Cannot export iMovie videos to Photos after iOS 27 update.

Turns out, after a lot of help from AI, the iMovie app version used by iPad Mini 6 does not support the HEVC video format used by the iPhone camera after updating to iOS 27. I had to encode the original videos using the Shortcuts App and convert the videos from HEVC to H.264. From there I could import them into iMovie, do my editing then export the project back to Photos. I’ve also had to set my iphone Camera > Record Video setting to 1080p HD, toggle off the HDR Video setting, and in Camera > Formats, change the setting from High Efficiency to Most Compatible so that my future videos will be able to be edited using iMovie on my iPad and still be able to be exported back to Photos. Hopefully future iMovie updates for iPad will allow support for HEVC video format.

Have you tried my solution of using the Apple Shortcuts app to reformat (re-encode) your videos? I don’t know if you’re using iMovie on your iPad or another device.

AI was able to give me the step by step instructions but unfortunately I don’t have them anymore. I do have the steps I used saved in my Shortcuts app though and I’ve taken a screenshot (above) of them. In the first step you just select the videos you want to change from HEVC (that is, the videos you have taken since the iOS 27 update). In the second step, you tap on the “size” option and select 1920x1080. In the third step, you save the encoded media to whatever album you want in your Photo library (in my case, I had a “Sits” album already created in Photos.

Then until Apple fix this iMovie on iPad problem with an update, you need to change your settings in your iPhone. Camera > Record Video setting to 1080p HD, toggle off the HDR Video setting, and in Camera > Formats, change the setting from High Efficiency to Most Compatible so that my future videos will be able to be edited using iMovie on my iPad and still be able to be exported back to Photos. Hopefully future iMovie updates for iPad will allow support for HEVC video format.

Hope this helps.

I’m experiencing the same thing. I’ve discovered that, in my case, it has to do with videos that have been trimmed within the iPhone’s Photos app. If I only use original, untrimmed videos, I am able to export them.

Hopefully, this can be resolved in an update

p.s. new update solve the problem for me.

I switched to VN editor, which was easier to use and moved it right to my photos. Shame on you, iMovie for not thinking this through better.

I switched to VN editor, which was easier to use and moved it right to my photos. Shame on you, iMovie for not thinking this through better.

I am having a similar issue With iOS 27 and iMovie. I edit a video in iMovie, And then when I try to export it to Photos, I get an error If I try to export it to Files, I get the timeout wheel of death. I am able to export the project to a file but completely unable to export the finished product. Since I handle content creation for our business, this is a serious issue. Never had this problem until I updated to iOS 27.0.1

This is very helpful of you. Thanks for this detailed solution. I do not want to change my video settings as a workaround as I need the highest quality videos. As others suggested, I am temporarily switching to VN Editor which is working great.

Thanks. I hadn’t heard of that app. I’ll take a look.