version 10.0.8 on a MacBook. Thank you!
MacBook Air (11-inch Mid 2013)
Hi,
In order to reduce the size of your iMovie library you must delete the Event, not just the clip, from iMovie. Deleting the Event will delete all of the clips in the event. Another way is to select the clip and do a File/Reveal in Finder. An original media folder will pop up displaying your selected clip as highlighted. Other clips in the project media also will be displayed. If you delete clips them from there you will be deleting them from your iMovie library and reducing the size of it.
WARNING: Deleting Events or clips from your iMovie library will delete the clips from all projects in which they are being used. So, you will be disabling your projects and effectively losing them.
A better way to manage space on your computer is to store your library on an external drive formatted MAC OS Extended (Journaled). You can also move projects to a library on an external drive. Here's an online help link that will explain how to work with multiple libraries:
https://help.apple.com/imovie/mac/10.1/#/mov3fa25bae7
-- Rich
Thank you!!!!
You are welcome. 😊
If you reformat an external be sure to back up elsewhere any data that you want to keep. Reformating erases all data on the drive.
--Rich
Deleting clips not reducing iMovie Library size?
