Youtube is the biggest video publishing platform and one of the best platforms to start a career as a content creator. If you’re just starting, you may be using iMovie as an editing platform, and one question we are asked often is “How to Upload iMovie to YouTube on Your Mac”

upload an iMovie video to YouTube

Those using Apple devices can use iMovie apps to help make and upload their videos on Youtube. This is easier said than done as many often query how to upload iMovie to Youtube. 

Well, if this is you, you are in luck as we have a simple guide on how to upload iMovie to Youtube. 

The process of uploading iMovie to Youtube

When you want to upload your videos on Youtube, iMovie is the best to edit the videos. 

The simple to use app is usually best used in Mac PCs and will help you editing work pull off your video edits like a pro. Once you are done, it’s time to upload to YouTube.  

How to Upload iMovie to YouTube on Your Mac

  1. Start the iMovie application on your Mac device 
  2. Locate the project you want to upload to Youtube. (It’s usually better to edit the video first before you can think of uploading)
  3. Select the project you want to upload on Project viewer by double-clicking on it.
  4. Click on the export button on the top right side of iMovie and select Youtube from the drop-down menu.
  5. Once Youtube is open, select your account or Youtube account you want to use to upload the movie (provided you have several of them).
  6. Sign in to your YouTube account
  7. You are required to fill in the title, write a captivating description, and include meta tags.
  8. After this, select the category and your privacy option.
  9. Click the “Next” button to upload the video.
  10. Terms of service will pop, and you’re required to read, understand and agree so that you can click “Publish.”

Your movie will be successfully uploaded on Youtube and ready for your viewers to enjoy!

How to Upload iMovie to YouTube on Your Mac

Why won’t my iMovie upload to Youtube?

In most cases, compatibility is the number one reason why your iMovies won’t upload on Youtube.  Generally speaking, iMovie formats are usually the culprit.

Quite a frustrating element of uploading your video from iMovie to YouTube is when you cannot upload it to YouTube. There are many reasons for this occurring and don’t worry, it happens a lot. 

Fortunately, these stumbling blocks have relatively easy fixes. Here are the most common reasons for not being able to upload your video from iMovie to YouTube. 

The movie format is not compatible.

Generally speaking, iMovie formats are usually:

  • .MP4
  • .MOV
  • .AVI
  • .M4V

Where as, Youtube supports the following formats:

  • .MP4
  • .3GPP
  • .AVI
  • .MOV
  • .WMV
  • .FLV. 

In most cases, videos on iMovie are usually in .M4V format, while Youtube only supports .MP4. You will need to convert the video before you can upload it on Youtube.

You may also be interested in How to Import MKV Files in Adobe Premiere Pro [SOLUTION]

The size of your video is too big.

Did you know that Youtube has a size limitation? 

Well, it all comes down to account verification. If your account is not verified, your video length is capped at 15 minutes. But if your google account is verified, you will be able to upload videos with a length of 12 hours or 128GB. 

How to convert video format for Youtube uploads

If the video you want to upload from iMovie to Youtube fails to upload due to video format, you can easily convert the format of your video. 

There are two ways you can convert a video file, especially if it’s M4V to MP4. The two options are; install a video converter on your Mac PC or use the free converters online. Most video converter apps are usually paid options and will require you to install the app. 

How to convert an MKV file to an MP4 File

One of the easiest ways is to look for video converters online and select the best, like CloudConvert and upload the video you want to convert. After it’s done, simply click convert, and you will get the file in the desired format.

Alternatively, you can download the Handbrake app for Mac and install it. It’s usually free of charge, and the installation process is quite easy. Once you get the app, select the file you want to convert and hit the convert button.

Pretty simple!

We hope this article on “How to upload an iMovie video to YouTube on your Mac.” was useful to you. Let us know your thoughts down below in the comments. 

Happy YouTubing!