Apple Clips is being discontinued, but Apple hasn't announced a direct replacement
Apple is shutting down Clips, its lightweight video editing app, on April 1, 2025. The company has not released a replacement app with the same purpose. If you use Clips now to make short, simple videos with text, music, and effects, you'll need to move to a different tool when it disappears.
Apple removed Clips from the App Store in late 2024, which means new users can no longer download it. If you already have it installed, it will continue to work until the shutdown date, but you won't receive updates. After April 1, 2025, the app will stop functioning entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Clips will stop working on April 1, 2025, and Apple has not announced a replacement app with the same quick-video focus.
- iMovie, which comes free on every Mac and iPhone, handles everything Clips did but with more features and a steeper learning curve.
- CapCut, a free third-party app available on iPhone and Mac, is the closest match for Clips' simplicity and speed.
- If you have videos or projects saved in Clips, export them before the shutdown date because the app will not be accessible afterward.
Why Apple discontinued Clips
Apple did not publicly explain the shutdown, but the timing and pattern suggest the company saw Clips as redundant. iMovie already existed on every device as a free, built-in option. Over time, Apple's focus shifted toward making iMovie simpler and adding quick-edit features that overlapped with what Clips offered.
Clips also faced competition from third-party apps like CapCut and TikTok's built-in editor, which became faster and more popular for the exact use case Clips was designed for: making short videos with minimal effort. Rather than maintain two video apps, Apple chose to keep iMovie and let Clips go.
iMovie is Apple's official alternative
iMovie comes free on every Mac, iPad, and iPhone. It does everything Clips did—add text, music, transitions, and effects to video—but with more control and more options. If you're already in the Apple ecosystem, iMovie is the path Apple expects you to take.
The trade-off is speed. iMovie's interface is more complex than Clips was. Creating a simple video takes more clicks and menu navigation. If you made videos in Clips in under five minutes, iMovie will likely take you ten to fifteen minutes at first, though you'll get faster with practice. iMovie also gives you access to more music tracks, more effects, and more precise editing if you ever want to go deeper.
To get your free guide with iMovie, open the app on your device, select "Create New" and choose "Movie." Import your video clips, drag them into the timeline, and add text, transitions, and music from the library. The learning curve is gentler than professional software, but steeper than Clips was.
CapCut is the closest third-party match
CapCut, made by ByteDance (the company behind TikTok), is free and available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. It's designed for the same purpose Clips was: making short videos quickly without learning complex editing. The interface is similar to what Clips users know, and the speed is comparable.
CapCut offers a large library of music, effects, and transitions. It also integrates directly with TikTok if you want to post videos there, though you can export to any platform. One difference from Clips: CapCut collects data about how you use the app, which is typical for free apps but worth knowing if privacy is a concern for you.
To start in CapCut, open the app and tap "New project." Select your video clips, arrange them in the timeline, and add text, music, and effects from the built-in library. The workflow is intuitive for anyone who used Clips, and most people find it faster to learn than iMovie.
Other options depending on what you need
If you want something even simpler than CapCut or iMovie, consider the built-in camera app on your iPhone or iPad. The camera app now includes a "Cinematic" mode that adds depth effects, and you can trim and add music directly in the Photos app without opening a separate editor. This works if your video is already on your device and you just need basic edits.
For Android users or people who want a web-based editor, DaVinci Resolve (free version) and Shotcut are both powerful options, though they have steeper learning curves. Adobe Express is another free option with a middle ground between simplicity and control.
If you're making videos for TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts specifically, those platforms' built-in editors are often the fastest route because they're optimized for those formats and handle uploading automatically.
How to export your Clips videos before April 1, 2025
If you have videos or projects in Clips that you want to keep, export them now. Open Clips, select the video you want to save, tap the share icon, and choose "Save Video" or "Save to Files." This creates an MP4 file you can store on your device or in iCloud.
Once you have the video file, you can import it into iMovie, CapCut, or any other editor. The video itself doesn't disappear—only the Clips app and the ability to edit within it. If you have projects (not just finished videos), Clips does not have a way to export the project file itself, only the final video, so you'll need to re-edit in your new app if you want to make changes.
Set a reminder for late March 2025 if you haven't exported yet. After April 1, Clips will not open, and you won't be able to access videos stored only within the app.
Comparing your options at a glance
| App | Cost | Learning Curve | Speed for Simple Videos | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iMovie | Free (built-in) | Moderate | 10–15 minutes | Apple users who want full control |
| CapCut | Free | Low | 5–10 minutes | Quick videos, TikTok, Instagram |
| Camera app + Photos | Free (built-in) | Very low | 2–5 minutes | Minimal edits to videos already on device |
| DaVinci Resolve | Free | High | 20+ minutes | Users who want professional features |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still download Clips after it's removed from the App Store?
If you already downloaded Clips before it was removed, you can reinstall it from your purchase history in the App Store. If you never downloaded it, you cannot get it now. After April 1, 2025, the app will not work regardless of whether you have it installed.
Will my Clips videos disappear if I don't export them?
Yes. Once Clips stops working, you won't be able to access videos stored only within the app. Export any videos you want to keep as MP4 files to your device or iCloud before April 1, 2025. Finished videos are safe; projects (editable versions) cannot be exported as projects, only as final videos.
Is CapCut safe to use if I'm concerned about privacy?
CapCut collects usage data and sends it to ByteDance, the parent company. If that concerns you, iMovie is a better choice because it's made by Apple and doesn't send your editing activity to a third party. Both are widely used, but your privacy preference should guide which you choose.
Can I use iMovie on Windows?
No, iMovie is only available on Mac, iPad, and iPhone. Windows users should use CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, or Shotcut instead. Windows 11 also includes a built-in video editor in the Photos app that works similarly to the iPhone version.
Do I need to pay for iMovie or CapCut?
Both are completely free. iMovie comes built into Apple devices. CapCut is free on all platforms with no paid tier required for basic video editing. Neither charges a subscription or shows ads during editing.