How to Export iMovie Project to DVD

This wikiHow teaches you how to export an iMovie project to a file and then burn that file onto a DVD. You can burn the file using the Finder if you don't want to play the DVD in a standard DVD player, but you'll need to use a free application called "Burn" if you want to be able to play the DVD like a regular DVD.

Part 1
Part 1 of 3:

Exporting the Project

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    Attach an external DVD drive to your Mac. Since most Macs no longer have built-in DVD drives, you'll need to buy and use a USB DVD drive. Plug the USB DVD drive's connector cable into one of your Mac's USB ports.
    • You can buy a USB drive called the "Apple USB SuperDrive" from Apple for less than $90.
    • If you buy a DVD drive that has a USB 3.0 cable, you may also need a USB 3.0 to USB-C adapter for your computer.
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    Insert a blank DVD-R into the DVD drive. Make sure that the logo is facing upward when you do so. The DVD must be blank in order for the burn to be successful.
    • If prompted to select an action, just click Ignore.
    • DVD-Rs may be difficult to find in physical store locations, but you can usually find them online.
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    Open iMovie. This app's icon resembles a movie camera icon on a purple background.
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    Open your project. Click File, click Open, and double-click the iMovie project that you want to export to a DVD.
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    Click the "Share"
    iPhone Share
    button.     It's in the upper-right corner of the iMovie window. A drop-down menu will appear.
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    Click File. This film strip-shaped icon is in the drop-down menu.
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    Enter a file name. Click the bold text at the top of the pop-up window, then change it to whatever you want to name your file.
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    Make sure the format is set to "Video and Audio". If the item to the right of the "Format" heading says "Audio Only", click it, then click Video and Audio.
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    Edit the quality options if necessary. You can change the following options for your video:[1]
    • Resolution - 1080p is the standard for HD, but you can select a different resolution to cut down on your file's size.
    • Quality - High should be sufficient for most places, but clicking the current quality option will prompt a drop-down menu with different quality options.
    • Compress - Better Quality should be selected here, but you can select Faster if you're in a hurry to export.
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    Click Next…. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. Doing so opens the save location window.
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    Select a save location. Click the "Where" drop-down box, then click a folder in which you want to save the exported movie file (e.g., Desktop) and click Save. Your movie will begin exporting into a file.
  12. Image titled Export iMovie Project to DVD Step 12
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    Click Show when prompted. You'll see this option in a notification that appears in the top-right corner of the screen once your movie finishes exporting. Doing so will take you to the movie's folder, at which point you can proceed with burning the file onto a DVD.
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Part 2
Part 2 of 3:

Burning with Finder

  1. Image titled Export iMovie Project to DVD Step 13
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    Select your movie's file. Click the file that you want to burn onto a DVD to do so.
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    Copy the file. Press ⌘ Command+C, or click Edit and then Copy, to do this.
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    Select your DVD. In the lower-left side of the Finder window, click your DVD's icon. This will open its folder.
    • You can also double-click the DVD's disc icon on the desktop to do this.
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    Paste in your movie file. Press ⌘ Command+V or click Edit and then Paste. The movie should appear in the DVD's window.
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    Click File. It's a menu item in the upper-left corner of the screen. A drop-down menu will appear.
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    Click Burn [name] to Disc…. You'll find this option in the File drop-down menu.[2]
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    Enter a name for the DVD. In the "Disc Name" text field, type in the name that you want to use for your DVD.
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    Select a burn speed. Click the "Burn Speed" drop-down box, then click the option that you prefer in the drop-down menu.
  9. Image titled Export iMovie Project to DVD Step 21
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    Click Burn. It's a blue button in the bottom-right corner of the window. The video will begin burning onto the DVD.
    • Once the burn is complete, you'll hear a chime, and the DVD's icon will disappear from the desktop.
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Part 3
Part 3 of 3:

Burning with Burn for macOS

  1. Image titled Export iMovie Project to DVD Step 22
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    Download and install Burn. This program is several years old, but it's free and it still works. Go to http://burn-osx.sourceforge.net/Pages/English/home.html in your browser, click Download Burn in the lower-right side of the page, and then do the following:
    • Open the Burn ZIP folder by double-clicking it.
    • Click and drag the Burn app icon into the Applications folder.
    • Double-click the Burn app icon.
    • Verify the download.
  2. Image titled Export iMovie Project to DVD Step 23
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    Open Burn. Double-click the Burn app icon in the Applications folder to do so. The Burn window will open.
  3. Image titled Export iMovie Project to DVD Step 24
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    Click the Video tab. It's at the top of the Burn app window.
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    Enter a DVD name. Click the text field at the top of the Burn window, then replace the current text (usually "Untitled") with whatever you want to name your DVD.[3]
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    Click +. This icon is in the lower-left corner of the Burn window. A Finder window will open.
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    Select your iMovie video. Click on the left side of the Finder the folder in which your iMovie video is stored, then click the video to select it.
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    Click Open. It's in the bottom-right corner of the Finder window. Doing so copies the video into the Burn window.
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    Click the file type drop-down box. This option is in the upper-right side of the Burn window.
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    Click DVD-Video. It's in the drop-down menu.
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    Click Convert if possible. If you see a Convert option appear after selecting the file type, click it, then follow any on-screen prompts. This will ensure that your DVD file is playable on the DVD.
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    Click Burn. This option is in the bottom-right corner of the Burn window. Doing so will prompt your file to begin burning onto the DVD.
  12. Image titled Export iMovie Project to DVD Step 33
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    Follow any on-screen prompts. You may receive a notification when the burn is complete; otherwise, just wait for the progress bar to disappear. Once the burn is complete, you can eject your DVD and play it on any standard DVD player.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    My exported iMovie project won't play in either of the DVD players I have. What could cause this problem?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    The problem could be the type of disc you purchased, or you may have exported as a data DVD or missed a step.
  • Question
    How do I export a movie if the size is 10GB?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Most standard blank DVDs have a capacity of 4.7 GB. You may be able to purchase one with higher storage. The easier option would be to export the movie using a lower resolution, which would shrink the overall size. These options would be in the File->Share option in iMovie. Try using the lowest resolution for a mobile device. You can also try third-party apps to compress movie files. If you have a compilation of video clips, you could also try compressing each of the clips separately and then reloading them in iMovie.
  • Question
    What do I do if my Mac keeps spitting the disc out when I insert a DVD?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    This may be because your disk already has content on it. Try a different empty/blank disk.
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Warnings

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7TNAyO0fQQ
  2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9t0guc2Yhd8
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uws1MReM6TI

About This Article

Jack Lloyd
Written by:
Jack Lloyd
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd. Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. This article has been viewed 407,804 times.
How helpful is this?
Co-authors: 10
Updated: March 24, 2023
Views: 407,804
Categories: IMovie
Article SummaryX

1. Insert a blank DVD-R.
2. Open your project in iMovie.
3. Click the Share button.
4. Click File and enter a name.
5. Save the file in the desired quality.
6. Navigate to the movie file in Finder.
7. Drag the movie to your DVD drive.
8. Choose your settings and click Burn.

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