Windows Movie Maker

Windows Movie Maker was once the go-to video editing software for casual users, offering a straightforward and accessible way to create home movies, slideshows, and simple projects. 

Originally bundled with Windows, it provided a no-frills editing experience that allowed users to stitch together clips, add transitions, insert text, and even layer in some basic effects and music. It wasn’t designed for professionals, but that was never the point—it was built for ease of use, and in that regard, it delivered exactly what it promised.

Even today, there’s a certain nostalgia tied to Windows Movie Maker. It was the first video editor many people ever used, thanks to its intuitive drag-and-drop interface and simple timeline editing. 

You didn’t need to be an expert to cut clips, apply fade-ins and outs, or overlay music. It was lightweight, reliable, and—perhaps most importantly—free.

However, as technology advanced and video editing demands grew, Movie Maker started to show its age. Microsoft eventually discontinued it, leaving users searching for alternatives. 

Compared to today’s free video editors like DaVinci Resolve or Shotcut, Movie Maker feels extremely limited, lacking features like multi-track editing, advanced color correction, and high-quality export options. But for what it was—a simple, beginner-friendly tool—it still holds a special place in video editing history.

Those who miss its charm can still find unofficial downloads, but Microsoft has moved on, integrating video editing tools into Windows Photos and Clipchamp instead. While they offer more modern functionality, they don’t quite capture the same effortless simplicity that made Windows Movie Maker so widely loved.