To send long videos from your iPhone, select the video in Photos, tap Share, and choose AirDrop for a nearby compatible device or Mail to send it through Mail Drop. For someone farther away, you can also share a temporary album link on iOS 27 or upload the video to Google Drive and send a viewing link. Choose based on the recipient’s device and whether you need to deliver the original recording or a shorter clip.
The short version
- Nearby recipients: AirDrop sends to compatible Apple devices and certain supported Pixel phones.
- Email delivery: Mail Drop supports messages totaling up to 5 GB, with attachments available for 30 days.
- Share a link: Use a temporary Shared Album on iOS 27 or upload the video to Google Drive.
- Smaller attachments: Save a trimmed video as a new clip to keep the original recording.
| Method | Best use | Main requirement or catch |
|---|---|---|
| AirDrop to Apple devices | Nearby transfer | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled on both devices |
| AirDrop to a supported Pixel | Nearby Android recipient | Pixel 9 or later, excluding Pixel 9a |
| Temporary Shared Album | Viewing and download link | iOS 27 or later; expires after 30 days |
| Mail Drop | Email delivery | Entire message within 5 GB |
| Gmail | Email with a Drive link for oversized attachments | Personal attachment limit is 25 MB |
| Google Drive | Sharing with distant recipients | Available storage and completed upload |
| iCloud Drive link | Sharing a stored file | Video must already be in iCloud Drive |
| Send a copy from Files | Delivering the actual file | Sending app’s attachment limits apply |
| Messages | Sending within a conversation | Carrier limits and compression can apply |
| WhatsApp document | Sending a larger file in chat | Up to 2 GB; accessible through the document picker |
| WhatsApp video attachment | Sending with a quality choice | Media limits and compression apply |
| LocalSend | Nearby phones and computers | App on both devices and the same local network |
| Trimmed clips | Sending shorter portions | Repeat from the original to deliver every segment |
Send to a nearby device with AirDrop
Enable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on both devices, and disconnect Personal Hotspot before starting. Open Photos, select the video, then tap Share > AirDrop and choose the recipient. The recipient taps Accept to receive it.
If the recipient is not in your contacts, have them open Control Center, hold the connectivity controls, then select AirDrop > Everyone for 10 Minutes. When both devices use iOS 26.2 or later, the recipient gets an AirDrop code on their device to share with you. Enter that code on the sending iPhone to continue.
For original video data on iOS 27, select the video and tap Share > Options, then turn on All Photos Data before choosing AirDrop and the recipient. This includes the original format, associated metadata, and edit history. If the recipient is a nearby contact, you can also open the video and move your iPhone close to their iPhone to initiate AirDrop on supported models with iOS 17 or later, keeping Wi-Fi and Bluetooth enabled.
Google specifies Pixel 9 or later, excluding Pixel 9a, for receiving from an iPhone through Quick Share. On the Pixel, open Settings, search for Quick Share, open its page, and select Receive or set visibility to Everyone for 10 minutes. On your iPhone, select the video in Photos, tap Share > AirDrop, and choose the Android device. Tap Accept on the Pixel.
Once an AirDrop transfer starts nearby, it can continue over the internet after the devices leave Bluetooth or Wi-Fi range. Internet connectivity is required for that continuation. To prevent cellular transfer, open Settings > General > AirDrop and turn off Use Cellular Data.
Create a temporary album link
On iOS 27 or later, a temporary Shared Album gives you a downloadable link without requiring iCloud Photos or using your normal iCloud storage allowance. Open Photos > Collections > Shared Albums, then tap the Add button. Name the album and select the video you want to share.
Open Sharing Options to choose access, then turn on Make Album Temporary and tap Done. Tap the Share button to invite someone through Messages or Mail, or copy the link. The album expires after 30 days, so the recipient should download the video within that period.
Temporary albums have regional restrictions, so use Mail Drop or Google Drive if this method is restricted in your region. On an iPhone running an earlier version than iOS 27, those methods also provide alternatives.
Email the video with Mail Drop
Mail Drop lets you send a large video from iPhone through Apple Mail when it exceeds your email provider’s attachment limit. In Photos, select the video, then tap Share > Mail. Enter the recipient in To, optionally fill in Subject and the message, then tap Send.
Follow the Mail Drop prompt when the attachment exceeds the provider’s limit. Keep the entire message, including its attachments, within 5 GB. The recipient downloads the attachment instead of receiving a conventional oversized attachment, and it remains available for 30 days.
Mail Drop attachments do not consume your normal iCloud storage allowance. If the message exceeds 5 GB, use a cloud link or trim the video before sending it.
If you use Gmail, open Compose, tap Attach, and choose Photos, Files, Google Photos, or Google Drive. Select the video, address the message, and send it. Personal Gmail accounts have a 25 MB attachment limit, while work or school limits depend on the administrator. Google says the iPhone app replaces attachments over the account’s limit with a Google Drive link.
Upload to Google Drive and share access
Google Drive lets you send a link to someone who is not nearby. Get the app through the official Google Drive product page if you need it, then open the app and tap Add > File upload. Select your video, use Location to choose its destination, optionally edit File Name, and tap Upload.
Make sure your Google account has sufficient storage, and wait for the upload to finish before sharing access. To invite specific recipients, tap More beside the video, choose Share, and enter their email addresses. Choose Viewer, then tap Send.
To share by link instead, tap More next to the video, tap Manage access, then under General access tap the right arrow and choose Anyone with the link. Anyone with the link can view the video without signing in to a Google Account. Choose named recipients when you want access limited to the people you specify. Work or school administrators can restrict external sharing.
Share a video already stored in Files
For a video already in iCloud Drive on iOS 27, open Files, locate it, and touch and hold it. Tap Share, open the menu beneath the item’s title, then tap Share a Link.
Tap People you choose can edit to configure access. Choose People you choose or Anyone with the link, set permissions under New Participants Can, then choose an invitation app.
To send the actual file, touch and hold the video in Files, tap Share, and choose a sending app such as AirDrop, Messages, or Mail. In the iCloud Drive sharing menu, choose Send a Copy for this route. The destination’s attachment limits still apply, so switch to a shared link when the file exceeds them.
Send through Messages or WhatsApp
For a video that fits, open a conversation in Messages, tap the Add button, and choose Photos. Select the video, tap Done, then tap Send. Carrier limits can apply, and your iPhone may compress the attachment, so use AirDrop or a link if the attachment is too large.
In WhatsApp, the document route supports files up to 2 GB. Open the recipient’s chat, tap Attach (+) > Document, select the video from iCloud Drive or another supported file source, and tap Send. The video must be accessible through the document picker.
For an ordinary WhatsApp video attachment, tap Attach (+) > Photos and select the video. Tap HD Media, choose Standard quality or HD quality, then tap Send. WhatsApp lists default video limits of 100 MB at 720p for faster connections and 64 MB at 480p for slower connections. Media can be compressed; for larger videos, use the document route within its 2 GB limit or send a cloud link.
Use LocalSend for other nearby devices
LocalSend supports transfers between iPhone, Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux devices on the same local network. Open the official LocalSend download page and choose iOS for your iPhone and the appropriate platform for the recipient. Install and open the app on both devices.
Connect both devices to the same local network, select the video on your iPhone, and choose the nearby recipient device. LocalSend requires neither an account nor an internet connection. If the devices are not on the same local network, use a shared link or Mail Drop for delivery instead.
Fix videos that are too large to send
If an attachment exceeds your sending app’s limit, use a cloud link or trim the recording into shorter clips. To send a shorter portion, open the video in Photos and tap Edit. Drag the ends of the frame viewer to select the segment you want, then tap Done > Save Video as New Clip. Share the new clip while retaining the original recording.
If you need to deliver the whole recording as shorter clips, repeat the trimming process from the original for each additional segment. A shared link lets you share the recording without dividing it into clips. Changing camera recording settings affects future videos, so it will not shrink the long video you already have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will making a ZIP file reduce my video’s size?
Use ZIP to package a video or collection of files, without counting on a useful size reduction for an already-compressed camera video. In Files, touch and hold the video or folder and choose Compress. Touch and hold the resulting ZIP, tap Share, and choose a sending app.
How can I record smaller videos next time?
On iPhone 7 or later with iOS 11 or later, open Settings > Camera > Formats and choose High Efficiency. You can also choose a lower recording resolution or frame rate under Settings > Camera > Record Video, with recording choices varying by model.
Can I use Google Photos to share a long video?
Yes, sign in to Google Photos, select the video, and tap Share > Get link, then send that link through your chosen app. Anyone possessing the link can access the shared content. Google Photos supports backed-up videos up to 10 GB and requires available Google account storage. If you plan to share from another device, make sure the video has finished uploading first.
Can I give someone the video on a USB drive?
Yes, connect compatible external storage using your iPhone’s USB-C or Lightning connector and any required adapter. Select the video in Photos, tap Share > Export Unmodified Original, select the storage device under Locations, and tap Save. This exports the unmodified original, even when the version in Photos was edited. Give the storage device to the recipient or connect it to their computer.