Using iMovie with two Macs

If you’ve worked in Apple’s ecosystem for a while, you’d be familiar with how easy it is to seamlessly start a task on one Mac and then move to another and pick up from where you left off. But I’ve discovered all is not simple. I was working on an iMovie project on my MacBook Air and expected to be able to pick things up when I got back to my office. But despite there being an iMovie sync option in iCloud, it doesn’t work they was I expected.

While iMovie works across macOS, iPadOS and iOS, it’s not possible to have a single iMovie library (the repository where Apple stores iMovie files and assets) that is shared across devices using iCloud. What makes that a little tricky to realise is that there’s an iMovie sync option in System Settings.

However, there’s no way to sync an iMovie library across Macs. But there is a way to copy an iMovie library between devices. That makes it possible to start a project on one device and then finish it on another. But it’s a multi-stage process. 

Step 1 – Consolidate your project media

Every iMovie project is made up multiple parts. There may be multiple video files, images, music and other assets. Consolidating the project media ensures that when you move the project to a new library. 

To consolidate iMovie Project Media

1. Select the project.
2. From the file menu choose Consolidate Project Media

Step 2 – Create a new iMovie library

By default, Apple puts all your iMovie projects into a single library. But you can create multiple libraries to organise projects. Here’s how to create a new iMovie library.

1. Open iMovie. 
2. From the file menu, choose Open Library and then select New…
3. Give your library. 
4. Click Save. 

You can choose to create that library on an external drive. That’s a good idea if you plan to open the iMovie library on another device. 

Step 3 – Move your iMovie projects to the new library

Moving iMovie projects between libraries is straightforward. 

1. Select the project.
2. Click the small circle with the three dots. 
3. Choose the library you want to move the project to.

You can switch between different libraries by clicking on the drop-down list at the top of the screen.

Step 4 – Move your iMovie projects to another Mac

The final step in transferring your iMovie projects to another Mac is copying it over. 

iMove projects are stored in your user folder. You’ll find that at 

Macintosh HD/Users/Username/Movies

Once you find the iMovie library, copy it to an external storage device. Then connect that device to your second Mac and copy the library to the same location on the second Mac. 

Step 5 – Opening the transferred iMovie Library.

The transferred iMovie Library won’t automatically appear in your list of iMovie libraries. 

1. From the File menu, choose Open Library, Other. 
2. If needed, click the Locate button, navigate to the folder that holds your new iMovie Library and select it.
3. Press Open.