Import media to iMovie on iPad
The tasks below describe different ways to import media to your device’s photo library so that the media appears in the media browser.
Import media using iCloud Photos
You can use iCloud Photos to make your photos and video clips available on all your devices. For example, if you take a picture on your iPhone, the photo automatically appears on all your other devices that have iCloud Photos turned on. For more information, see Set up iCloud Photos on all your devices in the iCloud User Guide.
Important: iCloud Photos requires that you have iCloud set up and are using iOS 8.3 or later or iPadOS 13 or later. When iCloud Photos is turned on, you can’t transfer photos or video clips from your Mac using the Finder.
On each device, go to Settings
> [your name] > iCloud.
The device you want to import media from must be signed in to the same Apple Account as your iPad.
Tap Photos, then turn on Sync this [device].
Open iMovie on your iPhone or iPad, then open a project for editing.
Some media may be stored in iCloud but not on your device. If a Download button appears when you tap a photo or video clip in the media browser, you can tap the button to download the media to the photo library on your device.
For more information, see Add video clips and photos in iMovie on iPad.
Import media from another device using AirDrop
In iMovie or the Photos app on the device you want to transfer from, tap the video clip, photo, or movie you want to transfer.
Tap the Share button
, then tap the device you want to transfer to.
If the other device doesn’t appear automatically, make sure AirDrop is turned on on both devices in Control Center.
On the device you want to transfer to, tap Accept when an AirDrop alert appears.
Imported media is added to the photo library. Follow the instructions in Add video clips and photos in iMovie on iPad to add that media to your movie or trailer project in iMovie.
Import media into a movie project from iCloud Drive
In the iMovie app
on your iPad, create a movie project, or open an existing project for editing.
Tap the Add Media button
in the upper-right corner, then tap Files.
Tap Browse, tap iCloud Drive, navigate to the clip you want to import, and then tap to select it.
For more information, see Add video clips and photos in iMovie on iPad.
Import media from your Mac using the Finder
Connect your device to your Mac, then open a Finder window on your Mac (click the desktop, then choose File > New Finder Window).
After a moment, your device appears in the sidebar of the Finder window.
Click the device’s name in the sidebar, then click Files in the bar below the device name.
Drag the file or files you want to add to the iMovie icon in the device’s Finder window.
When the transfer is complete, the video clips and photos are available from the media browser within iMovie.
Open iMovie on your device.
Open a project, then tap the Add Media button
Tap Browse, navigate to the location of the item you want to add, then tap it.
Important: If you use iCloud Photos, you can’t transfer your photos or video clips using the Finder.
Transfer media from your iPhone or iPod touch to your iPad
If you record video or take photos using your iPhone or iPod touch and save them to the photo library, you can transfer them to your iPad using the iPad Camera Connection Kit (available at an Apple Retail Store or at www.apple.com/store).
Note: The iPad Camera Connection Kit includes two accessories: a Camera Connector and an SD Card Reader. The steps below use the Camera Connector, which has a USB port.
Connect the USB Camera Connector to the 30-pin or Lightning port located on the bottom edge of your iPad.
Connect your iPhone or iPod touch to the Camera Connector using the USB cable that came with your device (called the Dock Connector to USB Cable or Lightning to USB Cable).
The Camera pane opens on your iPad, showing photos and video clips that are on your iPhone or iPod touch.
Tap Import All to import all your video clips and photos, or tap specific items and then tap Import.
After you transfer the video clips and photos, they’re in your iPad photo library and are available within iMovie to use in any project.
To learn how to save video to the photo library that was recorded into a project, see Record video and take photos in iMovie on iPad.
Import media from a Windows computer
Connect your device to your computer, then open iTunes on your computer.
After a moment, your device appears in iTunes in the Library window.
Click the device’s button at the top of the iTunes window.
Select Photos in the sidebar on the left.
Select Sync Photos, then choose an album or a folder from the pop-up menu.
You can also choose Photoshop Album or Photoshop Elements to export photos directly from those applications to your device.
Select one of the following to control which photos are transferred:
All photos and albums: Transfers all photos and albums to your device.
Selected albums: Transfers the albums, events, or folders that you select.
If you chose “Selected albums,” select the items you want to transfer in the lists that appear.
Do any of the following:
Include only photos and video clips you’ve marked as favorite: Select “Only favorites.”
Include video clips: Select “Include videos.”
Include recent photos and video clips: Select “Automatically include photos from,” and choose a time range from the pop-up menu.
Click Apply.
When the transfer is complete, the video clips and photos are available from the media browser within iMovie.