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How to troubleshoot Windows Movie Maker has stopped working
7 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
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Key notes
Movie Makeris video-editingsoftwarethat was formerly bundled with older Windows platforms as part of the Live Essentials suite. Some users have stated on forums thatMovie Makerstops working for them.
Windows Movie Makerhas stopped workingandWindows Movie Makerdoes not startare two of the more regular WMM error messages that pop up on some users’ desktops.
Thestopped workingerror message can pop up when uses try to open files within the video editor. Consequently, the software crashes and closes or freezes during playback.
Below are a few resolutions that might fix Windows Movie Maker’s stopped working error messages and occasional freezes.
What do I do if Movie Maker stopped working?
1. Close other software when running Movie Maker
Movie Maker might stop working and display a crash error message when there is a lack of RAM on your laptop or desktop.
There might be insufficient RAM forMovie Makerwhen you’re running lots of othersoftwarealongside it. That’s more likely if your desktop or laptop has a small amount of RAM to start with.
So make sure there are no other software windows open on your taskbar when you’re runningMovie Maker. In addition, close third-partysoftwarein your system tray.
2. Update the graphics card driver
You can also troubleshoot the issue by manually updating your system which is not hard to do, just access the Device Manager and follow the instructions above.
On the other hand, updating drivers automatically is more reliable and safe for your PC, plus you only have to select the drivers you need to update and the rest will be done by specialized software.
⇒Get Outbyte Driver Updater
3. Disable third-party video file filters
TheWindows Movie Makerhas stopped workingerror message can often be due to incompatible video filters.
So deselecting third-party video file filters listed onMovie Maker’s Compatibility tab (in the classic version) might fix thesoftware.
4. Use a third-party alternative to Windows Movie Maker
When it comes to editing videos at a professional level, Adobe Premiere Pro is known as an industry standard. This is an advanced tool that comes with a myriad of special effects and professional features.
If you want to transform your footage into a high-quality video then Adobe Premiere Pro encompasses all the functions you need, such as editing videos in any format from 8K to virtual reality.
Cut it, bind it, add soundtracks and special effects, pretty much anything you want is achievable through this timeline-based video editor.
More so, you can now test it out for free for a full 7 days along with all other Adobe products, so go ahead and give it a try.
⇒Get Adobe Premiere Pro
5. Run Windows Movie Maker in Compatibility Mode
Some users confirmed that running Movie Maker in Compatibility mode solved the issue they had regarding the Windows Movie Maker troubleshooting process.
Follow the steps we mentioned above and see if it helps you with fixing the issue. If you still experience problems, see the following solutions.
6. Repair the Windows Live Essentials Suite
The Windows Live uninstaller window includes aRepair option that can fix the suite’s applications. So that’s an option worth noting when you notice that Windows Movie Maker is not working on Windows.
7. Reinstall Codecs
If video playback freezes in WMM, there might be a corrupted video codec on your desktop or laptop. If so, reinstalling a codec might fix Move Maker’s playback freezing and other issues.
The freeware program Codec-Sniper provides an overview of the codecs and filters on your PC and their status. The program tells you if a codec is correctly installed or not with its Status column.
Codec-Sniper also includes aDeletebutton with which you can erase codes.
So you can remove video codes with Codec-Sniper. Alternatively, you can uninstall codec packs, such as K-Lite, via the Programs and Features Control Panel applet.
8. Reinstall Windows Movie Maker
Reinstalling Windows Movie Maker is another potential resolution when Windows Movie Maker is not working. You can downloadWindows Movie Maker10 from Microsoft’s website.
Those are some of the best resolutions for fixingMovie Makerstopped workingordoes not starterror messages.
Whether you decide on running a different video tool like Adobe Premiere or choose to troubleshoot the Windows video editor we trust that our option will help you solve the problem.
We’d like to hear more from you on this issue so please drop us a comment in the dedicated section below.
More about the topics:Windows Movie Maker
Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things surrounding it.
He is passionate about the tech world, always staying up-to-date with the latest and greatest. With an analytical view, he likes problem-solving, focusing on errors and their causes.
In his free time, he likes to read and write about history and tries to always develop new skills.
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Matthew Adams
Windows Hardware Expert
He is passionate about everything surrounding Microsoft’s OS, focusing on troubleshooting guides & tips for everyday problems.
