You’ve just finished editing and tweaking your video to perfection only to find out that your file is too large to share. Whether getting approval from a client, sharing with a team member, or publishing online, sharing your video can be tricky.
Now that video content is everywhere online, you’d think that more platforms would be optimized for sharing video files. In fact, video traffic is estimated to account for 82% of all consumer internet traffic. Yet many email platforms often struggle with attachments over 20-25 MB.
Don’t let your video go unseen. Below are three easy ways to send large video files without trimming them or reducing their quality.
TLDR: How to Send Large Video Files
Sending large video files can be challenging due to platform size limits (often ~2GB). This guide provides three easy ways to share your videos without compromising quality or trimming:
- Cloud Storage: Upload to services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive and share a link.
- Video Hosting Sites: Utilize platforms such as YouTube, Dailymotion, or Animoto itself to host and share.
- Flash Drive: For in-person sharing, transfer files directly via an external USB drive.
What is a large video file?
While each platform determines what constitutes a “large” video file, about 2GB is often the cutoff.
The video file size “formula” equals bitrate times duration times compression ratio. Remember, higher resolution and longer videos result in larger files, which take longer to send or may be impossible to share on certain platforms.
How to share large video files: 3 easy methods
Trimming and compressing your video might help to make your video within shareable size limits but can reduce the overall quality of your video. If this isn’t an ideal solution for you, no worries. Below are three surefire ways to bypass email sharing limits and send large video files while retaining their quality.
1. Upload videos to a cloud storage
Using cloud storage services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive is an easy and often free way to share large videos. Instead of sending the file directly, you upload your video to the cloud service, and then share a link. Viewers can typically watch or download the video from the link.
Benefits:
- Easy and often free.
- Doesn't consume your device's storage space once uploaded.
- Simple link sharing.
Popular free cloud services:
- Google Drive: 15 GB free storage across Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Photos. Gmail automatically generates a Google Drive link for large attachments.
- Onedrive: 5 GB free storage. Paid plans offer up to 100 GB.
- WeTransfer: Free plan allows sending files up to 2 GB.
- Dropbox: Free Basic plan includes 2 GB storage. Max file size of 50 GB for web uploads, no max for desktop/mobile app uploads.
2. Upload videos to a video hosting site
Looking for another way to let your video live on the web so you don’t have to worry about email? Video hosting sites like YouTube, Dailymotion, and Animoto offer an easy and secure way to host your videos, eliminating email concerns.
- Animoto: Videos created with Animoto are automatically stored. Share directly by copying a link from the video editor. Professional Plus plans include time-stamped commenting features for feedback.
- YouTube: Popular for watching and sharing. You can upload private videos and use it for hosting. Note: YouTube automatically compresses videos, which may affect quality. Downloading videos directly from YouTube is not possible. Learn more about uploading a private video here.
- Dailymotion: World's second-largest video-sharing site. Offers public, private, and password-protected video uploads. Max file size: 2 GB, 60 minutes.Sproutvideo: A paid service offering extensive storage (e.g., 500 GB with the Seed plan) and robust privacy controls.
3. Send a flash drive with your video
Last but not least, one tried-and-true method to share your videos is with an external flash drive. This method is ideal for in-person rather than virtual sharing. All you have to do is plug in your USB flash drive, drag and drop your video into the right file, and safely remove your flash drive. To share it on another device, simply plug it in and open your video file.
How to share a large video file through email
We’ve all encountered the dreaded pop-up that reads “Your file is too large to send.” The above methods are great choices if you don’t need to send your video via email. But, if you want to include a video within your email thread, there are a couple of ways to compress and send your video.
Use a video file compressor
Depending on which program you are using to send your emails, you may encounter the message that your video file is too large. The maximum shareable file size differs between platforms, but usually 20 MB is about the limit. Here’s a quick summary of max file sizes to keep in mind when compressing and sharing your videos:
- Gmail: 25 MB
- Outlook: 20 MB
- iCloud Mail: 20 MB
- Yahoo: 25 MB
- Zoho: 20 MB
Various programs can help you to compress your video into a smaller file size. Remember, this often results in lower video quality. For this reason, you should always keep an original copy of the video to share in full quality on social media, in presentations, etc. Here are some free programs to compress your videos:
Export your video with Animoto at lower resolutions
Bypass compression by exporting your video at a lower resolution. Animoto allows exporting at 1080p (highest) or 720p (standard). For email sharing or simple feedback, 720p is a good choice. You can always re-download at a higher resolution later.
How to share large video files from iPhone
Like email, iPhone messaging (iMessage/text) has a maximum shareable file size (typically 25 MB). However, built-in features can help:
- iCloud: Stores your photos, files, and data in the cloud, freeing up device space and enabling easy large file sharing.
- From the Photos app, select the video.
- Tap the share icon.
- Scroll down to "Copy iCloud Link." (Video uploads to iCloud if not already there).
- Copy and paste the link into iMessage, email, or text.
- AirDrop: Allows direct, large file transfer to nearby Apple devices via Bluetooth (within ~30 feet). Both devices need to be connected to iCloud and have Bluetooth enabled.
- Open Photos app and select the video.
- Tap the share icon.
- Tap the AirDrop icon to see nearby devices.
- Tap the recipient's iPhone name to send.
- Mail Drop: Enables sending up to 5 GB of content via email by uploading it to iCloud.
- Select the video from Photos, tap the share icon.
- Tap the mail icon.
- Send your email and tap "Use Mail Drop" when prompted "This attachment may be too large." The recipient receives a link to download from iCloud.
How to share large video files from Android
Android also has text message file size limitations, but several free apps and websites offer workarounds for sharing directly from your device:
- Google Photos: Google's cloud storage for photos and files. Default for Pixel users, but available via app for any Android device.
- Sign in to your Google Account or open the Google Photos app.
- Select the video.
- Tap the share icon.
- Under "Send in Google Photos," select recipients.
- Tap Send. This creates a conversation thread.
- Filemail: A free service for sending large files up to 5 GB via email or a secure link. Available in the Play Store or online.
- Select/upload video.
- Input recipients' emails, write message, hit send.
- Alternatively, upload and send as a downloadable link.
- Send Anywhere: Allows sending large files through various methods. If both sender and recipient have the app, a temporary secure access code can be used. For recipients without the app:
- Go to the Send Anywhere website.
- Upload your video.
- Click "Link" and create a free account.
- Copy and paste the link to share. (Link is valid for 48 hours).
Share large video files easily with Animoto
With so many devices, everyone is connected but communication and file sharing can still be a challenge. With Animoto, you can create, download, and share your videos all in one place, with no extra email threads or apps needed. Get started today to make videos for free and send them to any social destination or device you’d like.
