How to Download Windows Movie Maker for Windows 10/11 & Best Alternatives

I believe that many people are familiar with Movie Maker, an entry-level Windows video editing program. Unlike complicated and expensive professional video editing software, Movie Maker is easy to handle and completely free. These features made it popular among home users who only needed to trim clips, join videos, add music, or make a simple slideshow. However, after upgrading to Windows 10, you cannot find the Movie Maker icon because it is not built into Windows 10 or Windows 11. The following article explains where Windows Movie Maker went, how to get it back with an offline installer, and when it is better to choose a newer video editor instead.

How to download Windows Movie Maker for Windows 10 or Windows 11? Although the official Microsoft site no longer provides Windows Essentials 2012, some archived copies of the offline installer are still available. The following two links point to archived Microsoft download URLs that have been used by many Movie Maker users. Before installing, make sure the file name is wlsetup-all.exe, avoid any download button that belongs to an ad, and scan the installer with your security software. On Windows 11, the installation steps are the same, but you may still run into compatibility issues because the program has not been updated for modern Windows versions.

1.Universal English:

http://web.archive.org/web/20170112124505/http://wl.dlservice.microsoft.com/download/C/1/B/C1BA42D6-6A50-4A4A-90E5-FA9347E9360C/en/wlsetup-all.exe

2.British English:

http://web.archive.org/web/20160423192125/http://wl.dlservice.microsoft.com/download/1/9/4/194B1919-A211-441F-BC0E-34F6B533B876/en-gb/wlsetup-all.exe

Since Movie Maker is discontinued, no third-party download can be treated the same as an active official Microsoft download. The offline installer above is a practical workaround, but it is still old software. If you only need simple trimming, joining, cropping, rotation, subtitles, or format conversion, you can also skip the legacy installer and choose one of the modern Windows Movie Maker alternatives listed below.

Download the offline installation package of Windows Essentials 2012 on Windows 10 or Windows 11. Then, follow the steps below to install Movie Maker only instead of the whole suite.

Step 1. Double click the downloaded wlsetup-all.exe. If your PC does not have .NET Framework 3.5 enabled, Windows may ask you to install it before continuing.

Step 2. Choose the programs you want to install. Do not select the full Windows Essentials suite unless you really need the other retired apps.

Movie Maker is still loved because it is simple, but it is no longer maintained and may not work well with newer codecs, high-resolution videos, or long projects. If you prefer a safer and more current editor, the following tools can replace Windows Movie Maker for different needs. The left image area is kept as a placeholder so you can add new screenshots later.

1. Microsoft Photos

OS: Windows | Price: Free

Microsoft Photos is a basic replacement for users who only need to make quick videos from photos and clips. It can help you trim, split, add text, apply filters, and create simple storyboard-style videos without installing a complex editor.

Best for: beginners who want a built-in and lightweight editing tool.

2. Clipchamp

OS: Windows, Web | Price: Free with paid options

Clipchamp is Microsoft’s modern video editor. Compared with Movie Maker, it offers a more current timeline, templates, stock assets, screen recording, text, transitions, and browser-based access. It is easier than professional editors but more flexible than the old Movie Maker.

Best for: Windows users who want an official Microsoft-style editor with modern templates.

3. WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory

OS: Windows | Price: Free

WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory is not a full timeline editor, but it is useful for the kind of quick editing many Movie Maker users need. You can trim, merge, crop, rotate, add effects, add watermarks, compress videos, and convert files to common formats when Movie Maker cannot import or export them properly.

Best for: basic edits, format conversion, compression, and fixing compatibility issues.

→ Get WonderFox Free HD Video Converter FactoryGet WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory

4. VSDC Free Video Editor

OS: Windows | Price: Free with paid upgrade

VSDC Free Video Editor is a non-linear editor with more advanced tools than Movie Maker, including visual effects, audio effects, color adjustment, and support for many formats. It takes more time to learn, but it gives you more control over your project.

Best for: users who want more editing features without jumping straight to a professional suite.

→ Get VSDC Free Video Editor

5. Icecream Video Editor

OS: Windows | Price: Free with paid upgrade

Icecream Video Editor keeps the workflow simple while adding useful options such as timeline editing, transitions, audio adjustment, voiceover recording, and basic effects. It is a comfortable choice if you liked Movie Maker’s ease of use.

Best for: simple home videos, slideshows, and beginner-friendly timeline editing.

→ Get Icecream Video Editor

6. VideoProc Vlogger

OS: Windows, macOS | Price: Free

VideoProc Vlogger is a free editor for creators who want more than basic trimming. It supports multi-track editing, speed changes, motion effects, color tools, and audio editing while still staying friendlier than many professional programs.

Best for: vloggers and users who want a free editor with more creative control.

→ Get VideoProc Vlogger

7. VideoPad Video Editor

OS: Windows, macOS | Price: Free trial with paid plans

VideoPad Video Editor lets you import clips, arrange them on a timeline, add transitions, effects, titles, and audio, and then export or share the video. It is easier to approach than many advanced editors, though the free version has limitations.

Best for: users who want a traditional editor with quick export and sharing options.

→ Get VideoPad Video Editor

8. MiniTool Movie Maker

OS: Windows | Price: Free with paid plans

MiniTool Movie Maker has a clean interface and templates for quick video creation. It supports common edits such as split, trim, transition, text, effects, and audio adjustment, making it suitable for users who want a familiar “movie maker” style workflow.

Best for: beginners who want templates and a simple interface.

→ Get MiniTool Movie Maker

9. OpenShot

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux | Price: Free

OpenShot is a free and open-source video editor with timeline editing, transitions, titles, effects, and multiple export options. It is more powerful than Movie Maker, but it may run less smoothly on low-end computers.

Best for: users who want a free open-source editor with more features.

→ Get OpenShot

10. Shotcut

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux | Price: Free

Shotcut is another open-source editor that supports many formats and includes filters, transitions, color tools, audio tools, and timeline editing. It is flexible and regularly updated, but beginners may need some time to get used to the interface.

Best for: users who want a free editor with broad format support.

→ Get Shotcut

11. Avidemux

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux | Price: Free

Avidemux is best for quick cutting, filtering, and encoding tasks. It does not provide a multi-track timeline like Movie Maker, but it is very efficient when you only need to cut, append, or convert a video without building a complicated project.

Best for: fast cuts and simple video processing.

→ Get Avidemux

12. LosslessCut

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux | Price: Free

LosslessCut is not a full Movie Maker replacement, but it is excellent for cutting, trimming, and removing unwanted parts without re-encoding the whole video. It is fast and helps preserve original quality when you only need basic clip cleanup.

Best for: cutting videos quickly without quality loss.

→ Get LosslessCut

13. Kdenlive

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux | Price: Free

Kdenlive is a powerful open-source non-linear editor with multi-track editing, transitions, effects, audio tools, proxy editing, and broad format support. It is much more capable than Movie Maker, but it has a steeper learning curve.

Best for: advanced free editing and larger projects.

→ Get Kdenlive

14. HitFilm

OS: Windows, macOS | Price: Free with paid plans

HitFilm combines basic editing tools with visual effects, templates, and tools for more cinematic videos. It can be overkill for simple family clips, but it is useful if you want to move beyond Movie Maker and learn effects-driven editing.

Best for: YouTube-style videos and users interested in visual effects.

→ Get HitFilm

15. DaVinci Resolve

OS: Windows, macOS, Linux | Price: Free with paid Studio version

DaVinci Resolve is a professional-grade editor with editing, color correction, audio post-production, motion graphics, and proxy workflow. The free version is very powerful, but it is not the best choice for low-end PCs or users who only need Movie Maker-level edits.

Best for: advanced users, high-quality projects, and professional post-production.

→ Get Davinci Resolve

Q1. Is Windows Movie Maker still available from Microsoft?

No. Windows Movie Maker was included in Windows Essentials 2012, which reached end of support on January 10, 2017. Microsoft no longer provides it as an official download.

Q2. Can I still use Windows Movie Maker on Windows 10 or Windows 11?

Yes, if it is already installed or if the archived offline installer works on your PC. However, it is discontinued software, so you may run into installation errors, codec problems, crashes, or export limitations.

Q3. What is the official replacement for Windows Movie Maker?

For Windows users, Microsoft moved from Movie Maker to the Photos video editor experience and then to Clipchamp as the more modern editing option. If you want a Microsoft-backed editor, Clipchamp is the better place to start today.

Q4. Which Movie Maker alternative is best for simple video edits?

For very basic edits, Microsoft Photos, Clipchamp, WonderFox Free HD Video Converter Factory, Icecream Video Editor, and MiniTool Movie Maker are easier choices. For advanced timeline editing, try Shotcut, Kdenlive, HitFilm, or DaVinci Resolve.