Are you a fan of the iMovie video editing program? Do you want to use iMovie on a Windows PC but can’t find a supported app?
This article can help you install iMovie on a Windows PC. Read on to learn more about the possible hacks and tweaks.
Why is iMovie So Popular?
iMovie is an Apple proprietary software that is exclusively available on Mac/iOS devices. It is among the most feature-rich and comprehensive packages for editing video files.
The software brings to you all the editing features that you could probably imagine.
It allows you to create new videos from scratch or import already captured ones from your camera. Industry-standard filters are available to enhance your videos.
You can merge, split, cut, crop, and do all sorts of modifications to your existing movie files.
The software enhances the color tones, adds more exposure, increases contrast/sharpness/vibrance, and incorporates animation effects. iMovie helps you play with sound effects — you name it and iMovie has it.
So it doesn’t come as a surprise that iMovie is ranked at the top of the most popular video editing programs.
There is no official version for Windows PC. But millions of users would like to have this application on their Windows computer.
Is it Possible to Install iMovie on Windows PC?
Apple being the strongest rival to Microsoft’s monopoly business, there’s no official support for iMovie on a Windows PC.
Apple has developed strong restrictions, which has made it a difficult task to use iMovie for PC.
However, it’s still possible to use iMovie on Windows desktop/laptop computers. You will, however, need a great deal of technical acumen to achieve the feat.
There are two possible ways to install iMovie on a Windows PC. The first is via a virtualization platform that supports Mac OS X. Another option is to use a Mac emulator program.
Let’s find out the detailed procedure involved in both these methods.
Method 1: Installing iMovie via Virtualization Platform
Virtualization is a technique used to run multiple systems on a single base computer. It allows users to create different virtual devices that act as individual computers.
Have you come across terms like “VMWare,” “Hyper-V,” or “KVM”? These are some of the most popular virtualization technologies available in the market.
You can install a supported virtualization platform on your personal computer to run any operating system of your choice. However, not all virtual systems support all types of operating systems.
For example, Hyper-V is typically used to run Windows virtual devices, while KVM supports only Linux flavors.
VMWare does support Mac OS X, which is the base operating system to run iMovie. However, the main drawback of VMWare is that you need to purchase the license.
The most basic virtualization package, VMWare vCenter Server Foundation, will cost you $1495. You can get a new MacBook computer for that amount.
For those who are unable to pay such a high price, there is the option to go with an open-source virtualization platform.
Some additional points
XenServer virtualization is open-source and it supports Mac OS X at the same time.
You can download XenServer from the official developer’s portal here.
After successful installation, you need to create your first virtual machine. So click on the “Add a Server” option on your XenCenter dashboard.
Refer to the documentation available on the developer website for the detailed steps.
Once you have created a fresh Xen virtual machine, it’s now time to install Mac OS X. You can download/purchase a copy of Mac OS X from online software repository portals or the official Apple store.
The process to install Mac OS X on XenServer is not complex. Follow the same procedure as you would with a MacBook.
Run the installation wizard, provide the product key, and activate Mac OS X through the Xen console. With that you have successfully built your own version of Hackintosh!
You need Mac OS X installed on your virtual machine. Then you can simply connect to the internet to download iMovie from the official Apple store!
Method 2: Get iMovie for PC Using a Mac Emulator
Mac emulators are the programs designed to run Apple applications on non-supported operating systems.
An emulator program resides on your Windows computer, but acts as a virtual Mac device.
Nintendo 64 and OpenEmu are a couple of reliable Mac emulators that can do the job for you. Here are the steps to install iMovie on a Windows PC using the OpenEmu Mac emulator:
- Visit the official website (https://openemu.org/) to download the executable file.
- Run the file for the installation to begin. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
- Launch OpenEmu from your Windows PC. Browse to Library. Can you see the search feature on the top right section of your screen?
Search for iMovie. Select the appropriate app from the displayed search results. Now click on the “Install” button.
- After downloading, OpenEmu will automatically install iMovie on your Windows computer. You may have to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.
With this, you have successfully installed iMovie for PC on your Windows computer. Now run the app and enjoy the unlimited editing options that it brings.
Trust us, once you get accustomed to iMovie, you will never again look for another video editing program.
iMovie Alternatives for Windows PC
The couple of methods described in this article may appear too complex for non-tech-savvy users. If that’s the case with you, you may try out a popular iMovie alternative for Windows PC.
These alternatives may not have all the features that iMovie has. But the best iMovie alternatives are capable enough to cater to most of your video editing requirements.
Listed below are a few of the most popular iMovie alternatives available for Windows computers:
Movavi Video Editor – Download Link
VSDC Video Editor – Download Link
Lightworks – Download Link
Conclusion
Getting iMovie for PC involves building your own version of Hackintosh using a virtualization platform.
You may also use a Mac emulator to download iMovie on a Windows computer. Additionally, there are several competent iMovie alternatives available over the internet.
Ultimately, which method you would like to go for depends upon your technical expertise. We hope that this article has been able to guide you properly in your quest to get iMovie for PC.
Don’t forget to let us know your thoughts using the comments section below.
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