Having an eye for creative video editing, you should know how to import YouTube videos into iMovie. If you need help figuring out where to start, this guide is for you. This guide will take a deep dive into the basics of importing your favorite YouTube videos directly into iMovie.
We’ll provide detailed instructions on how best to accomplish this so that all your projects are ready for professional quality. So, let’s get started learning about importing YouTube videos into iMovie and creating incredible movies.
Import YouTube Videos Into iMovie
If you want to add some of your favorite YouTube videos into an iMovie project, it’s easier than you think. In just a few simple steps, you can quickly and easily bring your favorite clips from the web into your iMovie timeline. After editing, upload your content on different platforms, and learn how to upload YouTube video to Instagram, for example. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Download Your Clip
First, you’ll need to download the video clip that you want to use in your project. You can do this by going to the YouTube video page, clicking on the three dots next to Share, and selecting Download.
Choose a file format and quality setting, and then save the file somewhere on your computer where it will be easy to locate.
2. Create New Project
Once the download is complete, open up iMovie on your Mac or iOS device and create a new project (or open an existing one). You should see an “Import” button at the top left corner of the window; click on it.
Select “Movies…” from the drop-down menu and navigate to the folder where you downloaded the YouTube video file. Select it and click “Import Selected.”
3. Start Editing
After importing, head over to your timeline view in iMovie, where all your clips are added. Click on “Add To Project” at the bottom right corner of each clip to add them to your timeline; alternatively, if there’s a specific part of a clip that you want to be included in your final project, drag it onto the timeline directly.
Once all of your clips are added, rearrange them as needed or apply effects such as fade-in/out transitions with just a few clicks.
Import YouTube Videos Into iMovie on Mac
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to add YouTube videos to iMovie on Mac.
1. Download from Third Party Software
First off, you will need to download the video from YouTube. You can do this with third-party software like VideoDuke or Airy, which are specifically designed for downloading and converting YouTube videos.
2. QuickTime Player
Once the file has been downloaded, you’ll need to open it in QuickTime Player (or some other media player that can play .mp4 files). If you have trouble opening the .mp4 file in QuickTime Player, convert it into a .mov file first using any video converter program.
3. Drag and Drop the Video into Your Timeline
Once the video is playing in QuickTime Player, drag and drop it into your iMovie project window, this will add the video clip to your timeline, where you can make all of your editing adjustments needed for the perfect video.
You can also use this method for other media files not natively supported by iMovie, such as .avi files, .swf files, and more.
Things to Keep in Mind

Now that you know how to add YouTube videos into iMovie, there are a few more things you should keep in mind before publishing your masterpiece online.
- Make sure that you have all necessary rights and permissions to use any copyrighted material found in your video.
- Ensure that all audio levels are correctly balanced, so they don’t overpower each other while playing back on different devices or platforms.
- In addition, make sure that the resolution of your video matches what is accepted by social media sites like Twitter or Instagram (as some may reject HD content).
- Lastly, take advantage of all of the editing tools and effects available within iMovie itself – these will help bring out the best production values possible for each video clip to give them a professional look and feel once published online.
By following this step-by-step guide on how to put YouTube videos into iMovie on Mac computers, you can easily create incredible videos within minutes.
Final Thoughts
Now that you know how easy it is to import YouTube videos into iMovie, why not incorporate some of these clips into your next project? With just a few simple steps, you can take any project presentation or video collage up several notches with high-quality multimedia content straight from YouTube.