This article describes how to make simple movies with music in Windows Movie Maker. To start with, you need to install the program on your computer, because it's not one of the default Windows 10 ones.
Steps
Part 1 of 5: Install Windows Movie Maker
Step 1. Download the Windows Live Essentials installation file
Go to the Windows Live Essentials Downloads page and start the download.
The page is mostly blank and it may take a few seconds or even a minute to download
Step 2. Open the installation file
Double-click wlsetup-all in your computer's default downloads folder.
Step 3. Click Yes when asked
The Windows Essentials installation window will open.
Step 4. Click Install all Windows Essentials programs (recommended)
You will see this entry at the top of the page. Most Windows Essentials applications are not compatible with Windows 10, but by selecting this option you can install Windows Movie Maker.
Step 5. Click Show Details
You will find the button in the lower left corner. You should see a percentage of progress appear, as well as a line indicating which program is currently installed.
Step 6. Wait for the Windows Movie Maker installation to finish
This is usually the first program that is installed. Wait for the end of the operation; when you see the name of another application appear (like "Mail"), you can proceed.
Step 7. Open Start
Click on the Windows logo in the lower left corner of the screen.
Step 8. Write windows movie maker
This will search your computer for the new program you just installed.
Step 9. Click Movie Maker
The program icon is a movie film and you should see it at the top of the Start menu. Click it and the Windows Essentials terms of use window will open.
Step 10. Click Accept
You will see the button in the lower right corner of the window. Press it and Movie Maker should open.
- If clicking Accept Movie Maker does not open, press again Start, write movie maker again and click on the item Movie Maker.
- Do not close the installation window before opening Movie Maker.
Step 11. Close the Windows Essentials installation
When the window opens with an error message, simply click Close and confirm the decision. You can now continue using Movie Maker.
Part 2 of 5: Adding Files to the Project
Step 1. Create a new project
Click File, then Save project as in the drop-down menu, enter a name for the project, select a destination folder in the left part of the window (for example Desktop), finally click Save. This way you will save the new project in the path you want.
Throughout the creation process, you can save your progress by pressing Ctrl + S
Step 2. Click the "Project" window
This is the large blank window on the right side of Windows Movie Maker. Clicking on it will open a "File Explorer" window.
Step 3. Open a folder that contains images or videos
In the left pane of the File Explorer window, click on the path you want.
You may have to open some folders to find the one you are looking for
Step 4. Select photos or videos
Click and drag your mouse over a list of images or movies to choose all of them, or hold down Ctrl while clicking on individual files to select them one by one.
Step 5. Click Open
You will see this button in the lower right corner of the window. Press it and you will upload the selected files to Windows Movie Maker.
Step 6. Add more photos and videos as needed
To do this, just click the button Add videos and images at the top of the program window, then select the files you are interested in and click again You open.
You can also right-click on the "Project" window, then select Add videos and images in the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Add a music track
Click Add music at the top of the Windows Movie Maker window, click Add music … in the drop-down menu, go to a path with music tracks, then select the ones you want to use and finally press You open. This will insert the music under the image or video that you have selected at the moment.
Part 3 of 5: Organizing Project Files
Step 1. Choose an order for the files
Look at the parts of the project and decide how to order them. You should also decide when to start the music.
Step 2. Reorder your files
Click and drag the file you want to insert at the beginning of the video in the upper left corner of the "Project" window to place it there, then drag the next file and place it to the right of the first.
You should see a vertical line appear between the two files. This indicates that when you release the mouse button, the two parts will be merged
Step 3. Place the music
Click and drag the green music bar located below the files to the right or left, then drop it where you want to move it.
Remember that the end of the music track is matched to the end of the last video or image if the combined duration of the files does not reach the end of the music
Step 4. Edit the properties of an image
Double-click a photo to open its properties in the toolbar at the top of the window, then change the following settings:
- Duration: click the "Duration" field, then type the number of seconds the image should be displayed.
- End point: click and drag the black vertical bar in the "Project" window to a section of the photo or video where you want to create a cut and go to the next file, then click Set end point in the toolbar.
Step 5. Edit the properties of a video
Double-click a movie in the "Project" window to open its properties in the toolbar, then change the following settings:
- Volume: click Video volume, then drag the selector left or right.
- Fade: Click "Fade in" or "Fade out", then click Slow, Average or Rapid.
- Speed: Click "Speed", then select a setting. You can also enter a custom speed.
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Crop: click Cropping tool, then drag one of the sliders below the video to crop the playing time of the video, then click Save Clipping at the top of the window.
This tool has the same functionality as the "Start / End Point" option
- Stabilization: click Video stabilization, then select a stabilization setting from the drop-down menu.
- You can also split movies by dragging the vertical bar to where you want to create a cut, then clicking "Split". This allows you to insert another file between the two sections of the video (e.g. a comment or a photo).
Step 6. Edit the properties of the music
Double-click the music bar, then change the following settings in the toolbar:
- Volume: click Music volume, then click and drag the selector left or right.
- Fade out: click "Fade in" or "Fade out", then Slow, Average or Rapid.
- Start time: enter the time (in seconds) of the point where the song should start in the "Start time" field.
- Start point: enter the time (in seconds) of the point in the video where the song should start in the "Start point" field.
- End point: enter the time (in seconds) of the point in the video where the song should end in the "End point" field.
Step 7. Make sure all files are configured as you wish
To make the video correctly, you need to change the settings of all individual files (such as duration and more, if possible), so that the finished product exactly represents your vision.
Step 8. Watch a preview of the movie
Click the "Play" button below the video preview window on the left side of the Windows Movie Maker window. If you don't notice any errors in playback, you can start adding special effects to your movie.
Part 4 of 5: Adding Effects
Step 1. Click the Home tab
You will see it in the upper left part of the window. The editing toolbar will open.
Step 2. Click Title
This item is located in the "Add" section of the toolbar Home.
Step 3. Enter the title
In the text field that appears in the video preview window, type the title you want to assign to the video.
- You can also change the duration of the title image in the "Adjustments" section of the toolbar by clicking the text field to the right of the clock with a green arrow inside, then selecting a new duration.
- If you want to change the size, font or format of the title, you can do so in the "Font" section of the toolbar.
Step 4. Add a transition to the title
Click one of the icons in the "Effects" section of the toolbar, then preview the effect; if you like it, the title is fine.
Step 5. Go back to the Home tab
Click again Home to return to the editing toolbar.
Step 6. Insert a caption on a file
Click a photo or video you want to add a caption to, then click Caption in the "Add" section of the toolbar.
Step 7. Write your caption text
Type the text you want to use in the video, then press Enter. This will create the caption under the selected file.
- You can edit the caption just like you did for the title.
- If you want to move the caption to another place in the file, click and drag the pink box to the left or right, then release it to reposition it.
Step 8. Add more captions or titles as needed
You can create multiple images to serve as transitions between sections of your movie, or insert additional captions for photos and videos.
You can also add credits to the end of the movie by clicking on the item Credits in the "Add" section of the tab Home.
Part 5 of 5: Saving the Movie
Step 1. Preview your movie
Click the "Play" button below the video preview window on the left side of the window. If the file is the way you want, you are ready to save it.
- If your footage needs some tweaking, make the necessary adjustments before continuing.
- During the editing phase, the music may become too short or no longer be synchronized correctly; in this case, be sure to also take care of the musical accompaniment before continuing.
Step 2. Click Save Movie
You will see this button in the upper right part of the window. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 3. Select a file type
If you don't know what format to use, click Recommended for this project among the first options in the drop-down menu; if not, click the format you prefer.
Step 4. Enter a name for the video
Write the title you want to give to the file containing the movie.
Step 5. Select a save location
In the left side of the window, click on the folder where you want to save the file.
Step 6. Click Save
The button is located in the lower right corner of the window. The video file will be saved and the project will be exported. Do not rush; exporting can take a long time, especially for detailed projects.
Step 7. Click Play when prompted
This will start playing the movie with your computer's default video player.
Advice
- Don't delete your video project files, which usually have the Windows Movie Maker logo as an icon. This way, you can make changes to the video in the future without having to start over.
- The steps described in this article can also be followed on Windows 7, because Windows Movie Maker comes with that version of the operating system.
