Import into iMovie on iPad from your Mac
If your Mac has macOS Catalina 10.15 or later installed, you can use the Finder to import iMovie projects created on a different iPhone or iPad. You must first export the iMovie project from the other iPhone or iPad. See Share to other devices or apps in iMovie on iPad.
If your Mac has macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier installed, see Import a video clip or an iMovie project from iTunes, below.
Important: If you use iCloud Photos, you can’t sync your photos or video clips using the Finder or iTunes.
Import a video clip or an iMovie project from the Finder
Connect your iPhone or iPad to your Mac, then open a Finder window on your Mac (click the desktop, then choose File > New Finder Window).
You may be asked to trust the computer you’re connecting your device to. To continue, tap Trust on your device.
Click the device’s name in the sidebar of the Finder window, then click Files in the bar below the device name.
Drag the file you want to add to the device’s Finder window.
Open iMovie on your device.
Do one of the following:
Import a project: In the Projects browser, tap the More Options button
at the bottom of the screen, then tap Import Project.Import a video clip or photo: Open a project, then tap the Add Media button
.
Tap Browse, then navigate to the location of the item you want to import, and tap it.
When the import is complete, the video clip or photo is added to the project you’re editing or the imported project opens. Imported projects can be edited in the same way as other projects.
Import a video clip or an iMovie project from iTunes
If your Mac has macOS Catalina 10.15 or later installed, see Import a video clip or an iMovie project from the Finder, above.
Connect your iPhone or iPad to your computer, then open iTunes on your computer.
You may be asked to trust the computer you’re connecting your device to. To continue, tap Trust on your device.
Click the button for your device near the top-left corner of the iTunes window.
Select Apps in the sidebar on the left.
Select iMovie in the Apps list below File Sharing (you may need to scroll to see it).
Do one of the following:
Drag the file you want to add to the iMovie Documents pane.
Click Add below the iMovie Documents pane, and in the window that appears, navigate to the file you want to add.
To copy the file to your device, select the file, then click Open.
The file appears in the iMovie Documents pane when copying is complete.
Open iMovie on your device.
Do one of the following:
Import a project: In the Projects browser, tap the More Options button
at the bottom of the screen, then tap Import Project.Import a video clip or photo: Open a project, then tap the Add Media button
.
Tap Browse, then navigate to the location of the item you want to import, and tap it.
When the import is complete, the video clip or photo is added to the project you’re editing or the imported project opens. Imported projects can be edited in the same way as other projects.
For more ways to transfer media from your computer to your iPhone or iPad, see Transfer media to iMovie on iPad.