How to use Windows Movie Maker

It is an editor characterized by a simple, intuitive and fairly complete use, it has many features. The product, from Microsoft, can be used with multiple versions of Windows (7, 8, 10, Vista and Xp). It is usually already included in the Windows package, but as an alternative, you can also download it easily and for free from the internet.

Windows Movie Maker contains tools such as effects, transitions, titles or audio tracks; these contents are essential to create a nice video with holiday memories or to create a movie for a birthday party, for example. Finally, it allows us to save movies in the most popular formats on our devices. Follow this guide to better understand how to use Windows Movie Maker.

Download Windows Movie Maker

If the program is already present on your device click on the corresponding icon and start it. Otherwise, make sure that your computer has the necessary system requirements, checking the Windows version. Then, connect to the internet and download Windows Movie Maker for free, it is no longer available on the official website of Microsoft, but can be found on other sites, for example: here for the most updated version or here for an older one, depending on the operating system installed on your computer.

Insert photos and images

Once you’ve downloaded and installed Windows Movie Maker, let’s see how to use it. First, you can import photos and videos from your PC into the program, taken from different types of devices, such as digital cameras, smartphones, SD cards, CD or data DVD, video cameras or directly from the PC webcam or connected to the PC.

To insert them in Windows Movie Maker just click on the icon in the top left ” add videos and photos ” and select the desired file. Alternatively, the simpler method is to drag the file directly into the empty space on the left.

Editing the video: photos and images

Once you have placed your videos or photos, you can start editing them. At the top of the screen, you will find the ” animation ” and ” visual effects ” options. The range of choice is really wide; the image can become black and white, faded, turn on itself, dissolve, appear and disappear from the screen with different shapes. Choose the options you like the most and also the duration of the effects.

Editing the video: Text and Audio

To make your movie even more interesting, add writings, for example: by clicking on ” add title ” in the Home tab. Here you can write your text and choose its format and style, as well as the effects of appearance and disappearance of the title.

Finally the question of audio. A beautiful soundtrack is essential for a successful movie. To add it click on ” add music “, always on the Home tab. Choose the duration of the songs and if necessary, cut them, adding the fade in and out. One last possibility is to put your own speech audio to be inserted as background. To insert it, click on ” record narration ” on the Home tab.

Save and share the video

When you have finished your video with Windows Movie Maker, you can save it and share it. To save it just click on ” save movie “, a window opens in which you can select the folder in which to save the video. Also choose the format in which you want to export the video: by computer, by iPhone, by Android phone, etc.

Then type a name in the ” file name ” field and click on the ” save ” button (the duration of the saving depends on how long the video lasts and on the power of your computer). Finally, you can share the movie on various social networks like Facebook or Youtube.