Your videos are separate clips, and you want one file that plays them in order. Use iMovie’s Movie option to join them, arrange the sequence, and save the result to Photos. For an automatic montage or two videos playing on screen together, use the options below.
Join your videos in iMovie
Install iMovie from the App Store, choosing the app developed by Apple. The current version requires iOS 17.6 or later.
Open iMovie.
Tap Start New Project.
Choose Movie.
Tap Media.
Open Video.
Select All to view your videos.
Select each video you want to include using its checkmark.
Tap Create Movie.
Touch and hold a clip to drag it into the order you want.
Tap the transition between two clips.
Choose None for a straight cut.
Repeat that transition change for any other joins where you want a straight cut.
Tap Done when you’re finished editing.
Use a Movie project when you want to control the sequence yourself, including which footage stays in the finished video.
Save the combined movie to Photos
This turns your iMovie project into a video file you can watch and share.
Select your project in iMovie’s Projects browser.
Tap the Share button.
Choose Share Video.
Open Options.
Choose your output settings.
Return to the sharing sheet with Back or Done.
Choose Save Video to save the finished movie to Photos.
For a file stored elsewhere, choose Save to Files instead.
Select a location, such as iCloud Drive.
Tap Save.
Create a quicker montage with Magic Movie
Magic Movie automatically creates a movie from your selected footage, with style and music applied for you. You can then rearrange the clips and trim each one. Choose Movie above when you want to control the sequence and how much footage to include.
In iMovie, open Start New Project > Magic Movie. Open an album. Select the clips you want to include.
Tap Create Magic Movie. To include an entire album you created instead, open that album. Tap Create Magic Movie without selecting individual clips.
Review the automatic edit before exporting. Open Share > Share Video from the project’s Projects browser entry. Choose Save Video to save the result to Photos.
Use Photos without another app
Photos plays an album or collection as a memory movie set to music. Its short, medium, or long length setting automatically adjusts how many photos are included.
- 1.Open Photos and tap Collections.
- 2.Open the album or collection containing your videos.
- 3.Tap its Play button to watch it as a memory movie.
- 4.While it plays, tap More (…) > Share. On iOS 27, tap the screen first.
- 5.Choose a destination such as AirDrop, Messages, or Mail.
To share the memory’s individual photos and videos on iOS 27, open the memory in Memories, tap Select, choose items or tap Select All, then tap the Share button. On iOS 26, touch and hold the memory, then tap Share Photos.
Turn Live Photos into clips first
When the moments you want to join are Live Photos, convert each one into a video before adding it to iMovie.
In Photos, locate Live Photos under Media Types.
Open a Live Photo you want to use.
Tap More (…).
Choose Save as Video.
Repeat the conversion for each Live Photo you want to include.
Add the resulting videos to an iMovie Movie project using the first method.
Export the combined project through Share Video using the saving steps above.
Restore access when your editor cannot see the clips
Restricted Photos access keeps videos outside an editor’s permissions out of reach.
Open Settings.
Tap Privacy & Security.
Choose Photos.
Select the video editor you’re using.
Adjust its access to include the videos you need. The permission choices depend on the app.
Return to the editor.
Import your clips using the project steps above.
Put two videos on screen together
Use an iMovie overlay for a split screen or a smaller video playing over the main clip.
- 1.Open an iMovie Movie project containing your base clip.
- 2.Position the playhead where you want the second video to appear.
- 3.Tap Add Media (+), then Video.
- 4.Choose a category and select the second clip.
- 5.Tap More (…) and choose Split Screen or Picture in Picture.
- 6.Export the finished project through Share > Share Video > Save Video, using the saving steps above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send the combined iMovie video directly to someone?
Yes. After choosing Share Video, select AirDrop, Mail, or Messages in the sharing sheet.
Is a Photos slideshow the same as a combined video file?
A slideshow plays selected photos and videos as a presentation. On iOS 27, open Photos, tap Library, then tap Select. Select your items, then open More (…) > Start Slideshow. On iOS 26, tap Select in Photos, select your items, then open More (…) > Play as Slideshow. For one saved video file, use iMovie’s Movie workflow and export the result.
Can I combine videos in an iPhone browser without installing an app?
Yes. Open Clideo’s Merge Video tool. If offered the app, choose No thanks, continue in browser. Tap Choose file (or Choose files) to upload your clips. Arrange them in order, using Add more files for additional footage. Tap Export, wait for processing, then tap Download. Removing a watermark from free output requires Clideo Pro.
Can I use a trailer template to combine my clips?
Yes. In iMovie, open Start New Project > Storyboard. Select Trailers, choose a template, then tap Create. Tap a placeholder, then open Add (+) > Choose From Library. Choose Photos or Albums and select a clip. Repeat for the other placeholders, then export through Share > Share Video.