Video
How to Completely Uninstall iMovie on Mac
To uninstall iMovie, quit the app and drag it from the Applications folder to the Trash. Since it is free from Apple, you can later reinstall it via the Mac App Store using your Apple Account.
Remove iMovie and everything it leaves behind
iMovie data usually takes 1 GB – 100 GB on a Mac. The free scan shows the exact size on your Mac before you change anything.
Free scan · No account · Nothing is deleted without your OK · Moves to the Trash first · macOS 14+
OptiClear is a Mac app. Copy this page's link and open it on your Mac.
Email me the link- Application
- iMovie
- Typical data size
- 1 GB – 100 GB
- Category
- Video
- File Location
~/Movies/iMovie Library.imovielibrary
Manual cleanup steps
- Quit the app completely (⌘+Q in the menu bar).
- Move iMovie from the Applications folder to the Trash.
- Remove the folders iMovie left behind, listed in the table below.
- Empty the Trash to free up the space.
Everything iMovie keeps on your Mac
2 locations. Tick each one as you remove it; back up anything marked as your data first.
Locations are the standard macOS folders iMovie uses; some appear only after you use the matching feature.
What iMovie leaves behind
Specific to iMovie
Dragging the app to the Trash does not remove its associated data folders. Your library, containing projects and imported clips, remains in the Movies folder, while sandboxed settings and cache stay in ~/Library/Containers/com.apple.iMovieApp. These files often occupy 1 GB – 100 GB of space. You must remove these directories separately to fully clear all traces.
- Account and sync
- iMovie is free from Apple and can be reinstalled from the Mac App Store with your Apple Account.
Preparing iMovie for removal
Before deleting the app, ensure you have saved all essential work. Because the library bundle copies imported clips, deleting it might destroy footage that exists nowhere else. Verify if your media originated from the Photos library or resides only within the app. You can reduce the library size by deleting render files through the internal settings menu.
0 of 4 done
By hand or with OptiClear
| By hand | With OptiClear | |
|---|---|---|
| Places to check | 2 folders, one by one | One scan |
| File sizes | You look them up yourself | Shown for every item |
| Removing the wrong thing | Easy to delete the wrong folder | Goes to the Trash first, so it can be restored |
| Cost | Free | Scan is free; cleaning needs Pro (yearly plan has a 7-day free trial) |
See it working
Try it without risk
- Download and scan for freeSee every iMovie file and its size. No account needed.
- Clean free for 7 daysStart the 7-day free trial of the yearly plan inside the app.
- Keep it or cancelCancel in your App Store settings at least 24 hours before the trial ends and you won't be charged.
After the free trial, Pro costs $39.99 per year in your country's App Store; cancel any time.