The core steps to edit a video in iMovie

iMovie is built into every Mac and iPad, so you likely already have it. Open the app, click File > New, and choose Movie. You'll see an empty project with a timeline at the bottom — that's where your video clips go. To add footage, click the Import Media button (camera icon) or drag video files directly into the timeline. Once clips are in the timeline, you can trim them by clicking and dragging the edges, reorder them by dragging left or right, and delete unwanted sections by right-clicking and selecting Delete Clip.

The real editing happens in the toolbar above the timeline. You can add text by clicking the T icon, insert transitions between clips using the Transitions tab, or add music from the Audio tab. When you're done, click File > Share to save your finished video as an MP4 file or upload it directly to YouTube or other platforms.

Key Takeaways

  • Import video clips by clicking Import Media or dragging files into the timeline at the bottom of your project.
  • Trim clips by dragging the edges of each clip in the timeline, and reorder them by dragging clips left or right.
  • Add text, transitions, and music using the buttons in the toolbar above the timeline.
  • Save your finished video by going to File > Share and choosing your output format or destination.
  • iMovie projects save automatically, so you can close and reopen them without losing your work.

Trimming and cutting clips to remove unwanted footage

Trimming is how you remove the parts of a clip you don't want. In the timeline, hover over the edge of any clip until your cursor changes to a resize arrow, then drag inward to shorten the clip. The part you drag over disappears. If you want to cut a clip in the middle — for example, to remove a pause in the middle of someone talking — click the clip once to select it, then position your playhead (the vertical line) where you want to cut. Right-click and select Split Clip. This creates two separate clips you can delete or move independently.

A common mistake is trimming too aggressively and losing good footage. Play through your timeline before saving to catch these errors. If you make a mistake, use Edit > Undo or press Command+Z to revert.

Adding transitions between clips

Transitions are the effects that play between one clip and the next — a fade to black, a slide, a dissolve. Click the Transitions tab in the toolbar (it looks like two overlapping squares). You'll see options like Fade, Dissolve, Slide, and Wipe. Drag any transition onto the space between two clips in your timeline. The transition will play for a default duration — usually half a second — when you play the video.

To change how long a transition lasts, double-click it in the timeline and adjust the duration slider. Most videos look better with short transitions (under one second) or no transition at all. Overusing transitions makes a video feel amateur. A good rule: use transitions only when you're jumping between different locations or times, not between every single clip.

Adding titles and text overlays

Click the T icon in the toolbar to add text. iMovie offers preset styles — Centered, Lower Third, Scrolling Credits, and others. Choose a style and drag it onto the timeline at the point where you want the text to appear. A text box will open; type your title or caption. The text will appear on screen for as long as the text clip lasts in the timeline. To make it longer or shorter, drag the edges of the text clip just like you would a video clip.

To change the text color, font, or size, double-click the text in the timeline and use the formatting options that appear. Keep text large enough to read on a phone screen — smaller text will be hard to see. If you're adding credits at the end, use the Scrolling Credits style, which automatically rolls text up the screen.

Adding music and sound effects

Click the Audio tab to see music and sound effects. iMovie includes a library of royalty-free music and sound effects you can use without worrying about copyright. Browse by mood or genre, then drag any track onto the audio portion of your timeline (below the video clips). The music will play for as long as the audio clip lasts. If your video is longer than the music, the music will stop and your video will play silent, so make sure your audio is long enough or add multiple tracks.

To adjust the volume of music or sound effects, click the audio clip in the timeline and drag the volume slider. You can also fade music in or out by double-clicking the audio clip and using the fade controls. If your video already has sound (like dialogue or ambient noise), you may want to lower the music volume so both can be heard.

Adjusting color, brightness, and video effects

Click any video clip in the timeline, then look for the Adjust button (it looks like a slider icon) in the toolbar. This opens controls for brightness, contrast, saturation, and other color settings. Drag the sliders to change how the clip looks. These adjustments apply only to that single clip, so you can make different clips look different if needed.

For more dramatic effects, click the Effects tab in the toolbar. You'll see options like Black & White, Sepia, Vintage, and others. Drag an effect onto a clip to apply it. Like transitions, effects are best used sparingly — a video that's all black-and-white or all sepia loses impact. Use effects to draw attention to specific moments, not to cover the whole video.

Exporting and saving your finished video

When your edit is complete, go to File > Share. You'll see options to save as a file, upload to YouTube, or send to other apps. If you choose File, iMovie will ask you to name your video and choose a location on your computer. The video will export as an MP4, which plays on any device. The export process can take several minutes depending on your video's length and your computer's speed.

iMovie also saves your project automatically as you work, so you can close the app and reopen your project later to make more edits. Your project file is separate from your finished video — the project file lets you edit further, while the exported MP4 is the final product you can share or upload.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo changes after I've closed and reopened a project?

Yes. iMovie saves your project, not just your exported video. When you reopen a project, all your edits are still there. You can continue editing or undo recent changes using Command+Z. However, once you export a video as an MP4, that file is separate — changes to the project won't affect the already-exported video.

Why is my video taking so long to export?

Export time depends on your video's length, resolution, and your computer's processing power. A 10-minute video at 1080p can take 5 to 15 minutes to export on an older Mac. Close other apps while exporting to speed things up. If you're exporting at 4K resolution, it will take significantly longer.

Can I edit videos on my iPhone or iPad using iMovie?

Yes. iMovie is available on iPad and iPhone with the same basic features — importing clips, trimming, adding transitions, and exporting. The interface is slightly different because of the smaller screen, but the workflow is the same. Projects created on Mac can be transferred to iPad and vice versa through iCloud.

What video formats does iMovie accept?

iMovie accepts MP4, MOV, and other common video formats. If you have a video in an unusual format, you may need to convert it first using a free tool like HandBrake. Most videos from phones, cameras, and screen recordings will import without issues.

Can I add subtitles or captions to my video?

iMovie doesn't have built-in automatic captioning, but you can add captions manually using the text tool. Create a text clip for each caption, position it at the bottom of the screen, and time it to match the dialogue. For automatic captions, you'd need to export your video and use a separate tool like Rev or YouTube's captioning feature.