7 Ways to Fix iMovie Won’t Export Error on Mac

Have you edited a video on iMovie solely to be greeted by an error message saying “The Operation Couldn’t Be Completed” proper after you export it?

iMovie is yet one more utility developed by Apple for its fans to get pleasure from. It is a video enhancing app that’s accessible on macOS and iOS with a lot of performance that allows you to create cinematic movies on the go. 

While the app presents numerous positives to its customers, there have been studies from Apple Support Community relating to numerous points with the app. One of those issues is when the movies that you’ve got edited on the app merely refuse to be saved and export out of your device.

Luckily, there’s a devoted web page on Apple Support that tackles the problems relating to iMovie. In this information, we’re going to stroll you thru the totally different strategies which you can attempt to repair the problem with iMovie received’t export the movies that you’ve got created. 

Let’s get began. 

1. Restart Your Mac. 

It could seem {that a} easy restart of your pc doesn’t do something in any respect, however a easy restart of your pc would permit your working system (macOS on this case) to reload all of its assets which can have encountered a brief glitch throughout your use. 

Before doing this, just be sure you save all of your progress on iMovie first to keep away from dropping your work. 

Now, to restart your Mac correctly, take a look at the steps beneath:

1. On your pc, click on on the Apple emblem positioned on the upper-left nook of your display screen. 
2. After that, click on on Restart.

3. Lastly, wait in your Mac to complete restarting. 

On the opposite hand, it’s also possible to restart your Mac pc by holding the Power button till the choices menu seems in your display screen. Now, click on on Restart or press the R key in your keyboard. 

Once your pc has restarted, return to iMove and attempt to export the video that you simply need to see if the error would nonetheless happen. 

2. Update iMovie. 

There are numerous issues that may happen in case you are working an outdated model of any utility in your pc or different gadgets. An outdated model of iMovie could trigger compatibility points together with your working system that may have an effect on the efficiency of the app. 

To repair this, just be sure you are working the most recent model of iMovie earlier than enhancing or exporting movies from the app. 

1. First, click on on the Apple emblem positioned on the high of your display screen. 
2. Next, click on on Apple Store. 

3. Inside the Apple Store, click on on the Updates tab. 
4. Lastly, Apple Store would routinely scan for any update accessible to all of the apps put in in your Mac. If accessible, press the Update button beside iMovie to put in the update. 

After updating iMovie in your Mac, restart it and attempt to export the video on iMovie as soon as once more to see if the ‘won’t export’ error message would nonetheless happen in your pc. 

However, in case you are nonetheless having points with iMovie after the update, you possibly can strive doing the subsequent methodology beneath to handle the issue. 

3. Update macOS. 

As talked about above, even outdated variations of working techniques can even trigger incompatibility points with iMovie and different purposes. It is feasible that there was a latest update with iMovie and it not helps the present model of macOS put in in your pc. 

To repair this, merely update your macOS to the most recent model accessible. 

If you might be using macOS Mojave or later, you possibly can test for an update by doing the next. 

1. On your Mac, click on on the Apple emblem on the high of your display screen and choose System Preferences. 
2. Inside System Preferences, click on on Software Update. 

3. Lastly, click on on the Update Now button if accessible. 

For earlier variations of macOS, you possibly can test for an update using the Apple Store, which is mentioned in Method 2.

Once the update is put in, restart your Mac as soon as once more and attempt to export the video on iMovie to see if the error message saying ‘The Operation Couldn’t Be Completed’ is already mounted. 

4. Boot in Safe Mode. 

Booting in Safe Mode on Mac permits your working system to restore itself and clear system caches which will have an effect on the efficiency of a number of purposes in your pc, together with iMovie. 

Try working iMovie whereas in Safe Mode to see if the error message would nonetheless seem whereas exporting a video. 

1. First, flip off your pc fully.
2. After that, press on the Shift key in your keyboard and hit the Power button. 
3. Continue holding the Shift key till your Mac boots up fully. 
4. Lastly, open iMovie and attempt to export the video. 

If you might have exported the video efficiently whereas in Safe Mode, restart your pc and exit Safe Mode. Now, strive exporting one other video to see if the error message would nonetheless happen. 

5. Check the Name of Your Export. 

iMovie doesn’t permit particular characters and symbols in your export file. In this case, you possibly can strive verifying if there are any particular symbols or characters included on the file identify of your export and take away it. 

Once you might have eliminated any unallowed characters on the export file, attempt to export it as soon as once more to see if will probably be profitable. 

Alternatively, when you nonetheless need to embody particular characters on the export file, you possibly can simply rename it after the export is finished. 

6. Check Your Export Settings. 

For some unknown causes, the H.264 codec of iMovie is having points while you export using “Best Quality” multipass encoding. In this case, you possibly can repair the problem by tweaking just a few settings in your export preferences. 

Follow the information beneath to know precisely what you have to change:

1. On iMovie, click on on the Share button. 
2. After that, export the video using QuickTime. 

3. Next, click on on Options, then Settings. 
4. Lastly, change the next choices: 

Compression Type     : MPEG-4 Video

Key Frames                 : Auto

Date Rate                   : Auto

Compressor Quality  : High

Now, attempt to export the video that you’re having issues with to see if the error message would nonetheless happen on iMovie. 

7. Try Exporting Another Project. 

If you might be nonetheless having points exporting a particular undertaking, it’s attainable that its library information acquired deleted or corrupted in your Mac which causes the error in your pc. 

To rule this out, attempt to create one other undertaking and add a brief video in it and add a few results. Once finished, attempt to export the brand new undertaking in your pc to see if it would go easily. 

If the brand new undertaking has been exported efficiently, which means the issue is with the particular undertaking that refuses to export. Try to test all of the movies utilized in that undertaking and be sure that none is lacking or corrupted. 

However, in case you are having issues exporting any undertaking on iMovie, you possibly can strive doing the ultimate methodology beneath to repair the problem in your pc. 

8. Reset NVRAM or PRAM. 

Resetting your NVRAM or PRAM would reset sure system preferences settings and configurations that you could have modified unknowingly which causes iMovie to malfunction and refuse to export any undertaking in your pc. 

To reset your NVRAM take a look at the steps beneath:

1. First, flip off your Mac pc. 
2. Next, find the Option + Command + P + R keys in your keyboard however don’t press it but. 
3. Lastly, press the Power button in your Mac and instantly maintain the Option + Command + P + R keys in your keyboard and proceed holding it for 20 seconds.

Allow your pc to reboot usually afterwards and attempt to use iMovie in exporting a undertaking as soon as once more to see if the error message is already mounted. 

This sums up our information on how to repair iMovie received’t export any undertaking in your Mac pc. If you discover different options which will assist others in coping with this particular problem, kindly share it within the remark part beneath, and we might offer you credit score for the answer as soon as we update this text. 

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