Windows Movie Maker was a free video editing software included with Windows XP and Vista. It was discontinued in 2017 but remains hugely popular for its simplicity.
Publisher
Microsoft Corporation
Last Version
2012 (16.4.3528)
Released
2000
Discontinued
2017
Windows Movie Maker was a beloved, simple video editing application that came bundled with Windows XP and Vista. Students, families, and casual video creators loved it for its drag-and-drop simplicity. Microsoft discontinued it in January 2017, replacing it with the Photos app, though many users felt the replacement was inferior. Searches for Movie Maker downloads remain consistently high years after discontinuation.
Why was it discontinued?
Microsoft discontinued Windows Essentials (which included Movie Maker) on January 10, 2017. Microsoft pointed users to the Photos app and third-party alternatives.
Only download from verified sources. Always scan files before opening.
Preserved copies of the official Windows Movie Maker 2012 installer.
Safety Warning
Discontinued software is a major malware vector. Third-party download sites often bundle malware with old software installers. Always verify the file hash and scan with antivirus before installing. Use our free VirusTotal scanner to check any downloaded file instantly.
Microsoft officially stopped distributing Movie Maker in 2017. The safest place to find the installer is archive.org. Always scan any downloaded installer before running it.
Windows Movie Maker 2012 can work on Windows 11 for many users, though it's not officially supported. Some features may not work perfectly. Consider Clipchamp (now built into Windows 11) as a modern replacement.
Yes. Windows Movie Maker was always free software from Microsoft. Any site asking you to pay for it is a scam. Only download from trusted archive sources.
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