Even 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 do you go about sending it?

Yous can't apply email*, and instant messaging services are mostly ruled out. Fifty-fifty if you tin can send videos via WhatsApp or Messenger, they'll reduce the quality to a level that's probably unacceptable to near parties.

(*Actually, you lot tin utilise email in some instances. Apple Mail will offering to employ Post Drop to share files up to 5GB, and that's automated with no configuration needed. Similarly, Gmail will decline to attach a video larger than 25MB, and will instead offer to share information technology via Google Bulldoze. The recipient will receive an email with a link to download the file.)

Fortunately, there are ways yous can make your video smaller (not shorter) earlier sharing it, and in that location are diverse services that are designed for sharing large files, such equally videos.

Before we get to the two main means to share, it's worth trying to reduce your file to a more manageable size. You can do this using a number of apps, assuming you tin become the video to a PC or Mac: it'southward not that easy on a phone.

Nosotros prefer HandBrake because information technology'south costless and pretty fast, but there are many others including VideoProc. By choosing a lower resolution or fifty-fifty just a more than efficient video codec (such as HEVC) you can brand a video considerably smaller.

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

Cloud storage

Once you lot accept your optimised video file, one of the best means to share information technology is to upload it to a cloud service. Information technology's likely your abode broadband volition take a much slower upload speed than download, so don't be surprised if videos have a long time (maybe even several hours) to upload.

Only once stored on Dropbox, Google Drive or another ane of our recommended cloud storage services, you tin share the link then people can download information technology - or fifty-fifty stream information technology directly if the service supports information technology, as Dropbox does.

How to share large video files

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

YouTube, Vimeo & other video hosting sites

Another option is to upload your video to a site that hosts videos. You might not want your video to be bachelor to anyone, but YouTube - and others - gives you the pick to publish your video equally 'unlisted'. Y'all can even make it private and pick specific people who are immune to scout it, but this is hassle to configure.

How to share large video files

This means only those with the link can watch it. YouTube doesn't offer a download option (unless yous're a Premium fellow member) merely there are lots of means to download YouTube videos - information technology'southward like shooting fish in a barrel when you lot know how.

It's piece of cake to upload a video to these sites, whether from your PC or your telephone. Again, upload times tin be lengthy if the service doesn't compress the video before uploading.

Since YouTube does compress / procedure videos afterwards you upload them, in that location tin can be a slight loss in quality

WeTransfer

If you're looking for a quick and unproblematic solution to sending a large file, then expect no farther than WeTransfer.

This service will transport big files for you (under 2GB) for costless. There's likewise a paid choice that comes with more than benefits.

Merely head to WeTransfer.com, select complimentary or premium, then you tin upload your file.

How to send large video files step 1

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

Once this has been done, hitting 'Transfer' and your file will be uploaded.

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

The main disadvantage is that the file won't be bachelor forever, so this isn't a good option if you desire people to be able to download the video whenever they similar.