Send a large video from iPhone in 4 steps
- Open localfiletransfer.com on the device that should receive the video. A PC, Mac, Android phone, tablet or another iPhone all work.
- Open the same address on your iPhone in Safari. On the same Wi-Fi, the other device appears on your radar within a few seconds.
- Tap the device, then choose the video. Pick it from your Photo Library, or from Files for full original quality (see below).
- Accept on the other device and keep both screens on. A progress bar shows how far along it is. When it finishes, tap Save.
Tip: plug your iPhone in for long transfers. The page keeps the screen awake while a transfer runs, but Low Power Mode can still dim it.
Send the original file, not a compressed copy
When you pick a long video from the Photo Library, your iPhone may prepare a smaller copy first. To send the untouched original:
- Open the video in Photos and tap Share → Save to Files. Choose On My iPhone.
- On this page, tap the other device, then choose Choose File (or Browse).
- Find the video in Files and select it. It arrives exactly as recorded, with the same resolution and frame rate.
Send large videos without iCloud, AirDrop or email
The steps above need no iCloud storage, no Apple ID on the other device and no email. The video goes straight from your iPhone to the other device over your Wi-Fi, so it doesn’t use your iCloud space or mobile data, and it works with Windows PCs and Android phones that AirDrop can’t reach.
Why iPhone videos get blurry or won’t send
- Messages and chat apps shrink videos so they send quickly, which lowers the quality.
- Email has a size cap. Apple’s Mail Drop handles attachments up to 5 GB, and the download link expires after 30 days (Apple Support).
- AirDrop only works between Apple devices, plus some newer Android phones such as Pixel and Galaxy S26. It can’t send to a Windows PC or most Android phones.
A direct Wi-Fi transfer avoids all three: no shrinking, no size cap set by us, and it works with any device that has a browser.
Ways to send a large video from iPhone
| Method | Full quality | Works with | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local File Transfer (this page) | Yes | Any device with a browser | No size limit set by us; keep both screens on |
| AirDrop | Yes | iPhone, iPad, Mac (and some newer Android phones) | Devices must be close together |
| iCloud link (Photos → Share → Copy iCloud Link) | Yes | Anyone with the link | Needs iCloud Photos turned on; uploads first; link expires after 30 days |
| Mail Drop | Yes | Anyone with email | Up to 5 GB; link expires in 30 days |
| Messages, WhatsApp and other chat apps | Often reduced | People with the same app | Videos are usually compressed |
Where to send it
- To a Windows PC: follow the steps above; for photos too, see iPhone to PC.
- To a Mac: the same steps work in Safari or Chrome on the Mac. Chrome saves very large files straight to disk.
- To an Android phone: see iPhone to Android for where the video lands and how to find it in your gallery.
- To a laptop or computer: any computer with a modern browser works, Windows, Mac, Linux or Chromebook. For a Windows PC, also see AirDrop for Windows.
- To someone far away: tap Nearby devices → Create a code and share the six-digit code or QR code. It works across different networks.
If the transfer stops or the device doesn’t appear
- Keep Safari on screen. iPhone pauses pages in the background, which pauses the transfer.
- Check the Wi-Fi. Both devices must be on the same network, and guest networks often keep devices apart.
- Turn off VPNs on both devices while you transfer.
- iPhone not showing up? If iCloud Private Relay is on, Safari hides your network, so the iPhone can’t be found nearby. Open Settings → Wi-Fi, tap ⓘ next to your network and turn off iCloud Private Relay, or connect with a code instead.
- Tap Scan at the top of the card for a fresh search, or connect with a code instead.
Questions
How do I send a large video from my iPhone without losing quality?
Save the video to the Files app first (Photos, Share, Save to Files), then open localfiletransfer.com on your iPhone and the other device, tap the other device and choose the video from Files. It arrives as the original file, not a compressed copy.
Is there a size limit?
We set no size limit. Chrome and Edge on a computer save big files straight to disk. Other browsers, and phones, hold the incoming file in memory until it finishes, so for videos of several gigabytes, sending to a computer running Chrome or Edge is the safest choice.
Why does my iPhone video look blurry when I send it?
Messages and most chat apps shrink videos to send them quickly. Sending the file directly over Wi-Fi keeps the original resolution and frame rate.
How do I send a video that’s too long to text on iPhone?
Messages shrinks long videos so they send quickly. To send the full video, open localfiletransfer.com on your iPhone and the other device and send the file directly, or share an iCloud link from Photos.
How do I email a video that’s too large from iPhone?
Mail offers Mail Drop for attachments up to 5 GB, and the download link expires after 30 days. For bigger videos, or to keep the video off the cloud, send it directly with localfiletransfer.com.
Can I send a large iPhone video to an Android phone?
Yes. Open localfiletransfer.com on both phones, tap the Android phone on your iPhone and pick the video. AirDrop doesn’t work with most Android phones yet, but a browser does.
Is my video uploaded to a server?
No. Our server only introduces the two devices. The video goes straight from your iPhone to the other device, encrypted by the browser.
How many GB is a 20 minute video on an iPhone?
It depends on the recording setting. As a rough guide with the default HEVC format: 1080p at 30 fps is about 1.2 GB, 4K at 30 fps about 3.8 GB, and 4K at 60 fps about 9 GB. Settings, Camera, Record Video shows the size per minute for your iPhone.
How do I send a large video from my iPhone to my laptop?
Open localfiletransfer.com on the laptop and in Safari on the iPhone, tap the laptop and choose the video. Chrome or Edge on the laptop saves it straight to disk, with no size limit set by us.