Windows Movie Maker Is Back—and It Runs on Windows 11
Nearly a decade after Microsoft retired Windows Movie Maker, fans of the classic video editor have a reason to celebrate. Thanks to a community effort, Windows Movie Maker 6.0 can once again run on Windows 10 and Windows 11, giving users a lightweight alternative to Microsoft’s modern video editing apps.
The installer has been preserved and made available through the Internet Archive, allowing anyone to download and use the software for free.
A Classic Editor Returns
Microsoft officially discontinued Windows Movie Maker in January 2017, ending support for the simple drag-and-drop video editor that had shipped with earlier versions of Windows.
Despite its limited feature set, Movie Maker earned a loyal following thanks to its intuitive interface, making it easy for beginners to:
- Trim and split video clips
- Arrange footage with drag-and-drop editing
- Add transitions and effects
- Insert music and titles
- Export finished videos with minimal effort
Its simplicity made it especially popular among students, hobbyists, and casual creators.
Its Successors Never Fully Replaced It
Following Movie Maker’s retirement, Microsoft introduced Video Editor as part of the Photos app. While it offered basic editing tools, many users felt it lacked the ease of use and responsiveness of Movie Maker.
In 2021, Microsoft acquired Clipchamp and made it the default video editor in Windows 11. Clipchamp provides a much broader feature set, including templates, cloud integration, and advanced editing tools, but it also requires more system resources and, for some features, an internet connection.
Runs on Modern Versions of Windows
According to Windows Latest, community developer @skylerdagirl has packaged Windows Movie Maker 6.0 into an installer that reportedly works on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
The software is available as a free download through the Internet Archive, allowing longtime users to relive the classic editing experience on modern PCs.
A Lightweight Alternative
One of Movie Maker’s biggest advantages remains its efficiency.
Windows Latest reports that Movie Maker uses up to 97% less RAM than Clipchamp, making it an attractive option for:
- Older PCs
- Low-end laptops
- Systems with limited memory
- Users who only need basic video editing
While it lacks many modern features such as AI-powered tools, cloud collaboration, and advanced effects, Movie Maker remains more than capable of handling straightforward editing tasks quickly and with minimal hardware requirements.
A Nostalgic Option for Simple Video Editing
For users who miss Microsoft’s classic video editor—or simply want a fast, lightweight application for trimming and combining videos—Windows Movie Maker offers a familiar experience that still holds up for basic projects.
Although it is no longer officially supported by Microsoft, the community-restored version provides an easy way to bring one of Windows’ most beloved creative tools back to life on today’s PCs.
