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One of the reasons why you are unable to launch iMovie on your Mac is because you are using a really old version of the app. Old versions of apps often have bugs and various issues in them and it is always suggested that you use the newer versions of apps whenever and wherever possible. Filmora Video Editor for Mac is the best iMovie alternative in the market that is fully compatible with the latest macOS X and provides the best methods, tools and techniques to perform the video editing easily. Filmora Video Editor enables you to easily make movies, edit audio, apply effects and share your new movie on YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo. Only Macs that have been purchased new from Apple (or other selected retailers) cones with all of the iLife applications installed as standard, (GarageBand, iMovie etc.). After Apple released iMovie 10, so many people was disappointed with it and want to get back iMovie 9 on Mojave. It's a good idea on Sierra (macOS 10.12) or even High Sierra (macOS 10.13). However, getting back iMovie 9.0.9 on Mojave won't solve the problem. Due to the hardware and system issue, you at most retrieve an unworkable iMovie 9. IMovie is the inbuilt movie and video player available with Mac operating system. It is a highly useful software that helps in managing, editing, and transforming video files efficiently. Apart from iMovie's default extension, if you have any other video file format, you will first have to import it into the iMovie interface and then use it.
by Anna SherryUpdated on 2020-03-12 / Update for Mac OS
Many users who have updated their Macs to the latest macOS Catalina complain that iMovie crashes at startup in Catalina. This could happen due to a variety of reasons, and if you are too facing this issue on your Mac, you will probably need to figure out the cause of the issue and then get it fixed.
Not being able to launch iMovie can also affect your professional work if you use the app to work on your videos or other media files as part of your job. Fortunately, though, there are actually multiple ways to fix the issue you are facing with iMovie on your Mac running Catalina and our guide below shows how to use all the available methods.
If one method does not work for you, try the next one and you will eventually find the one that works for you and fixes the iMovie issue on your Mac.
Method 1. Update iMovie to the Latest Version
One of the reasons why you are unable to launch iMovie on your Mac is because you are using a really old version of the app. Old versions of apps often have bugs and various issues in them and it is always suggested that you use the newer versions of apps whenever and wherever possible.
If you have found that you are indeed using an old version of the app, you need to get the app updated to the latest version from your Mac App Store. It is free and easy to do so and the following shows how.
Step 1. Click on the Mac App Store icon in your Launchpad to launch the App Store.
Step 2. When the App Store opens, find the tab that says Updates at the top and select it to open it.
Step 3. On the following screen, you will see updates available for the apps installed on your Mac. Among these updates is your iMovie update. Find that in the list and click on Update next to it to update your app.
Wait while the App Store installs the update for you. When it is done, you should be running the latest version of iMovie on your Mac.
That is how you fix iMovie crashed at startup in Catalina by updating the app on your machine.
Method 2. Delete cache.mov and cache.plist
For a long time, cache files have been known to cause issues and it is the first thing you should get rid of when you face any issues in your apps. iMovie also stores cache files on your Mac and removing them from your machine should fix the issue you are facing.
Step 1. Get inside a Finder window, hold down the Option key on your keyboard, click on the Go menu at the top, and select Library.
Step 2. Find and open the folder that says Caches as that is where your cache files are located.
Step 3. Open the iMovie folder and delete both cache.mov and cache.plist files from the directory.
Relaunch the iMovie app on your Mac and it should open without any issues.
Method 3. Delete Preferences
Apple wireless keyboard for gaming. Your preference settings also affect how iMovie works on your Mac. If you have made any changes to these options lately, those changes may be why you are unable to launch the app on your machine.
Deleting your personal preferences from the app is pretty easy and you can do it as the following:
Step 1. Turn off your Mac and then turn it back on.
Step 2.Click on Launchpad and find the iMovie app. Do not launch it just yet.
Step 3.Hold down both Command and Option keys on your keyboard and click on the iMovie app.
Step 4.A prompt will appear on your screen letting you delete your preferences. Click on the Delete Preferences button to proceed.
It will remove all of your preferences settings from the app. The app will then open perfectly fine on your Mac.
Method 4. Start iMovie in Safe Mode
Apple has included a mode called safe mode on Mac machines to help you troubleshoot issues. You can use the mode to deal with the iMovie app issue as well and the following is how you do it.
Step 1. Turn off your Mac.
Step 2. Turn your Mac on and hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
Step 3. Let go of the key when you see the login screen.
Step 4. Log-in to your account and launch the iMovie app as you normally would.
If the app opens, there is likely an issue with your Mac settings or other apps installed on your machine.
Method 5. Check Your Storage Space
iMovie is a resource-hungry app, and if you have not got enough memory space available on your Mac, the app will not function properly.
Ensure your Mac has at least 10GB of space available on it to run the iMovie app. You may need to delete some unwanted files off your Mac to make the space if it is not already available.
Method 6. Delete Infected or Corrupted iMovie Project File
A corrupted project file can cause the entire iMovie app to malfunction and you should get rid of these corrupted projects as soon as you spot them in your app.
Since you cannot access the app, you will need to use the Finder to find and delete the iMovie project files from your Mac. Here is how you do it.
Step 1. Open a Finder window and head to the Users > <username> > Movies folder, right-click on the file that says iMovie library, and select the Show Package Contents option.
Step 2. The following screen lists out all the projects you have in iMovie. Select the corrupted ones from the list, right-click on any one of them, and choose Move to Trash.
Reboot your Mac and launch iMovie. It should open without any issues.
Bonus Tips: The Best Mac Data Recovery Software 2019
When you play around with various tips to get an issue fixed, sometimes you end-up losing your important files. And when it is iMovie that you are trying to fix, what you may lose is your video files
If you have already lost your files, we highly recommend you to use Tenorshare 4DDiG for Mac Data Recovery to recover your lost files. Apple com trailers. It helps users recover various types of files from the Mac and it should help you get your lost videos back as well.
Step 1 Download and open the software on your Mac. Select your hard drive and click on the Scan button. Notepad computer software.
Step 2 Click on Videos in the left sidebar, choose the videos you want to recover, and click on Recover.
Step 3 Select the folder to save your recovered videos in.
Sum Up
If iMovie crashes at startup after macOS Catalina update on your Mac, your best bet is to use one of the tips mentioned above to try and fix the issue on your machine. Most likely you will find at least one tip that will fix the issue for you.
iMovie is a free video editing tool for Apple's users. iMovie is easy to use. However, you might encounter iMovie problems and issues sometimes. The most common issues are iMovie problems since macOS Sierra update, iMovie export problems, iMovie import problems. Whenever you encounter problems while using iMovie, you're supposed to calm down and find the solution quickly. Below we're going to discuss about the top 10 common iMovie issues the best solutions.
Part 1. Best iMovie Alternative to Fix All iMovie Probelms - Recommended
Filmora Video Editor is the best alternative to iMovie for Mac (macOS 10.13 High Sierra included) I'd like to recommend to you. It's easy to use, even for beginners in editing videos can start the editing right away. As for the features, Filmora Video Editor provides you with handy video editing tools and free video effects, including trimming, rotating, splitting, cropping, adding background music, and effects like transitions, filters, texts, overlays, intro/credit, PIP, green screen, motion graphics, and so on.
Why Recommend This iMovie Alternative:
- Best for beginners and professionals with easy-to-use interface and advanced editing tools.
- Come with 300+ new effects to personalize your video, including filters, overlay, PIP, motion graphics, etc.
- Support edit video, audio and photo in any format, and you can edit 4K videos and GIF files.
- Simply drag and drop to import files from cameras, phones and export files in many ways in high quality.
Part 2. Top 10 Common iMovie Problems and Solutions
1. Poor camera connection
You will at more than one instance find that your camera's connectivity to the iMovie is not up to the required standards. That is one of the problems that you will with no doubt have to deal with when you are importing your footage directly from the camera. The problem could have arisen from a variety of factors that include incompatibility of the USB cable on either the iMovie or camera.
The best solution for that is replacing the USB cable with another output option like FireWire. If you are using a camcorder, it will require nothing more than using the guidelines given out in the user manual. If followed strictly, it will not be challenging having the camera sync well with the iMovie.
2. Slowed speed
It is not unusual to have the iMovie running slow when editing movies and videos. This can be as a result of the program being given too many commands at the same time which it might be unable to dispense simultaneously. When that happens, the iMovie will definitely end up being slow in functioning. The ideal solution to this is ensuring that iMovie is not overworked so be very keen on the commands you give it. Every command should be given at a time and in a systematic manner.
There are times when slow functioning of iMovie results from inadequate memory which can also be addressed easily. Delete all the files that are not necessary in the project because they end up eating too much of the available storage space. Don't allow any idle files to sit in the iMovie if you know the storage space is not enough. Alternatively, you can countercheck the memory requirements of the movie to be edited and the capacity offered by iMovie in advance to know whether they match. That can be a good solution to cushion the program from enduring this problem.
3. iMovie not exporting
It might not be as smooth as you expect when exporting movies from iMovie and it is a huge problem. You might end up with a mix-up of audio and video files as they compete for space. The files cannot compete if the storage space is adequate and your troubleshooting must begin from that. Check the space available to determine if it's the cause of the problem arising from movie exporting.
If that is not the cause, it might be that the original project was corrupted in one way or another. Definitely, you will have to come up with a fresh project if that is the situation. You must go to the extreme in making sure the problems associated with movie exporting are completely dealt with.
4. Lacks sound
Never take anything for granted that your iMovie project must have quality sound. You will be surprised to note that leave alone having poor quality sound, there will be no sound at all. Wrong preferences can cause this problem so you need to make sure that all the settings are adjusted properly. Another cause can be incompatible format which is not supported by iMovie. The solution will be converting the files to a format that is friendly to iMovie and the sound will play normally.
5. Files distortion
Whether its video or audio files, they might suffer distortion if the right exporting and importing procedures are not followed. You might get the video quality looking questionable while audio will not be very clear as you expect. To avoid that from happening, make sure you export or import files of right size that the iMovie can handle without damaging the original quality. Also, everything touching on editing has to be done in the timeline and nowhere else. That is the natural editing section in iMovie and any violation will cause file distortion.
6. iMovie crashing
This is a problem of iMovie that needs no introduction. It can be as a result of corrupted files and being overworked which many users do knowingly. You must observe the right workload for your iMovie to prevent it from crashing. File corruption will be occasioned by the presence of viruses in the computer system and carrying out a thorough scan will help to solve the issue. Scan the system as many times as often to maintain it clean and free from viruses.
7. Error creating DVDs
It is possible to convert movies from iMovie to DVD but length will matter a lot. For instance, short movies will be converted flawlessly but problems will start manifesting once there are longer movies to handle with iMovie. The source of the problem might be low RAM or an incompatible Mac system. In case you determine that's the basis of the problem, it will be advisable that you improve on its RAM as well as change your Mac system to a friendlier one. Alternatively, you can choose to ignore the iDVD feature in iMovie and convert the movies to DVD directly.
Why Won't My Imovie Save
8. Ineffective trailer
You would want to announce the expected unveiling of your new movie with a trailer but it frustrates you unexpectedly. If it happens, that can be the worst of the problems that you will experience with iMovie. This will include selecting the best clips and music but end up experiencing unanticipated hitches.
To solve that problem, go to 'fonts' and open to activate all the fonts in case some are inactive. Come up with a new account, log in and iMovie will restart automatically. From there, you can visit 'disk utility' button, select 'repair permission' and then 'restart OSX'. That should have your movie trailer up and running effectively.
9. Annoying video effects
There are several video effects that you can add to movies in iMovie and they are specifically there to enhance quality and appeal. Unfortunately, some of the effects will end up annoying you once they fail to render successfully. That will be an iMovie rendering problems to do with improper rendering. You will have to follow the given guidelines for each and every effect if at all you want them to add to your movie correctly. Don't expect things to work out miraculously but your effort must count.
10. Unsatisfactory bend results
Imovie Won T Export
This is a general problem of iMovie that you will encounter at the close of the project. It can be unfinished project, poor quality video and audio or incompatible movies which will trace their source to one of the key steps involved. To make sure your iMovie does not deliver such disgusting results at the end of the movie project, be sure to follow all the outlined procedures from the start to the end without omission.