Apple does not currently provide a version-picker in the Mac App Store. You cannot generally open iMovie’s listing and choose any historical release from a menu. The available controls are Get, Open, Update, and Redownload, depending on your account and Mac.
There are three practical routes: download the current iMovie release, redownload iMovie from the Apple Account that previously acquired it, or use one of Apple’s specifically published legacy DMG updates. Which route works depends on your macOS version, purchase history, and whether you need to open an old library or simply install an older application.
What “old version” means on a Mac
There are two different situations that are often confused:
- You need an older iMovie app because your Mac cannot run the current release.
- You have an older iMovie project or event and want to use it in current iMovie.
For the second situation, installing an old app may not be necessary. iMovie 10 can update projects and events created in earlier versions into a new library. The original project and event copies remain usable in the earlier iMovie version.
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For the first situation, Apple does not document a general App Store archive from which you can select iMovie 9, iMovie 8, or any other arbitrary release. The official legacy downloads currently exposed by Apple are iMovie 9.0.1 and iMovie 9.0.8 updates.
Check your Mac before downloading
The current Mac App Store listing identifies iMovie as Only for Mac and Free. Its listed requirements are:
| Requirement | Current listing |
|---|---|
| Operating system | macOS 15.6 or later |
| Memory | 4GB |
| Available storage | 3.5GB |
| Displayed version | 10.4.4 |
| Version-history date shown | Jan 28 |
If your Mac runs an older macOS release, the current listing may show an incompatibility message rather than an install button. That does not guarantee that Apple will offer an older compatible version, but the redownload route is the first thing to try if the Apple Account previously acquired iMovie.
Method 1: Download the current iMovie from the Mac App Store
Use this method if your Mac meets the current requirements or if you are installing iMovie for the first time.
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- Search for iMovie.
- Click Get.
- Authenticate with your Apple Account if prompted, then allow the download to finish.
If the button says Open or Update instead of Get, Apple says that the app was already bought or downloaded with that Apple Account.
Method 2: Redownload iMovie from your purchase history
This is the official route to try when you need an earlier compatible App Store build. Apple may offer a compatible version during redownload, but the current App Store instructions do not expose a control for selecting a particular historical version.
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- Open App Store.
- Click your name in the sidebar.
- Find iMovie in your purchases.
- Click Redownload.
If your name is not shown, click Sign In first. Use the Apple Account that originally downloaded or acquired iMovie, then click your photo in the sidebar and look for iMovie.
If iMovie is missing from the list
Check these causes before assuming the download is unavailable:
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| Wrong Apple Account | Sign out only if necessary, then sign in with the account used for the original acquisition. |
| Hidden purchase | Unhide iMovie in your Apple Account purchase settings before trying again. |
| Family Sharing | Use the family member’s purchase list if that person acquired iMovie. |
| Device incompatibility | The Mac may not support the version available to that account. |
For a Family Sharing purchase, open App Store, click your name, choose the family member under Purchased by, find iMovie, and click Redownload.
A Mac purchase also does not imply that the app is available on every Apple device. Apple specifically warns that an app bought for Mac may not work on iPhone or Apple Watch.
Method 3: Use Apple’s official legacy iMovie downloads
Apple currently exposes two legacy iMovie update pages. These are DMG files hosted on Apple’s update CDN, not an archive containing every App Store release.
| Download | Apple’s listed requirement | File size | What it is |
|---|---|---|---|
| iMovie 9.0.1 | Mac OS X 10.6.3 or later | 27.52MB | Update for iMovie 9.0 |
| iMovie 9.0.8 | OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later | 1.08GB | Legacy update addressing a QuickTime-component problem |
Install iMovie 9.0.1
- Open Apple’s iMovie 9.0.1 support page.
- Click the page’s Download link.
- Open the downloaded
iMovie9.0.1Update.dmgfile. - Follow the installer prompts.
Apple describes this as an update for iMovie 9.0, not as a universal full installer for every older iMovie release. It improves stability, corrects some stabilization problems with iPhone and iPod touch clips, fixes certain Facebook password failures, improves compatibility with cameras that create multiple formats, and improves Project Library scrolling.
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Install iMovie 9.0.8
- Open Apple’s iMovie 9.0.8 support page.
- Click Download.
- Open
iMovie9.0.8Update.dmg. - Complete the installer instructions.
Apple says iMovie 9.0.8 addresses a third-party QuickTime-component problem that could prevent iMovie from opening. It requires OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later.
These Apple pages provide graphical download and installation instructions. Apple does not document a Terminal command or command-line installation procedure for these files, so there is no official shell command to use instead.
Convert an old iMovie project for iMovie 10
Do not open an old project file directly in iMovie 10. Apple says projects and events from earlier iMovie versions must be updated. The conversion copies the material into a new iMovie library.
Automatic conversion
- Connect the drive containing the old projects or events.
- Open iMovie 10.
- When iMovie displays the update dialog, click Update.
- Wait while iMovie creates a new library on each storage device containing eligible projects or events.
The original copies remain available for earlier iMovie versions. Keep them until you have checked the converted library and exported anything important.
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Click Update Later in the dialog if you are not ready. iMovie opens an empty library containing a single event.
Start the conversion manually
- Open iMovie.
- Choose File > Update Projects and Events.
- Click Update in the dialog.
- Allow iMovie to search the Mac and connected storage devices.
Conversion does not repair obsolete media codecs. Apple warns that libraries may contain media incompatible with macOS versions after macOS Mojave. Updating the project structure and fixing media compatibility are separate problems.
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Fix an old library on an external drive
An old library may fail to open even when the iMovie installation is correct. iMovie libraries must not be stored on ExFAT, FAT32, NTFS, or other unsupported formats. Apple also advises against storing them on Time Machine volumes, Desktop or Documents when iCloud Desktop & Documents is enabled, or inside third-party cloud folders such as Dropbox or Google Drive.
Check the drive format
- Open Finder.
- Select the external drive.
- Choose File > Get Info.
- Look under General for Format.
If the format is unsupported, copy the library and other files somewhere safe, erase and reformat the drive as Apple File System (APFS), and copy the library back. Reformatting erases the drive, so verify the backup before proceeding.
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Locate an iMovie library
If iMovie opens, Control-click the library in the sidebar and choose Reveal in Finder. To show its location, choose View > Show Path Bar in Finder.
If iMovie will not open:
- In Finder, press Command-F.
- Choose View > as List.
- Click the search-criteria menu currently labeled Any, choose Other, and enter iMovie library.
- Sort or group the results by Date Modified.
- Control-click the library and choose Show in Enclosing Folder.
Reinstall iMovie without deleting its libraries
If the app itself is damaged, Apple’s troubleshooting procedure is to delete iMovie and redownload it. Apple says this reinstall procedure does not affect iMovie libraries, but back up your libraries, source media, and the current iMovie application before making changes.
- Quit iMovie.
- Delete iMovie from the Applications folder or Launchpad.
- Open the App Store.
- Sign in with the Apple Account that acquired iMovie.
- Redownload iMovie from your purchase list or search for it and click Get.
Test whether the library or app is at fault
- Quit iMovie.
- Hold Option while clicking iMovie in the Dock or opening it from Applications.
- In Open Library, click New.
- Name the library Test iMovie Library.
- Save it in your home Movies folder.
If the test library works, the original library, its drive, or its media is the more likely cause.
To test editing and exporting, choose File > New Trailer, select Action, and click Create. Then choose File > Share > File, click Next, name the export Finish Line, and save it to the Desktop.
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Resolve permissions and camera or microphone failures
If iMovie opens but cannot access photos, audio, or video input, check macOS permissions:
- Open the Apple menu and choose System Settings.
- Choose Privacy & Security.
- Select Photos, Microphone, or Camera.
- Turn on access for iMovie.
What not to expect
- There is no currently verified Apple procedure for selecting an arbitrary old iMovie version from the Mac App Store.
- The iMovie 9.0.1 and 9.0.8 downloads are updates, not a complete Apple archive of all historical releases.
- Installing an old application does not automatically make old codecs work on a newer macOS.
- Converting an old project does not convert incompatible media formats.
- A Mac App Store acquisition does not make iMovie automatically available on iPhone or Apple Watch.
FAQ
Can I choose iMovie 9 or another old version in the Mac App Store?
Not through a currently documented Apple version-picker. Apple’s current Mac App Store flow shows Get, Open, Update, and Redownload states, not a menu for arbitrary historical releases. Try Redownload from the purchase history of the original Apple Account, but Apple does not guarantee that a specific old build will be offered.
How do I download iMovie if I previously had it?
Open App Store, click your name in the sidebar, find iMovie, and click Redownload. If your name is missing, sign in with the Apple Account that originally acquired iMovie. For a Family Sharing copy, select the relevant family member under Purchased by.
Why is iMovie absent from my purchases?
The most common explanations are a different Apple Account, a hidden purchase, Family Sharing ownership, or incompatibility with the Mac. Check the original account and unhide the purchase if necessary.
Can iMovie 10 open an iMovie 9 project directly?
No. iMovie 10 must update earlier projects and events. Use File > Update Projects and Events, or click Update when iMovie displays its conversion dialog.
Can I install iMovie 9.0.8 on a modern Mac?
Apple lists OS X Lion 10.7.4 or later for iMovie 9.0.8. That old requirement does not mean it will run correctly on current macOS. Modern macOS may also reject obsolete components or media codecs.
Will reformatting an external drive erase my iMovie library?
Yes. Reformatting erases the drive. Copy the library and all required media to another verified location first, then format the drive as APFS and copy the files back.
Is there an official Terminal command for installing an old iMovie version?
No command-line installation procedure is provided in Apple’s cited instructions. The official legacy downloads are graphical DMG installers.
The Bottom Line
For a supported Mac, search the App Store and click Get. If you need an older compatible App Store build, sign in with the Apple Account that previously acquired iMovie and use App Store > your name > Redownload; do not rely on claims that the current listing contains a selectable archive. For genuinely legacy software, Apple currently publishes iMovie 9.0.1 and 9.0.8 DMG updates, with old OS requirements. If your goal is to recover an old project rather than the old application, use File > Update Projects and Events, keep the originals backed up, and make sure any external library is stored on an APFS drive.
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