The Vimeo app for macOS gives users full control over their video workflow from the convenience of their desktop. When uploading from Final Cut you have control over video codecs, the ability to upload captions, an upload progress bar, and instant access to share links and embed codes.
In this article:
Here's a brief video showing you how to get started with the app:
Getting Started
System Requirements
In order to install the Vimeo app, you will need to have macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or higher. Older versions of macOS are not compatible.
The Final Cut Pro sharing feature is only supported in Final Cut X (10.0 or higher). We recommend checking the Mac OS App Store to ensure you’re running the latest version. Legacy versions of Final Cut (Pro and Express, v. 7.0.3 and earlier) are not supported.
Installing the App
The Vimeo app can be downloaded from the Mac OS App Store at 'Mac App Store: Vimeo'.
You can also open the App store, search for “Vimeo” and click "Get" under the icon that appears. Once that button turns green, click "Install App." The Vimeo app is free, so it should start downloading to your Mac immediately.
Connecting to Final Cut
- The first time you open the Mac OS app, you’ll be prompted to login to your Vimeo account.
- After logging in, a new box will appear asking you to connect to Final Cut. If you are not prompted during login, you can select the gear icon and choose Connect to Final Cut Pro.
- A new dialogue box will then appear asking your permission to create a new share destination in Final Cut. Press the Allow button to proceed.
⚠️Note: You do not need to select a folder, as the Library directory is always selected by default. - Your account is now connected. Restart Final Cut to see the new Vimeo share destination.
Difference between Vimeo sharing destinations
You may have previously connected Vimeo to Final Cut using the older option built by Apple (shown with a blue Vimeo logo).
The new share destination will labeled as “advanced,” and offers more sharing options, the ability to replace a video, and mostly important, the ability to connect with the Vimeo macOS app.
You can still continue to use the old sharing destination, but please note that it cannot be used in conjunction with the Vimeo macOS App, and so we do not recommend it. If you’d like to remove the old destination to avoid confusion you can do so by selecting File > Share > Add Destination. Just highlight the destination you want to remove and hit the “delete” button on your keyboard (you can always add it back by choosing “Add destination”).
Uploading videos
Sharing from Final Cut
- Once you’ve edited your video in Final Cut and you’re ready to upload, click File > Share > Vimeo (advanced) in Final Cut’s top navigation bar. You can also select the Share icon in the top right hand corner of your project.
- In the new menu that pops up, you’ll have the option to choose a video codec in the Settings tab. Title information, description, and privacy options will come later.
(Some of the details in this image -resolution, duration, etc- will vary depending on the specs of your project/ source footage.) - For Format, we recommend choosing Video and Audio. The Video codec will be up to your own personal preference, but we recommend choosing H.264 or ProRes 422 HQ.
You can read more about the differences between these codecs in our compression guidelines at 'Video and audio compression guidelines.' ProRes files tend to be a lot larger (sometimes with no visible gain), so we suggest starting with H.264.
Keep in mind that Final Cut utilizes its own built in set of encoding presets for each video codec, so you will not have the option to set more customized options like audio/video bitrate, color space, or frame rate. Not to worry-- the default settings should produce a high quality output based on your project preferences.
- Click Next. A dialogue box will appear from the Mac OS panel.
- For new videos, enter your video’s title, description, and your desired privacy setting.
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Choose “Start” once you’ve set your options.
- If you'd like to replace an existing video, toggle to Replace video, and then choose a video from your account.
- Once your video file has been prepared for the app, you’ll see a notification from Final Cut saying Share successful. Please note that this message only indicates that your video has been shared successfully to the Vimeo app.
The upload process to Vimeo will begin once your video reaches the app (this should only take a few seconds). After the upload process is complete, your video will enter conversion.
💡 Tip: Upload time will depend on the size of your video file and your current Internet connection. Typically, conversion time will depend on the length of your file (e.g a 2 hour video should take around 2 hours to convert).
Once the conversion process is complete, a thumbnail for your video will appear along with other information about your file (duration, plays, and upload date). If your video’s thumbnail does not populate in the app, try selecting the sync button next to notifications.
Uploading from the app
- To start uploading videos directly from the app, first choose the upload icon (it looks like a cloud with an upward-pointing arrow).
- In the dialogue box that appears, select the exact videos you want to download. We recommend limiting your uploads to 10 at a time for the best performance.
- In the next menu that appears, you’ll be required to individually enter your desired title, description, and privacy options.
- If you’ve selected multiple videos in the first step, you’ll need to toggle through, choose your settings, and hit the "Start" button for each clip.
Folder Sync
If you have multiple videos to upload at once, you can sync the Mac OS app to any folder on your computer. Once synced, all videos in that folder will be automatically uploaded straight to your Vimeo account in the app.
To sync a folder to the Mac OS app, select the Sync tab, then select a folder on your computer. From here, you can also select a default privacy option that will apply to all videos uploaded from the selected folder.
⚠️Note: Only video files in your folder can be automatically uploaded. Other files (such as text, captions, and image files) will be ignored.
You’ll be able to see the progress for your uploaded videos directly from the app. Note that only a few files will be queued up at a time.
Managing your videos
Settings
From the app, you can click on a video in the list to begin adjusting your settings. This includes:
- The video’s title
- The video’s description
- The video’s privacy setting
- Allow/Disable comments
- Allow/Disable downloading (Note: Free and Basic members cannot enable downloading)
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Vimeo members Standard or higher, Pro or higher, or Enterprise can also enable video review pages. Read more at 'Video review page'. You can also customize your review page settings by disabling the Vimeo logo or notes.
- Captions*
*Captions cannot be disabled or uploaded via the app. Select “Configure” to open caption settings in your browser.
Custom embed settings like domain privacy and player controls are not currently available in the Vimeo app; however, you can visit Vimeo.com to choose default settings that apply to future or existing videos. Read about Embed Settings at 'Customize the video player'.
If you’d like to edit your video’s title and description, you’ll need to select the “Edit info” button first, which will then open a new dialogue box. Hit “Save” before moving on.
Once you’re all set, choose “Save changes.” These settings will then be applied to your video on Vimeo.
Quick options
Tap on the ellipsis next to each video in the list for more advanced options:
- Delete your video
- Copy a video link
- Generate a review page (PRO/Business/Premium only)
- Copy your video’s embed code
- Open your video on vimeo.com within a browser
- Replace your video
Preview player
Click on any video in the “All videos” section of the app to preview your video. Please note that the preview player uses auto mode by default and will not display custom embed options like end screens, custom player controls, logos, etc.
VOD videos
In order to adjust the settings for any videos attached to a VOD page, you’ll need to visit vimeo.com in your browser. You can modify some settings like title and description, but other custom settings (like privacy and VOD page features) are not supported in the app for VOD videos.
Live events
Live events have limited support in the app (this even applies to live events that have been archived). Settings cannot be adjusted, and videos cannot be previewed. If you click on a live event in your videos list, you will automatically be directed to the video page in your browser. You can only delete a live video, copy the video link, or obtain an embed code from within the app itself.
Uninstalling the App
To remove the Vimeo app from your Mac, you can follow these instructions:
- In Finder, select Go in the top navigation bar and choose Applications.
- Locate the Vimeo app and drag it to the Trash.
- Empty the Trash to permanently remove the app.