How to Use iMovie for Beginners

Learn iMovie basics: import videos, edit clips, add transitions, insert music, and export your finished movie. Complete beginner's guide to Apple's video editor.

1. Create a new project. Open iMovie and click Create New in the Projects browser. Select Movie from the options. Choose a theme or select No Theme for maximum editing flexibility. Click Create to open the timeline interface.
2. Import your video files. Click the Import Media button in the top-left corner. Navigate to your video files and select the clips you want to use. Click Import Selected to add them to your Event Library. Your imported clips appear in the browser above the timeline.
3. Add clips to your timeline. Drag video clips from the browser down to the timeline at the bottom of the screen. Drop them in the order you want them to appear in your final movie. The timeline shows your movie sequence from left to right.
4. Trim and split your clips. Position your cursor at the beginning or end of a clip until you see the trim cursor. Drag inward to shorten the clip. To split a clip, position the playhead where you want the cut and press Cmd+B. This creates two separate clips you can move independently.
5. Add transitions between clips. Click the Transitions button in the top toolbar. Browse the available transitions and drag your chosen effect to the border between two clips. The default duration is 1 second—double-click the transition icon to adjust the timing.
6. Insert titles and text. Click the Titles button in the toolbar. Select a title style and drag it above a clip in the timeline where you want text to appear. Double-click the title in the timeline to edit the text in the viewer. Adjust font, size, and color using the controls above the viewer.
7. Add background music. Click the Audio button and select Music. Choose from iTunes library, built-in soundtracks, or import your own audio files. Drag the music file below your video clips in the timeline. Green audio waveforms indicate background music that automatically adjusts volume when you speak.
8. Export your finished movie. Click the Share button in the top-right corner. Select File to export a video file to your computer. Choose your resolution—1080p HD works for most purposes. Click Next, choose your save location, and click Save. iMovie renders your project into a playable video file.