Can iMovie on iPhone stabilize video?
No. The stabilise and rolling-shutter settings are only in iMovie for Mac. On an iPhone or iPad, steady the clip first, for example with the tool on this page in Safari, then use the steady copy in iMovie.
Guide · free tool included
How to stabilize video in iMovie
The Mac steps for iMovie’s stabiliser and rolling-shutter fix, why the option is missing on iPhone and iPad, and how to steady a clip there before it goes into your project.
Drop a clip iMovie can’t steady
Works in Safari on an iPhone or iPad as well as on a Mac, with the original alongside. Nothing is uploaded.Pick it from your photo library, then add the steady copy to your iMovie project.
Works with MP4MOVWebMMKVand more
Stabilised on your device. Nothing is uploaded.
To stabilise a clip in iMovie on a Mac, select it in the timeline, click the Stabilization button in the adjustments bar above the viewer, and select the Stabilize Shaky Video checkbox. A spinner replaces the checkbox while iMovie analyses the clip; then drag the Stabilize Shaky Video slider to set how strong the correction is, and play the clip to check it. For leaning or wobbling lines in fast moves, select Fix Rolling Shutter in the same place and choose how much correction from its pop-up menu.
iMovie on iPhone and iPad has no stabilise option at all: Apple’s current iMovie guide for iPhone lists none, and neither does the Photos app. To steady a clip on an iPhone, open this page in Safari and use the stabiliser above, then add the steady copy to your iMovie project. The iPhone guide walks through it.
Stabilise a clip in iMovie on a Mac
Select one clip
In the timeline, click the single clip you want to steady. The setting applies to that clip only.
Open the stabilisation controls
Click the Stabilization button in the adjustments bar above the viewer.
Turn it on and wait
Select Stabilize Shaky Video. The checkbox turns into an activity indicator until the clip has been analysed and stabilised.
Set the strength
Drag the Stabilize Shaky Video slider. More stabilisation means a tighter crop, so use the lowest setting that looks steady.
Fix rolling shutter if lines lean
Select Fix Rolling Shutter, wait for its analysis, then choose a level from the pop-up menu. Play the clip to check both corrections.
iMovie on iPhone and iPad: no stabiliser
The iPhone and iPad versions of iMovie can trim, change speed, add filters, titles and zoom effects, but Apple’s guide for them has no stabilise or rolling-shutter setting, and the Photos app doesn’t have one either. That leaves three routes:
- Steady it in the browser. Open this page in Safari, tap Choose a shaky video, pick the clip, compare it with the original, then tap Export video (once for the settings, again to start) and Share › Save Video. Add the steady copy to your iMovie project like any other clip.
- Use iMovie on a Mac. AirDrop the clip to a Mac, stabilise it there with the steps above, and share it back. Projects can also move from the iPhone to the Mac version.
- Prevent it next time. Newer iPhones steady video while recording; iPhone Action mode explains when it’s worth turning on.
Getting a good result from iMovie’s stabiliser
- Split long clips first and stabilise only the shaky part, so the steady parts keep their full frame.
- Start low on the slider. Every step up zooms in further to hide the moving edges, and the picture softens.
- Use Fix Rolling Shutter for phone and action-camera footage with leaning verticals or a jelly-like wobble; it is a separate fix from the shake. Rolling shutter, explained shows what to look for.
- If a shot is still too shaky at the top setting, iMovie has nothing stronger. Final Cut Pro has more control, or try the tool on this page with the Walking or Running preset.
iMovie’s two settings, and what the browser stabiliser adds
The stabiliser at the top of this page runs on the device in your hand, Mac, iPhone or iPad, with nothing uploaded and nothing to install. It covers iMovie’s two settings and adds the choices iMovie leaves out.
| iMovie | Here |
|---|---|
| Stabilize Shaky Video checkbox | On as soon as the clip opens: Analysing motion… runs by itself |
| Stabilize Shaky Video slider | Smoothness, with Zoom limit to cap the crop |
| Fix Rolling Shutter and its pop-up | Rolling shutter: Auto, or Manual with Strength |
| No equivalent | Camera: Smooth, Cinematic or Locked (a tripod look) |
| No equivalent | Framing: Full frame keeps the whole picture and fills the edges instead of cropping |
| No equivalent | View: Split or Side by side to compare with the original |
The steadied file keeps its frame size, frame rate and sound. One difference to know about: iPhone clips recorded in HDR are saved as standard dynamic range, so colours can look slightly different from the original next to it in iMovie.
iMovie stabilisation questions
Where is the stabilize button in iMovie on a Mac?
Select a clip in the timeline and click the Stabilization button in the adjustments bar above the viewer. The Stabilize Shaky Video checkbox and slider, and Fix Rolling Shutter, are in that panel.
Why does iMovie zoom in when I stabilise?
Stabilising moves each frame to cancel the shake, and iMovie crops in so the moving edges stay out of view. A higher slider setting moves the frames more, so it crops more.
Can iMovie fix rolling shutter?
On a Mac, yes: select Fix Rolling Shutter in the stabilisation controls and choose how much correction from the pop-up. It isn’t available in iMovie for iPhone or iPad.
Is iMovie’s stabiliser free?
Yes. iMovie comes free with a Mac and the stabiliser is part of it. The tool on this page is free too, and works on an iPhone where iMovie can’t stabilise.