iMovie Split Screen: How to Put Two Clips Side by Side

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes—iMovie can show two video clips at once using its Split Screen video overlay, placing them side by side or in another supported arrangement. Add both clips to a project, set the upper clip’s video overlay to Split Screen, then adjust its position and timing; the controls differ somewhat between Mac and iPhone or iPad.

What iMovie Split Screen Does

Split Screen is an overlay effect: one clip remains in the main timeline, while a second clip is placed above it and displayed alongside the first. The result is useful for comparing two viewpoints, showing a person reacting to an event, or presenting footage recorded at the same time from different cameras.

It is not the same as placing two clips next to each other in the timeline. Clips arranged consecutively play one after another. For a split screen, their playback periods must overlap, and the upper clip must be configured as a video overlay. iMovie’s built-in effect offers a preset layout rather than the unrestricted positioning and resizing available in some dedicated compositing or editing tools.

Make a Split Screen on a Mac

Open the project in iMovie, or create a project and add the two video clips to its timeline.
Put the clip you want as the background in the main timeline. Drag the other clip above it so the two clips overlap for the portion that should appear together.
Select the upper clip. In the viewer controls above the preview, open the video overlay settings—the control may be shown as a Video Overlay Settings button—and choose Split Screen from the overlay-style menu.
Use the viewer’s split-screen controls to choose a position, such as left or right, and adjust any available transition or border options. The exact controls can vary with the iMovie version and project.
Play the section and check that both clips are visible for the intended duration. Drag the upper clip’s ends in the timeline to change when the split screen starts or ends.

If you cannot find the overlay controls, first select the clip in the timeline, not just the preview. Also confirm that it is above another video clip and overlaps it. A clip placed only before or after the background clip cannot create a simultaneous split-screen view.

Make a Split Screen on iPhone or iPad

iMovie for iPhone and iPad also supports a split-screen overlay, though the touch interface is arranged differently from the Mac interface. Start a movie project and place the background clip in the timeline. Move the playhead to the point where the second clip should begin, tap the add-media button, choose the second clip, and use the More options button to add it as a split-screen overlay. Depending on the current interface, the overlay choice is represented by a split-screen icon.

After adding the overlay, use the preview and on-screen controls to choose its layout or side, then review the result. Trim the overlay in the timeline if it should appear for only part of the background clip. Button placement and available adjustments can differ between iMovie releases and screen sizes, so look for the overlay or More options controls rather than expecting the Mac menus to appear on mobile.

On either platform, the key idea is the same: one clip is the background and the other is an overlay. If the second video replaces the first instead of appearing beside it, undo the edit and add it through the overlay workflow.

Timing, Audio, and Layout Choices

The clips do not need to have identical total lengths, but they must overlap while the split screen is visible. For example, a 20-second background clip can show a 7-second reaction clip beside it for just those seven seconds. Trim or reposition the overlay to control that interval. If the footage begins at different moments, align the important action by moving the overlay clip along the timeline.

Think about sound as well as picture. When both clips contain audio, their sound may play together and become difficult to understand. Select a clip and adjust its volume or mute it if needed; alternatively, keep one clip’s sound prominent and use the other as silent visual context. Preview the entire overlap with headphones or speakers before exporting.

Side-by-side: useful for comparing two similar scenes or showing two speakers.
Top-and-bottom: helpful when a vertical presentation suits the footage better, if that arrangement is available in the controls.
Different start times: useful for a reaction or commentary shot that appears only when needed.

Composition matters: faces or other important details can be cropped when a wide video is squeezed into half the frame. Check both sides in the viewer, and consider trimming or reframing the source clips before settling on the layout.

Common Problems and Limits

The Split Screen option is missing: Select a video clip above the main timeline and verify that it overlaps another video. If the selected item is audio, a title, or a still image, the video overlay options may not be the ones you need.
The clips play one after another: They are probably arranged consecutively rather than overlapping. Move one clip above the other in the timeline and extend their overlap.
Only one clip appears: Check that the upper clip is set to Split Screen rather than Cutaway, Picture in Picture, or another overlay mode. Confirm that the overlap has not been trimmed away.
The picture looks awkward or cropped: Try the other split-screen position and review the source framing. iMovie’s preset layout does not provide the same fine-grained control as a full compositing editor.
Sound is confusing: Lower or mute one clip’s audio, then replay the overlap to make sure the intended sound is clear.

Features and control labels can change between versions and platforms. If instructions do not match what appears on screen, update iMovie through the device’s normal software-update process, then check the current help information for the platform. The built-in split-screen effect is convenient, but it is not a substitute for an editor that supports fully custom layouts, multiple independently positioned panels, or detailed masking.

Exporting and Sharing

Before sharing, play the project from just before the overlay begins until just after it ends. Check the transition, framing, synchronization, and audio. Then use the project’s Share or export controls and choose a resolution and destination appropriate for how the video will be watched. Exporting creates a finished movie; it does not change the original source clips.

If the split-screen section looks different in the exported file, reopen the project and inspect the timeline and preview. Make sure both clips cover the full intended interval and that no unwanted transition or overlay setting affects the result. Keeping the editable project also makes it easier to change timing or audio later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you split the screen in iMovie?
Yes. Add a second video as an overlay above the main clip and choose the Split Screen overlay style. The controls are different on Mac and iPhone or iPad.

Can I put two videos side by side in iMovie?
Yes. Use the Split Screen overlay and select the available position. Both clips need to overlap in time for them to appear together.

Why can’t I find Split Screen in iMovie?
Make sure you selected a video overlay clip in the timeline, that it is above another video clip, and that the clips overlap. On mobile, check the More options controls after adding the second clip.

Can I make a split screen with more than two videos?
iMovie’s built-in Split Screen effect is intended for a pair of clips at a time. More complex multi-panel arrangements may require another editor with custom compositing controls.

Can the two clips have different lengths?
Yes. Their overall lengths can differ; the split-screen view appears only during the time they overlap. Trim or reposition the overlay to choose when it is shown.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.