Apple is officially removing Clips from the App Store and will stop updating it, ending the seven-year history of the video editor that was once an alternative to Snapchat and Instagram.
Apple is shutting down Clips: the company is ending support for its video app
Apple has announced the end of support for the video app Clips, which allowed users to create short videos with filters, music and emoji.
The app has been removed from the App Store since October 10, so new users will no longer be able to download it. At the same time, those who already had Clips can continue to use it on current or older versions of iOS and iPadOS, as well as re-download it using their Apple ID.
The company’s website reports that over time the app may become less compatible with new systems, so Apple recommends uploading the videos you create to Photos to save them for later editing in other apps.
The Story of a Short but Brilliant Attempt
Launched in 2017, Clips was positioned as Apple’s answer to Snapchat and Instagram Stories — but without the social network. The app allowed you to quickly edit videos, add music or stickers, demonstrating the capabilities of iPhones in a simple, accessible form.
TechCrunch columnist Brian Heather noted at the time that Clips had “too simple functionality” but at the same time served as a great showcase for Apple’s hardware innovations.
However, over the years, the company has reduced updates: the latest versions contained only bug fixes, without new features.
The end of an era — and a change in focus
On Reddit, users took the news without much surprise. Many admitted that they had never heard of Clips or deleted it after the first try.
At a time when videos are increasingly created by neural networks, the application that relied on real footage seems anachronistic. For example, OpenAI’s Sora, a generative AI video editor, has already garnered over 1 million downloads, leaving Clips far behind.
Outlook
The closure of Clips is another sign that Apple is gradually shifting its focus from simple content tools to AI solutions and deeper integration of video with the iPhone ecosystem.
Perhaps, in place of Clips, the company will introduce a new AI video editor that will combine generation, editing, and effects functions — this time without the need to “shoot yourself.”
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