To delete videos (clips) off iMovie, the most direct method is to select the clip within your iMovie library and choose File > Move to Trash. This action permanently removes the clip from your iMovie storage and moves it to your Mac's Trash, freeing up space.
Deleting Clips from Your iMovie Library
When you want to remove video clips that are no longer needed from your iMovie application, follow these steps:
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Open iMovie: Launch the iMovie application on your Mac.
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Navigate to Libraries: In the Libraries sidebar, select the library or event that contains the video clip(s) you wish to delete.
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Select the Clip(s): Click on the specific video clip or multiple clips you want to remove. You can hold down the Command key while clicking to select multiple non-consecutive clips, or hold Shift to select a range.
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Move to Trash:
- Go to the File menu at the top of your screen.
- Select Move to Trash.
A confirmation dialog may appear. Confirm your action to move the selected clip(s) to your Mac's Trash.
Important Considerations Before Deleting
It's crucial to understand a few nuances, especially if the clip is part of an ongoing project or if you're confusing "deleting" with "rejecting."
Clips Used in Projects
If a video clip you are attempting to delete is currently being used in an iMovie project (i.e., it's on your project's timeline), iMovie will prompt you with a message. This message will ask you to remove the clip from the project before you can delete the original source clip from your library.
To remove a clip from a project:
- Open the Project: Navigate to the project where the clip is used.
- Select Clip in Timeline: Click on the clip within your project's timeline.
- Remove from Project:
- Press the Delete key on your keyboard. This removes the clip from the project timeline but does not delete the original source clip from your library.
- Alternatively, Control-click (or right-click) the clip in the timeline and choose Delete from the contextual menu.
- Return to Library: Once removed from all projects, you can then proceed with the steps outlined above (File > Move to Trash) to delete the original clip from your iMovie library.
Understanding the 'Delete' Key vs. 'Move to Trash'
There's a significant difference between selecting a clip in your library and pressing the Delete key, and using the File > Move to Trash command.
| Action | Effect on Clip | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
File > Move to Trash |
Permanently removes the clip from iMovie library and sends it to your Mac's Trash. | Frees up storage space and removes unwanted media. |
Selecting clip & pressing Delete |
Marks the clip as rejected within iMovie. It remains in your library but can be hidden. | Used for culling unwanted footage without permanently deleting it. |
Marking a clip as rejected is a handy feature for organizing and quickly identifying footage you don't intend to use without fully deleting it. For more details on this, you might explore information on how to rate clips in iMovie on Mac.
Best Practices for Managing iMovie Media
- Organize First: Before deleting, ensure your projects are finalized and you no longer need the raw footage for future edits or archival purposes.
- Back Up Important Media: If you're unsure, consider backing up your iMovie libraries or source media to an external drive before permanently deleting them.
- Empty Trash: Remember that clips moved to the Trash on your Mac still occupy space until you empty the Trash.
