iMovie Not Responding on Mac | 4 Tips & 3 Methods

From the literal meaning, "iMovie not responding" signifies that iMovie fails to launch, play a project, or simply doesn't open. The screen might become unresponsive, ignoring any clicks. However, there's no need to panic as there's always a solution. You could attempt to reinstall iMovie or verify the compatibility of your camera and media. Alternatively, peruse the quick tips and other methods we've specifically curated for you. If you're encountering issues like iMovie loading or running slowly, or getting stuck during processing, you might find resolutions here as well.

Fix iMovie Not Responding Issue Due to Corrupted Videos with Video Repair Tool

Video corruption is a primary cause for iMovie not responding. You can utilize video repair software for Mac to assist in resolving the issue. Fixo Video Repair is an excellent option for those unfamiliar with the process of video repair.

Fixo Video Repair is a professional and dependable software solution designed to 修复Mac上的损坏视频文件. It effectively addresses common issues like MP4无法在Mac上播放 and MP4无声音问题. This Mac视频修复工具 is user-friendly, making it accessible for even computer novices without requiring technical assistance.

Here's how you can fix your corrupted videos using this video repair tool:

Step 1. Launch Fixo tool on your Mac

Download the tool Fixo on your Mac and open it. Click "Video Repair" on the left side, then hit "Add Video" to upload your corrupted MP4/MOV/MKV/3GP video files.

This image shows the steps to launch the Fixo tool for video repair on a Mac.

Step 2. Select the corrupted video and initiate the repair process

Choose a targeted video and click the "Repair" button to initiate the individual video repair process. If you wish to repair all videos, select them all and click "Repair All."

Step 3. Preview and save the repaired videos

Wait a few minutes, and the damaged videos will be restored. The waiting time depends on the extent of the corruption in your videos. Afterward, click "View Repaired" to preview the videos. To save the corrected video, hit the "Save" button. If you have multiple videos, it's fine to save them all; simply select "Save All" to conclude the process.

Step 4. Run the advanced video repair process

If the quick fix doesn't work, attempt the advanced repair mode. Select "Advanced Repair" to initiate the process. After uploading a sample video, choose "Confirm."

Translation:

Step 5. Preview and save the repaired video in Advanced Mode

A window with detailed information about the corruption and sample videos will appear. Click "Repair Now" to commence the process. Upon completion of the repair, you can preview the fixed videos and click the "Save" button to retain the repaired video files at your desired location.

Four Simple Tips to Solve iMovie Not Responding Issue

To assist you in solving problems efficiently, we've prepared four simple tips that enable you to complete processes in just three steps. If you've attempted these, proceed to more advanced solutions for a range of methods.

• Tip 1. Relaunch iMovie App
• Tip 2. Force Quit iMovie
• Tip 3. Update macOS and iMovie
• Tip 4. Reset iMovie by Clearing iMovie Preferences

Tip 1. Relaunch iMovie App

You can first try simply relaunching your iMovie app to resolve this issue. This method also works if you encounter a black screen in iMovie.

Option 1:

Step 1. Press and hold the Command + Space key to open "Spotlight search."

Step 2. Type iMovie in the search bar and press Enter.

Step 3. Click the iMovie icon or press Enter to open it.

Option 2:

Step 1. Click to open Finder from the dock.

Step 2. Click on "Applications" from the left panel.

Step 3. Go to iMovie and click to open it.

If iMovie still doesn't work, update the firmware or get your Mac serviced.

Tip 2: Force Quit iMovie

If the entire screen turns transparent and your clicks aren't registering, you can try force quitting iMovie.

Step 1. Click on the Apple logo and choose "Force Quit" from the dropdown menu.

Step 2. Select the iMovie app from the list and click Force Quit.

Step 3. Click "Force Quit" again when the confirmation window appears.

Tip 3: Update macOS and iMovie

You can attempt to update macOS or iMovie, as older versions might have bugs causing compatibility issues. It's advisable to do this when you encounter problems with videos not working on your Mac. Here's how to proceed:

Step 1. Click on the Apple icon and select "App Store" from the dropdown menu.

Step 2. Click "Updates" in the left panel.

Step 3. If updates are available, click "Update" next to the app icon or update all software by clicking "Update All".

Tip 4. Reset iMovie by Clearing iMovie Preferences

You can check and reset iMovie preferences to default settings to address the issue of iMovie not responding.

Step 1. First, quit the iMovie app on your Mac.

Step 2. Hold down the Option + Command keys while opening iMovie.

Step 3. Click "Delete Preferences" when the confirmation window appears.

More Methods to Unfreeze iMovie with Ease

Here are some more complex yet helpful methods to address the issue of iMovie not functioning on your Mac:

1. Method 1. Reset PRAM or NVRAM on your Mac
2. Method 2. Test with A New Library and Project
3. Method 3. Boot your Mac in Safe Mode

Method 1: Reset the PRAM or NVRAM on your Mac

PRAM and NVRAM are two specific types of memory that preserve your data when you power off your device. They store information even when the battery runs out. Resetting them can resolve the unresponsive issue. The method for doing this varies depending on your processor.

For Intel processor users:

Step 1. Turn off your Mac by clicking the Apple icon and selecting Shut Down.

Step 2. Restart your Mac by pressing the power button. Hold down the Command + Option + P + R keys together for 20 seconds, until you hear the startup sound.

Step 3. Release all keys when you hear the start-up sound again.

For Silicon processor users

There's no need to manually reset PRAM or NVRAM on an M1 Mac; it automatically resets when it detects an issue.

Method 2: Test with a New Library and Project Method 2: Testing with a Fresh Library and Project

Creating a new library and project can sometimes help uncover issues within the iMovie app. Here's how to do it:

Step 1. Launch iMovie while holding down the Option key.

Step 2. Create a new library by clicking "New".

Step 3. You can now create a new project to check if the issue persists.

Method 3: Boot Your Mac in Safe Mode

Rebooting your Mac in safe mode is also a recommended approach to eliminate any interference from third-party applications.

Step 1. Restart your Mac and press the "Shift key" as it starts up.

Step 2. Log in to your Mac when you see the login window.

Step 3. If prompted, log back into your Mac. If you see "Safe Boot" in the top-right corner, you've successfully started your Mac in Safe Mode.

Now, open your photos or videos again to see if the issue still persists.

Frequently Asked Questions About iMovie Not Responding

Here are some frequently asked questions that assist you in resolving additional issues:

1. What should you do when iMovie is unresponsive?

您可以尝试以下方法：

Translate the following text into English:
• Update iMovie and macOS
• Reset iMovie or reinstall iMovie
• Create a new library and project
• Reset NVRAM

2. How do you unfreeze iMovie?

You can attempt to force quit iMovie and then relaunch it from the Finder. However, if you have any ongoing projects in iMovie, do not use this method. You can also directly open iMovie from the Finder without quitting it.

3. How to resolve the black screen issue in iMovie?

To resolve the black screen issue in iMovie, you can attempt the following methods:

Create a new media library. Trash your preferences. Reduce the memory usage. Restart iMovie. Import your video clip again. Reinstall the iMovie app.

Final Words in English would be "Closing Remarks" or "Concluding Thoughts."

In this post about tools, we offer four simple tips and three advanced techniques to address the issue of iMovie not responding. Choose the solutions that suit your needs to resolve the problem. Should your videos become accidentally corrupted, it is advised to seek assistance from the Fixo Video Repair tool. Give it a try now.