Apple Says Goodbye to Clips: A Quiet Exit from the App Store

Apple has quietly discontinued its standalone video editing application, Clips, removing it from the App Store. The move marks the end of an era for the simple, fun-focused app that allowed users to create short videos with artistic filters, animated text, and Live Titles.

What Was Clips?

Launched in 2017, Clips was designed as an easy-to-use tool for quickly creating and sharing expressive short videos directly from an iPhone or iPad. It gained popularity for its intuitive interface and features like automatic captioning (Live Titles), comic book filters, and integration with Apple Music. It was positioned as a simpler alternative to iMovie, targeting casual creators and social media enthusiasts.

The End of an Era and Suggested Alternatives

While Apple did not make a formal public announcement regarding the app's deprecation, its removal from the App Store around March 2024 signals the official end of support. Existing users can still access the app if it’s on their device, but new downloads are no longer possible, and future updates are highly unlikely. Apple now directs users towards its native Photos app for basic video editing and iMovie for more advanced features, both of which have seen significant enhancements over the years, incorporating many functionalities once unique to Clips.

Why This Matters: Consolidation and Ecosystem Focus

The discontinuation of Clips is indicative of Apple's broader strategy to consolidate features within its core applications and streamline its software ecosystem. As apps like Photos and iMovie have evolved, gaining sophisticated editing capabilities, a dedicated, simpler app like Clips may have become redundant in Apple’s view. For consumers, this means fewer standalone apps to manage, but also potentially a loss of a uniquely simple and quick video creation tool. Users accustomed to Clips' specific workflow will now need to adapt to the more comprehensive interfaces of Photos or iMovie, potentially facing a steeper learning curve for quick edits. This shift underscores Apple's commitment to enhancing its primary creative suite, ensuring that core experiences remain robust and feature-rich.