Rearrange the iMovie window to optimize workspace

You can optimize the iMovie workspace by rearranging or resizing some of its elements. Try different arrangements to find the best one for your work style.

To optimize the iMovie workspace:

Do any of the following:

  • Click the Swap button (shown below) to exchange the screen space used for projects (the Project Library and the Project browser) with the screen space used for Events (the Event Library and the Event browser).

    Your project workspace is the largest when the Project browser is at the bottom of the iMovie window. Also, when your project workspace moves to the bottom of the iMovie window, single-row view is engaged automatically.

    Image of the Swap button

  • Click the Event Library button (in the lower-left corner of the Event Library) to show or hide the Event Library, which expands or shrinks the space available for viewing Event video clips.

    Image of the Event Library button

  • If Advanced Tools are turned on, click the Keyword Filter button (below the Event Library) to further expand or shrink the space available for viewing Events.

    Image of Keyword Filter button

  • Change the size of the iMovie viewer (the area in the iMovie window where the video plays). Go to this topic to learn how: Change the size of the viewer in the iMovie window.

  • If you have a second display connected to your computer, you can set iMovie to display the viewer on the second display, leaving more room for your workspace in the iMovie window. Go to this topic to learn how: View playback on a second display.