How to Download and Convert Incompatible Media Files in iMovie for Mac (10.13.6)

If you're using a Mac running macOS Catalina or later, you may encounter issues with incompatible media files in your iMovie library. This article will guide you through the process of detecting and converting these files so that they can be used seamlessly in iMovie.

Method Not Supported in macOS Catalina

Unfortunately, the method for converting incompatible media files is no longer supported in macOS Catalina. However, there are alternative ways to convert these files, which we'll discuss below.

Converting Incompatible Media Files Using QuickTime Player

For Macs running macOS Mojave or earlier, you can use QuickTime Player (version 10.0 and later) to open the incompatible media file and save a copy with a new name. This method is not supported in macOS Catalina, but it's still worth mentioning as an alternative solution.

Perian Collection of Codecs

The Perian collection of codecs includes Microsoft MPEG-4, DivX, 3ivx, VP6, VP3, and others. These video, audio, still-image, and container formats are compatible with iMovie on Mac computers running macOS Catalina or later.

Detecting and Converting Incompatible Media Files in iMovie

To detect and convert incompatible media files in iMovie, follow these steps:

1. Open iMovie and go to File > Check Media for Compatibility.

2. A window will appear listing all the incompatible media files in your library.

3. Click on Convert to start the conversion process.

Alternatively, you can use iMovie's built-in feature to scan your library and convert incompatible files later:

1. Open iMovie and go to File > Check Media for Compatibility.

2. A window will appear listing all the incompatible media files in your library.

3. Select the files you want to convert and click on Convert.

Original Files Moved to an Incompatible Media Folder

After converting the incompatible media files, the original files will be moved to an iMovie Incompatible Media folder located in the same folder as your library.

iMovie Creates Copies of Media Files in H.264 Format

When you convert incompatible media files using iMovie, it creates copies of the files in the H.264 format.

In this article, we've covered how to detect and convert incompatible media files in iMovie for Mac (10.13.6) running macOS Catalina or later. By following these steps, you'll be able to use your incompatible media files seamlessly in iMovie.

Imovie for mac 10.13 6 download