Fix Video Import Failures in Lightworks: Convert Videos to Lightworks Supported Formats

Lightworks officially supports the following video formats:

ASF
AVI
M2TS
M2V
MP4
MPG
MOV
MTS
MXF
TS
VOB

This means if your file is in MKV, WMV, WebM, or FLV format, it's not supported natively by Lightworks.

However, Lightworks also explicitly states: "Just because a file is in an . AVI or .MOV container does not necessarily mean it will import into Lightworks." This is very important because it explains why some supported videos can't be properly imported into the program: the above formats are only containers that can hold different codecs. If your file contains unsupported codecs, it cannot be loaded into Lightworks, even if it's in a supported container format.

Like other professional video editing software, Lightworks prefers intermediate codecs such as ProRes (ProRes is a codec designed specifically for editing). But it also supports highly-compressed codecs like H.264. If you want a smooth editing experience, it's recommended to convert your videos to MP4 format using H264 codec or MOV format using ProRes codec.

To know how to perform this conversion, see the next section.

On Windows, you're recommended to use WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro, a professional video and audio converter software that can convert between various file formats with high quality preserved. It can make your files compatible with Lightworks in just a few clicks.

DownloadDownload the software below and see how to use it to convert a video to a Lightworks supported format:

Step 1: Add Your Unsupported Video to the Converter

Launch the software and enter the Converter module. Click + Add Files to add the unsupported video files to the program. Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop the files into the program interface.

Step 2: Select the H264 or ProRes Profile for Lightworks

Click the Format icon on the right to open the Output Format section. Under Video, you can directly select the H264 profile. It's already optimized for MP4 container format and AAC audio codec to ensure compatibility with almost any device.

Or, if you want to have a faster editing process, you can click the Apple device tab, then select the ProRes profile. Note that this codec will produce a much larger video file.

Optional: Modify Output Settings

This step is optional, but recommended if your video's resolution, bitrate, or frame rate is too high. You can open Parameter settings and adjust these values to a moderate range that Lightworks can handle more easily. Don't forget to click OK to save the settings.

That said, if you're not familiar with these settings, skipping this step is completely fine.

Step 3: Start the Conversion Process

Click the ▼ button at the bottom of the Converter interface to set a new output folder. Finally, click Run to begin the conversion. Conversion time depends on file size and the output settings you choose.

💡 If your computer has a newer NVIDIA graphics card or supports Intel QSV, you can experience hardware acceleration when converting to H264 files, which can speed up the process by up to 30x.

If your video uses a supported format and codec but still fails to import into Lightworks, it may be that:

1. The video file uses variable frame rate (VFR), or the frame rate does not match the project's frame rate

Although Lightworks supports variable frame rate, it may struggle to handle highly variable files. You can convert the VFR video to CFR to fix the issue.

Additionally, if you're still using an older version of Lightworks, such as one prior to 2021, you may be unable to import a video into an existing project if the file's frame rate (e.g., 25fps) does not match the project's frame rate (e.g., 30fps). You need to match the frame rate to the project before importing. The video converter software above is up to the task. See how to change video frame rate.

2. The video file is too large (or the resolution is too high for your system)

Importing a video with too high resolution or a large size could lead to a black screen in Lightworks, as dealing with this type of video requires excessive computer power.

To avoid this, you can downscale the resolution from 4K to 1080p or lower before importing to Lightworks. You can also use the program above for help.

3. The video filename contains special characters

Shortening the filename and removing special characters can sometimes help with the import issue.

4. The video file is stored in a location that requires administrator privileges.

If you receive a "File location not found" warning or similar when importing a video into Lightworks, it's likely a permissions issue. You can try running Lightworks as administrator to see if that resolves the problem.

5. The video file is DRM protected

If your video file was purchased from iTunes or another services, it's likely protected and cannot be opened anywhere outside the app where it was purchased.

6. The video file is corrupted

If you are unable to open the video even outside of Lightworks, the file may be broken, and you may need to re-download it or try to repair it using a repair tool.

Keep in mind that your video must use both a container format and codec supported by Lightworks to be imported. If not, use the video converter above to convert the video to a format supported by Lightworks.

Hopefully, this article has resolved your file import issue. Thank you for reading!

1. How to import video clips into Lightworks?

First, ensure your video is supported by Lightworks; otherwise, convert the file to a supported file type.

Then, open Lightworks > Create a new project. In the LOG or EDIT section, drag and drop your video directly into the project content panel.

2. How to solve Lightworks import failure caused by unsupported formats?

You need to use a video converter program such as WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro. It allows you to easily convert videos to formats supported by Lightworks, such as MP4 (H264) and MOV (ProRes). Follow the steps outlined above to check details >>

3. Why can't I import my MP4 into Lightworks?

While MP4 is supported by Lightworks, it still cannot be imported into Lightworks when:

• The file contains unsupported codecs
• The file is encrypted
• The file is damaged