Apple has discontinued its video editing application, Clips, removing it from the App Store and ceasing all future updates, as announced on a support page on October 10.
Existing users can continue to use Clips on their current or older versions of iOS and iPadOS, and they can also re‑download the application from their purchase history in their Apple account if needed. Apple advises users to export their Clips videos to their photo library, warning that the app’s usability will likely degrade over time without updates, allowing videos to be viewed and edited in other applications.
Launched in 2017, Clips was positioned as Apple’s alternative to features like Snapchat and Instagram Stories. The app enabled users to combine photos and videos, adding effects such as filters, emojis, and music. It was designed as a video creation tool rather than a social network.
Early commentary from TechCrunch’s Brian Heater described the app’s video editing functions as “simple to a fault.” He suggested it could serve to demonstrate Apple’s hardware and software capabilities while providing an option outside of popular social media platforms. According to MacRumors, while Apple initially added new features to Clips after its release, recent updates have been limited to bug fixes.
User reactions on Reddit indicated a lack of surprise, with many commenting they had either never used the app or had only tried it years ago. Some noted the app feels old‑fashioned when compared to newer generative AI video tools like OpenAI’s Sora, which has reportedly reached 1 million downloads.
