Are you nostalgic for Windows Movie Maker? Even though Microsoft advises against it, you can still install and use the popular free video editing software on a PC running Windows 10.
Windows Movie Maker belongs to a time the under 20s cannot know. Yet this free video editing software has delighted many enthusiasts for years. And for good reason: developed by Microsoft, it was delivered as standard with Windows XP and Vista and offered many functions while being very easy to use. With the arrival of Windows 7, it continued its existence by joining the Windows Live Essentials family of utilities, which are always free. But in January 2017, Microsoft officially abandoned this suite of tools by announcing the end of support for all affected software. And the publisher clearly claims that Windows Movie Maker is no longer downloadable from its website, even advising against using it with Windows 10.
Despite this, Windows Movie Maker has retained its followers. And although there are many equivalent or even more powerful free software, such as Shotcut, OpenShot, VSDC Video Editor, VideoPad, HitFilm Express, Kdenlive, Lightworks or DaVinci Resolve, many regret the disappearance of Microsoft’s software, not getting used to to its official successor, Photos, an application built into Windows 10 which, despite its name, offers several video editing functions.
Never mind, even if Microsoft does not recommend it, it is perfectly possible to install and use Windows Movie Maker – renamed Movie Maker for short – on a PC with Windows 10. You just have to download the Windows suite. Essentials 2012 – the latest official version – and install only the video editing software. So advice to amateurs and nostalgics!
Microsoft clearly cautions against downloading Windows Movie Maker, saying that it is often offered on questionable sites that may embed malware. This is obviously not the case on How It Works, where you’ll find a healthy version of Windows Essentials 2012, the suite of tools containing Windows Movie Maker in its latest revision, which dates back to 2014, but still works great with all software. Windows versions since 2007 including Windows 8 and 10. To grab it just click the direct download button below. For all the details on this version, see the Windows Movie Maker file in our Download section.
Download Windows Esentials 2012 with Movie Maker
On the other hand, do not wait for any update and do not expect any support from Microsoft, since the Essentials suite has been discontinued since 2017!
Installing Windows Movie Maker only takes a few minutes. You just have to be careful not to install all the components of the Windows Essentials suite.
- Once the download is complete, open your Downloads folder with Windows Explorer and double-click on the file windows-live-essential_16-4-3552-2012.exe that you just recovered.
- Usually, Windows will display an alert window asking you for confirmation. Click on Yes to continue.
- The installer window opens and asks you what you want to install. Click on Choose the programs to install. The other option, not recommended, will install the other Windows Essentials 12 software on your PC …
- The next window allows you to select the software to install. Uncheck all the boxes except that of Photo Gallery and Movie Maker, then click on the button To install.
- Wait while the installer copies the files to your PC.
A message tells you that the installation is complete. Click on To end. Windows Movie Maker is successfully installed on your PC!
- To open the software, click on the menu To start up Windows, then Movie Maker, which can be found in the lists of available applications – usually at the top, since it has just been installed.
- When launching Movie Maker, a window prompts you to accept the license agreement. Click on the button Accept.
- Finally, the Movie Maker editing window opens. The joys of “old-fashioned” video editing are yours!
