Duplicate iMovie projects not visible when copying library

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Level 2

244 points

Duplicate iMovie projects not visible when copying library

iMovie library dupes not seen when copying one Lib to another?.

Went to copy(import) some projects from the Main Library (ext SSD) to the b.u. ext SSD.

After copying and checking with "open contents..." there are 3 extra Projects in the Main as compared to the b.u.

Yet when copying, those 3 extra Project do not show. They are a dupes of a Project on the main. My client is dupe crazy.

The size difference of the 2 Libraries reflects a difference.

I assume since they are dupes, this is why the copy function doesn't see them?

Mac mini, macOS 12.7

Posted on Nov 26, 2025 3:00 PM

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Answer 1

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Nov 27, 2025 5:55 PM in response to Fritz Lang1

You were clear and I understood you. What I am saying is that if you want both originals and duplicates in the backup library, then as a workaround, make the duplicates in the backup library instead of attempting to copy them there from the main library. May be a bit inconvenient, I realize.

As I mentioned, I can only speculate as to what may have caused the issue in the first place. You might try copying the duplicates to a new library created for the purpose and see if you have success there.

-- Rich

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Answer 2

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Nov 27, 2025 12:51 PM in response to Fritz Lang1

Hi,

Not sure why the duplicate projects are not copying over to the backup. Possibly the backup library is reading them as identical to the originals that were in fact copied over, and thus regards regards the duplicates as already having been copied.

Open the three main projects at issue on the backup external drive and make the duplicates there.

-- Rich

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Answer 3

Rich839

Level 8

48,156 points

Nov 27, 2025 2:04 PM in response to Fritz Lang1

As I understand your initial post, the three main projects copied over but the duplicates did not. So, what I am saying is to go to your iMovie library on your backup drive and make duplicates of the main projects there. Sorry if I were unclear. Or maybe I'm not understanding your procedure?

-- Rich

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Answer 4

Fritz Lang1 Author

Level 2

244 points

Nov 27, 2025 1:21 PM in response to Rich839

"Open the three main projects at issue on the backup external drive and make the duplicates there. "

Sorry, don't understand, Rich.

Both Main and b.u. drives are ext SSD.

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Answer 5

Fritz Lang1 Author

Level 2

244 points

Nov 27, 2025 2:18 PM in response to Rich839

Maybe I'm the one not clear.

Main Lib (contents) has a Project called XYZ.

Then it has 3 others called XYZ 1, 2 & 3.

But the b.u. Lib (contents) only shows XYZ.

But as you said:

"Possibly the backup library is reading them as identical to the

originals that were in fact copied over, and thus regards regards the

duplicates as already having been copied. "

Which, in the long run, I suppose, is OK.

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