Fifty-fifty with super-fast broadband, it can be tricky to share a video with family, friends or colleagues. A curt video lasting just a few minutes recorded on your telephone could easily be several hundred megabytes, so how exercise y'all go about sending it?

You tin't use email*, and instant messaging services are more often than not ruled out. Even if yous can send videos via WhatsApp or Messenger, they'll reduce the quality to a level that'south probably unacceptable to most parties.

(*Really, you can use email in some instances. Apple tree Mail will offer to utilize Post Drop to share files up to 5GB, and that's automatic with no configuration needed. Similarly, Gmail will refuse to adhere a video larger than 25MB, and volition instead offer to share it via Google Bulldoze. The recipient will receive an email with a link to download the file.)

Fortunately, there are ways you can brand your video smaller (not shorter) before sharing it, and there are various services that are designed for sharing large files, such as videos.

Before we get to the two principal ways to share, it'due south worth trying to reduce your file to a more manageable size. Y'all can do this using a number of apps, assuming you can get the video to a PC or Mac: it'southward not that easy on a phone.

We prefer HandBrake considering it's free and pretty fast, but there are many others including VideoProc. By choosing a lower resolution or even just a more efficient video codec (such as HEVC) you tin make a video considerably smaller.

You can also use a video editor such equally DaVinci Resolve to shorten a video to remove any unnecessary parts, as well equally to resave it (render it) at a lower resolution or bitrate to make the file smaller while maintaining acceptable levels of quality.

Cloud storage

In one case you lot accept your optimised video file, one of the best ways to share it is to upload it to a cloud service. Information technology'due south likely your domicile broadband will take a much slower upload speed than download, so don't be surprised if videos accept a long fourth dimension (perchance even several hours) to upload.

But once stored on Dropbox, Google Drive or another one of our recommended cloud storage services, you can share the link so people tin download it - or even stream information technology direct if the service supports it, as Dropbox does.

How to share large video files

Another advantage of cloud storage is that it won't (or shouldn't) mess about with the file to compress it in whatsoever manner. If you upload a 1GB file, that's the size - and quality - it will remain.

YouTube, Vimeo & other video hosting sites

Another pick is to upload your video to a site that hosts videos. You might non want your video to be available to anyone, merely YouTube - and others - gives y'all the option to publish your video as 'unlisted'. Y'all can even go far private and pick specific people who are allowed to scout it, merely this is hassle to configure.

How to share large video files

This ways only those with the link can watch it. YouTube doesn't offer a download option (unless you're a Premium member) merely at that place are lots of means to download YouTube videos - it's easy when yous know how.

It'south easy to upload a video to these sites, whether from your PC or your phone. Again, upload times can be lengthy if the service doesn't compress the video before uploading.

Since YouTube does compress / process videos afterward y'all upload them, there tin can exist a slight loss in quality

WeTransfer

If you're looking for a quick and elementary solution to sending a big file, then look no further than WeTransfer.

This service will send big files for you (under 2GB) for free. There's also a paid selection that comes with more benefits.

Simply head to WeTransfer.com, select free or premium, and so you can upload your file.

How to send large video files step 1

  • Add the file you wish to send using the 'Add your files' option
  • Enter the e-mail address of the person yous wish to send it to
  • Enter your own e-mail service address
  • Add an optional message if you wish

In one case this has been done, hit 'Transfer' and your file volition be uploaded.

The recipient of your file will receive an e-mail from WeTransfer. This electronic mail will contain a link to download the file.

The primary disadvantage is that the file won't be bachelor forever, so this isn't a good option if y'all want people to be able to download the video whenever they like.