Work with multiple libraries in iMovie on Mac
The library contains your clips organized into events, and the projects you create. Most of the time, you have only one iMovie library, but you can create additional libraries so that you can:
Back up your current project
Create an archive of your events and projects on a separate (external) storage device
Free up storage space on your Mac by moving iMovie events to another storage device
Edit a project on another Mac
You can create additional library files in different locations on your Mac or on different storage devices.
Create a new library
In the iMovie app
on your Mac, choose File > Open Library > New.In the Save dialog that appears, type a name for the new library, and navigate to the location where you want to save it.
The default location is the Movies folder in your home folder.
Click Save.
A new library is created in the location you chose, and a new, empty event with today’s date is created.
Copy or move clips between libraries or storage devices
Connect a storage device that contains the target library to your Mac, or copy the target library to your Mac.
In the iMovie app
on your Mac, choose File > Open Library, and choose an option from the submenu.You can choose from recently opened libraries, locate an existing library on your Mac, or create a new library.
The selected library is opened in the Libraries list, with the first event selected and its contents displayed in the browser.
In the Libraries list, select the event that contains the clips you want to move or copy.
In the browser, select the clips you want to move or copy.
Tip: To select multiple clips in the same library, hold down the Command key as you click the clips you want to select, or drag a selection rectangle around the clips.
Do one of the following:
Move clips between events or libraries: Drag the clip or clips to another event or library.
Copy clips between events or libraries: Option-drag the clip or clips to another event or library by first starting to drag and then holding down the Option key as you drag.
Copy or move events between libraries or storage devices
Connect a storage device that contains the target library to your Mac, or copy the target library to your Mac.
In the iMovie app
on your Mac, choose File > Open Library, and choose an option from the submenu.You can choose from recently opened libraries, locate an existing library on your Mac, or create a new library.
The selected library is opened in the Libraries list, with the first event selected and its contents displayed in the browser.
In the Libraries list, select the event that you want to move or copy.
Do one of the following:
Move events between libraries: Drag the event to another library.
Copy events between libraries: Option-drag the event to another library by first starting to drag and then holding down the Option key as you drag.
Copy or move projects between libraries
Connect a storage device that contains the target library to your Mac, or copy the target library to your Mac.
In the iMovie app
on your Mac, choose File > Open Library, and choose an option from the submenu.You can choose from recently opened libraries, locate an existing library on your Mac, or create a new library.
The selected library is opened in the Libraries list, with the first event selected and its contents displayed in the browser.
Click the Projects button in the toolbar.
Select the project you want to move or copy.
Click the button to the right of the project name, then do one of the following:
Copy the project to another library: Click Copy to Library, then choose a library from the submenu.
Move the project to another library: Click Move to Library, then choose a library from the submenu.