How to Send Long Videos on iPhone: 5 Quick and Easy Ways

Sending long videos from your iPhone is simple once you know the right tricks. If you try to attach a large video directly to a text or email, your iPhone may block it or compress it into a blurry mess. Here’s how to send long videos on iPhone without losing quality or hitting size limits: use Apple’s built-in tools like iCloud links or Mail Drop, or free apps like WeTransfer and Google Drive. Below, I’ll explain all methods step by step.

Why Can’t You Send Long Videos Normally?

iPhones limit video sizes to avoid network congestion:

  • Texts/iMessage: Max ~100MB (varies by carrier).
  • Email: Max ~25MB on most services (e.g., Gmail).
    Attaching larger videos directly forces your iPhone to compress them, making them pixelated.

1. Using iCloud Link

This is Apple’s recommended method. It keeps full quality and works for any recipient (even non-iPhone users).

  1. Open Photos → Select your video.
  2. Tap the Share icon.
  3. Scroll down → Tap "Copy iCloud Link".
    • First time? Enable "iCloud Drive" in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud first.
  4. Wait for upload (time depends on video size).
  5. Paste the link in Messages, Email, or WhatsApp.

What the recipient sees: A webpage to view/download the video.

Important:

  • You need iCloud space (free 5GB included).
  • Delete old files in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud > Manage Storageif full.
  • Links expire if you delete the video from iCloud Drive.

2. Send Large Videos via Email with Mail Drop

Use this when emailing videos over 25MB.

  1. Open Mail → Compose a new email.
  2. Tap the paperclip icon → Attach your video.
  3. If the video is too large, tap "Use Mail Drop".
  4. Send the email.

What happens:

  • Apple uploads the video to iCloud.
  • Recipient gets a download link (works for 30 days).

3. Share Videos Quickly with AirDrop

Best for sending to nearby Apple users.

  1. Turn on AirDrop for both devices:
    • Swipe down from top-right → Long-press network settings → Tap AirDrop → Choose "Contacts Only" or "Everyone".
  2. In Photos, select the video → Tap Share → AirDrop → Tap the recipient’s name.

Requirements:

  • Both devices within 30 feet.
  • Recipient must accept the transfer.

4. Use WeTransfer for Huge Videos (Up to 2GB)

Ideal if iCloud is full or you need faster uploads.

  1. Open Safari → Go to wetransfer.com.
  2. Tap "Send a File" → Agree to terms.
  3. Tap "+" → "Photo Library" → Select your video → "Add".
  4. Tap "Next" → "Get a link" → "Transfer".
  5. Copy the link → Paste it anywhere.

Recipient experience: They click the link → Download full-quality video (link expires in 7 days).

5. Upload to Google Drive and Share

Great for videos up to 15GB (free account).

  1. Open the Google Drive app.
  2. Tap "+" → "Upload" → "Photos and Videos".
  3. Select your video → Wait for upload.
  4. Tap "⋮" next to the file → "Share" → Enter email or "Copy link".

Comparison: Best Methods for Different Situations

Method Max Size Works Offline? Quality Preserved? Best For
iCloud Link Depends on storage ❌ ✅ Sending to anyone, any platform
Mail Drop 5 GB ❌ ✅ Large email attachments
AirDrop No limit ✅ ✅ Quick sharing with nearby iPhones
WeTransfer 2 GB (free) ❌ ✅ Huge files, no iCloud needed
Google Drive 15 GB (free) ❌ ✅ Sharing with groups/teams

Tips to Avoid Problems

  1. Check your iCloud space before using Apple methods (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud).
  2. Use Wi-Fi for uploads over 100MB to avoid data charges.
  3. Trim videos first: Open Photos → Edit → Adjust length.
  4. Zip files for email: Use the Files app to compress videos.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Why does my iPhone compress videos when I text or email them?

Your iPhone automatically shrinks large videos to fit size limits:

  • Texts/iMessage: Max ~100MB (varies by carrier).
  • Email: Max ~25MB (Gmail, Outlook, etc.).
    To avoid blurry videos, use iCloud Links, Mail Drop, or cloud apps like Google Drive.

2. Do I need to pay for iCloud to send long videos?

No! Every iPhone gets 5GB of free iCloud storage. If your video fits within your available space (check in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud), you can use iCloud Link or Mail Drop at no cost. If your iCloud is full, delete old backups or use WeTransfer/Google Drive.

3. How long do shared video links stay active?

  • iCloud Link: Works until you delete the video from iCloud Drive.
  • Mail Drop: Expires after 30 days.
  • WeTransfer: Free links expire after 7 days.
  • Google Drive: Stays until you remove the file.

4. Can Android users download videos I send with iCloud Link?

Yes! Recipients open the link in any web browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.). They’ll see:

  • A preview of the video.
  • A download button (↓) to save it to their device.
    No Apple ID needed!

5. What’s the largest video I can send from an iPhone?

Method Max Size
iCloud Link Your iCloud space (up to 2TB if paid)
Mail Drop 5 GB
AirDrop No limit
WeTransfer (free) 2 GB
Google Drive (free) 15 GB

Conclusion

Sending long videos from your iPhone doesn’t require tech skills—just the right tools. For everyday use, iCloud Link is the fastest, free option to share full-quality videos with anyone. If your video is massive (over 2GB), Google Drive or WeTransfer handle it easily. Need to email a video? Mail Dropbypasses size limits automatically.

Key takeaways:

  • Never attach long videos directly to texts/emails—always use a link.
  • Free up iCloud space regularly to avoid send errors (guide here).
  • For videos over 15GB, split them or use a paid cloud service.

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