How Do I Edit .mov Files In Windows Movie Maker?

Now that making movies on your computer is an option, you may be asking yourself, “How do I edit .mov files in Windows Movie Maker?” You’ve come to the right place. Below are some easy editing tips for basic editing of your files in Movie Maker.

1. Convert your .mov file into a .wmv file format. Some versions of Windows Movie Maker do not support .mov files. Also, most of today's HD video cameras record in MP4 format, which must be converted for use in Windows Movie Maker. Be sure to use a file converter and follow its instructions to convert your movie files into a usable format, such as a .wmv file format. There are many free converters available on the Internet—simply search your favorite browser for "Free MOV to WMV converter" or "Free MP4 to WMV converter" and select an authorized freeware or shareware program to make your conversion. Once you've downloaded the converter and converted your file into a .wmv file format, you're ready to proceed with the next steps!
2. Import your files. Open the Windows Movie Maker program. Under the “Tasks” pane at the left side of your screen, under “Import”, click on “Videos.” Next, navigate to the location of your movie and select it for import. When complete, your file will now appear in your main workspace area as a small thumbnail icon. You can import more than one video—they will appear as separate thumbnails in this screen.
3. Drag movie(s) to the timeline. Now that you have imported your file(s) in Windows Movie Maker, it’s time to get it off the table and into edit mode. Just drag the file(s) from your workspace into the “Video” section at the bottom of your screen. Use the zoom in/out buttons above to adjust your view of the file length. Windows Movie Maker will allow you to see every single second of video and where it starts and stops.
4. Get to know your playback area. Before you can edit your files in Windows Movie Maker, you should understand how to play/pause the movie. On the right side of your screen, you’ll notice a small viewer window. Below it, there is a Play/Pause button. Press “Play” and watch your movie play back; notice your timeline at the bottom of your screen: it moves at the same time. To stop viewing your movie, press the “Pause” button below the television playback area. (Note: you can also drag the small oval handle in the horizontal line above the Play/Pause button to “force” the movie to start or stop wherever you want.)
5. Add effects. Once you have placed your files (and perhaps some jpegs) into your timeline at the bottom of your screen, you can add effects to your file transitions. For example, you can make the end of your first movie “fade out” before the next movie (or image) “fades in.” Click the “Effects” link below the “Edit” task bar on the left of your screen and drag the selected thumbnail effect down on top of your timeline segment.
6. Add titles and credits. No editing session in Windows Movie Maker is complete without learning how to add titles or credits to your movie. Under “Edit,” click “Titles and Credits.” Follow the prompts to make your selections, and when complete, click the “Add Title” button.
7. Save and publish. The most important step to editing any movie in Windows Movie Maker is to save it! Do this by clicking the “File” menu, then “Save project.” Name your project and browse to a location that you’d like to store it. All imported data files will be stored here. Next, publish the movie. Choose “Publish Movie” from the “File” menu (or use the shortcut button), and follow the prompts for publishing. This step is integral to sharing your movie with others, or saving it in a web-viewable format on your computer.

The magic of editing movies is now in your hands—and you don’t need to be Steven Spielberg to turn out a decent flick! For more detailed instructions on editing movie files in Windows Movie Maker, refer to the Windows Movie Maker Help function (F1) or search your favorite browser online for more editing techniques.