iMovie Won’t Export: The Operation Couldn’t Be Completed, Fix

This article explains how you can fix iMovie exporting problems. You can easily export your videos or movies so that you can use and share your project outside of iMovie. iMovie offers a lot of sharing options:

• Email,
• YouTube,
• Vimeo,
• File,
• FaceBook.

Sometimes, however, iMovie may not work properly. More specifically you might not be able to share your videos from iMovie. You may get an error when trying to export videos from iMovie. For example, you may get the following error message:

Exporting “macreports” has failed. The operation couldn’t be completed. (com.apple.Compressor.CompressorKit.ErrorDomain Error -1.)
Please try the following tips in order until you have fixed your iMovie sharing problem.

1. Restart your Mac. 

Simply restarting your Mac may solve your problem. This is really easy. Choose Restart from the Apple menu

2. Check your Internet connection.

Your iMovie sharing problem may be caused by a poor Internet connection. Make sure you have a strong internet connection. Please see the following article to troubleshoot your problem:

• Mac Catalina Wi-Fi Problems, Fix.
• How To Fix Slow Wi-Fi Problems On Your Macbook.

3. Isolate the problem. 

The problem may be with your library and project. These files may be corrupted these files can become inoperable or unusable causing various issues. Please follow the steps below to isolate the cause of your export problem. In the steps below, we will create a new library and video to see if we can export this new project. If we can, then the problem is your original files. Here is how:

• Quit iMovie (iMovie > Quit iMovie).
• Open iMovie.
• In iMovie, click File (menu bar) then click Open Library and then New.
• Name this library as a “macReports Test” and then save it to your desktop.
• Now create a test video. First, open this new Library (you can do so by double-clicking or you can select it in iMovie).
• Click the Projects tab.
• Click Create New.
• And create a simple video. (you can record a new video).
• Choose File > Share now try to export. Does it work?

4. Update your Mac.

Make sure that your Mac has the latest version of the macOS software so that it can keep running smoothly and securely. Here is how you can update your Mac:

• If your current version is macOS Mojave or later: Click the Apple menu, System Preferences, and Software Update. This will check for available updates. If there is an update available, click the Update Now button.
• If you are running an earlier version of the macOS software (High Sierra etc.), open the App Store on your Mac and click the Updates tab.

5. Update iMovie.

Updating your Mac will not update iMovie. It is possible that you are using an old version of iMovie. It is important to keep iMovie up to date. Updating is really simple. Go to the Apple Store on your Mac and click Updates. If you see iMovie, click the Update button to download and install the update.

6. Safe Mode.

Load your Mac in Safe Mode may help you fix your problem. Here is how:

• Turn off your Mac (Apple menu > Shut Down).
• Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Shift key while it boots.
• Keep holding the Shift key until you see an Apple logo and progress bar.
• You may have to log in a few times.
• Now your Mac is started in Safe Mode.
• In Safe Mode, open iMovie and then try to export your project. Does it work now?
• Now exit Safe Mode, and restart your Mac normally (do not press the Shift or any other key).
• Now test iMovie again. Do you experience any problem?

7. Reset NVRAM or PRAM.

This may help you. Here is how:

• Turn off your Mac.
• Disconnect everything except your keyboard and mouse.
• Turn on your Mac and immediately press and hold the Option, Command, P, and R keys together.
• Keep holding the keys for about 20 seconds.
• Then you may release the keys.

If you are still having issues, you may want to contact Apple.