Make a Simple Video With iMovie on iPhone

iMovie is a free Apple app that lets you trim clips, add titles and music, and share polished videos — no experience needed.

5 min read · 6 steps · Checked April 2026

1. Step 1. Open iMovie and start a new project

   Open the iMovie app on your iPhone or iPad. Tap the plus (+) button and choose "Movie" (not Magic Movie — that's the automatic version). iMovie will open your Photos library so you can choose your clips.

   Quick Tip

   If iMovie isn't on your device, search "iMovie" in the App Store. It's free and made by Apple.

2. Step 2. Select your video clips

   Browse your Photos library and tap on each video clip you want to include. A checkmark and a number appear on each selected clip showing the order they'll appear. Tap clips in the order you want them in your video. When you're done selecting, tap "Create Movie" at the bottom of the screen.

3. Step 3. Trim your clips in the timeline

   Your clips appear in a timeline at the bottom of the screen. Tap a clip to select it. It gets a yellow border. Drag the yellow handle on the left edge to the right to remove footage from the beginning. Drag the yellow handle on the right edge to the left to remove footage from the end. Preview your changes by tapping the play button above the timeline.

   Quick Tip

   To split a clip (cut it into two separate pieces), position the playhead (the white vertical line) where you want the cut, then tap the clip and choose "Split" from the menu that appears.

4. Step 4. Add a title to your video

   To add a title card, tap the plus (+) button at the beginning of the timeline and choose "Title." Or, tap an existing clip, tap the T (text) button in the toolbar, and choose a title style. Type your text in the text field that appears. You can reposition the text by dragging it on the preview screen.

5. Step 5. Add background music

   Tap the audio note button (it looks like a music note) at the bottom of the screen. Choose from iMovie's built-in soundtracks (under "Soundtracks") or your own music (under "My Music"). Tap a track to preview it, then tap the green plus button to add it to your project. The music volume can be adjusted by tapping the clip and dragging the volume slider.

   Warning

   Using music you didn't record yourself may cause issues if you post the video publicly on social media. iMovie's built-in soundtracks are safe to use anywhere.

6. Step 6. Export and share your finished video

   When you're happy with how everything looks, tap "Done" in the top-left corner to return to the project screen. Then tap the share button (the box with an arrow pointing up) and choose "Save Video." Select the video quality — "HD - 1080p" is a good choice for most situations. The video saves to your Photos app, where you can share it like any other photo or video.