Do you find yourself wanting to share private videos with family and friends, but not sure how? It can be tough to figure out the best way. In this article we discuss several ways that you can share videos and provide tips on how to make the process as easy and convenient as possible!
What to consider first
Our post breaks things down based on where your videos are stored and what services you use, such as for cloud storage. We also consider specific questions and concerns including how to restrict access, keep private home videos private, share professional videos, cloud providers' features and using a video sharing platform.
How important is video quality?
Another big consideration is how much do you care about the quality of these videos once they are received. Keep in mind that while quality might sound great, some video files (like those from professional video creators) are large and take some time to upload and send.
How important is internet speed?
If you're sharing a video with someone who doesn't have a fast internet connection, it's best to use an option that may lower the quality, thus allowing them to watch the video quickly. In general, services that send the file, like Dropbox, are best for fast connections and services that let you stream the video, like Facebook, are best for slower connections.
How to Share Video with Family and Friends from an iPhone
How do I share videos from an iPhone AND my recipient has an iPhone?
The iPhone makes it very easy to share videos, but you have to know how. Your best bet will probably be using either iMessage or AirDrop.
How do I share videos from my iPhone using iMessage?
First, open the Photos app and find the video that you want to share. Tap the share icon, select the contact and tap the send button.
You can also send a video directly from the Photos app using iMessage. Open the Photos app and upload videos that you want to share. Tap the share icon, select the contact and tap the send button.
How do I share videos from my iPhone using AirDrop?
You can also use AirDrop to share private videos with family and specific friends who have iPhones. Open the Photos app and find the video you want to share. Tap the share icon and select the AirDrop option. Finally, tap the contact's name and the send button.
How do I share videos from my iPhone to people who don't have iPhones?
If your recipient doesn't have an iPhone, it can be a better idea to use a shareable link to the video, which your phone can automatically create using iCloud. You can send a text message with private videos to family and friends who don't have an iPhone, but be warned that the quality of the video will often be bad. In fact, adding a single person without an iPhone to a group thread will turn the messages "green" from "blue", signaling that everyone will start getting low quality videos!
Another option is to use email to share videos with family and friends who do not have iPhones. Open the Photos app to find the video that you want to share. Tap the share icon and select the email option. Finally, enter their email address and tap the send button.
A final great option is to send an iCloud Link. This will allow anyone with an internet connection to view the video, regardless of whether or not they have an iPhone. Open the Photos app and find the video. Tap the share icon, select "Copy Link", paste the link into an email or text message and send.
As you can see, there are a few different ways that you can share videos. All of these options are relatively easy to use, so experiment and see which one works best for you.
How do I share videos from an Android Phone?
There are several good ways to send a video from an Android phone. To decide which, first answer: do you have the recipient's email or phone number? If you have their phone number, sharing using the Messages app is the best place to start. If you have their email, try sending it as an email.
However, if the video is large or long (like a fancy 4k wedding video), it might be too big to email, and you'll want to use a service like Google Drive. Luckily, we have instructions and other suggestions for every option!
How do I share a video from an Android phone using the Messages app?
The first way to share a video from an Android phone using the Messages app is to attach the video to a message. Open the Messages app and tap the + icon. Select the "Attach" option and choose the video you want to share.
The second way to share a video from your Android phone using the Messages app is to send the video as a link. Open the Messages app and tap the + icon. Select the "Share" option and choose the video. This is a much better option if your video is large or long (think big family videos you only want your close family to see).
How do I share a video from an Android phone using Email?
To share a video from an Android phone using email, open your email application and create a new email. Click on the paper clip icon and select the video from your device's storage. Once the video has been added to the email, simply address the email and click send.
How do I share a video from an Android phone using Google Drive?
To share from an Android phone using Google Drive, open the Drive app and tap on the hamburger menu. Select "Settings" and tap on "Backup & sync". Make sure that "Backup & sync" is turned on. Tap on the "+" sign and select "Upload video". Select the video and tap "Open". The video will be uploaded to your Google Drive. To share the video, tap on the share icon. You can select the family and friends by tapping on their names or email addresses and add a message. Once you're finished, tap "Send".
How should I share videos if they're on my computer?
To share videos on your computer you have a few options. You can send them as an email, if they're small enough. If they're large, high quality or private videos you may want to use a Cloud service to both store and share like iCloud or Google Drive. There are some free options for sending large files over the internet.
How do I share videos on my computer using email?
To share videos on your computer using email, first open your email tool. Popular email tools include Outlook, Gmail, and Yahoo! Mail. In the "To:" field, enter the recipient's email address.
In the "Subject" field, enter a brief description of the video you're sharing. Click the "Attach" button, which usually looks like a paperclip. This will open a new window where you can select the video file and add a personal message in the "Body" field.
If your video is large, it's likely you can't send it by email. Your email tool may help you out, prompting you to automatically send it with a tool like Google Drive. Say yes, as that will both send the file and preserve its quality. If you don't have that option, and your file is too large, continue to some of our other options.
How do I share videos online on my computer using Google Drive?
If you have a Gmail account, you likely have access to Google Drive! Open Google Drive and sign in with your Google account. Click on the "My Drive" tab, find the video and click to "select." Click on the "Share" icon (it looks like a little person with a plus sign next to them). In the "People" field, enter your recipient's email address. You can add a message in the "Message" field, then click the "Send" button.
Your recipient will now be able to watch it by going to their Google Drive account and finding it in the "Shared with me" section. Privacy features are available. For example, if you want to stop sharing the video, simply click on the "x" next to their email address in the "People" field.
How do I share videos online from my computer using Facebook?
Do you have a Facebook account? If so, you can use it to share videos, even some private home videos! First go to your profile and click on "Photos." Select the video you want to share and change the privacy setting to "Friends". Click "Share" and that's it! The private video will now be visible to your friends Be sure to set the privacy setting back to "Only Me" when you're done sharing, so that only you can see it. This is not the most secure method, and should only be used if the video being seen by your friends is acceptable.
How do I share videos from my computer using YouTube?
If you don't have a Facebook account, or you want to share videos with people who don't use Facebook, there are other ways. YouTube is a popular video sharing site that anyone can view. Go to youtube.com, create an account and upload the video. If you wish the video to be somewhat private, be sure to set it to "Unlisted". This will keep your video out of public YouTube search. Once the video is uploaded, click on the "Share" button. Copy and paste the link into an email or instant message and send it to your family and friends.
This is a great way to share videos with extended family and friends who don't use Facebook. It's also a good option if you want to post a video online but keep it private (unlike Facebook, YouTube videos can be made unsearchable and unlisted).
How do I share videos from my computer using Dropbox?
Dropbox is a file-sharing service that allows you to upload files and share them with others. To share a video using Dropbox, upload the video to your Dropbox account. Create a shared unique link for the video and send the link to your family and friends.
If you have the Dropbox application installed on your computer, it can be as simple as right clicking the file and selecting “Share Dropbox Link”. Otherwise, you can still share files by going to the Dropbox website, logging in, and selecting the file you want to share. Click “Share” and “Create a link”.
How do I share videos using Heirloom Video Books?
If you want to share a video with family and friends in a more personal way, then you should consider Heirloom Video Books. With this service, you can create a custom video book that includes your favorite videos and photos. This tangible heirloom can be passed down generations, as you share private videos, forever memorializing these special moments.
If you want to share your videos with Heirloom Video Books, the process is a bit different. Visit the Heirloom Video Books website and click “Create a Video Book.” Follow the instructions to upload videos and pictures. Create your book and it will be shipped to yourself or your lucky recipient. Heirloom will also provide a link that you can share via email, social media, or other methods, to invite people to enjoy your show.
How Should I Send a Link to a Video Online?
If you don't use any of the services mentioned, you can still send your file using a free service like WeTransfer. Go to the WeTransfer website and click "Add your files." Select the video or multiple videos by holding down the "Command" key on a Mac or the "Control" key on a PC. Enter the email addresses add a message. Click "Transfer" and your video will now be sent! The recipient will receive an email with a link to download the file in its original quality (and its original size). Keep in mind that you need to know your file size, as WeTransfer only allows files up to a 2GB maximum size; most video files will fit in this limit.
Conclusion
There are several ways to share videos with family and friends; the best way depends on the specific situation. If you are sending a high-quality original video to someone with a good internet connection, you might want to use Google Drive or Dropbox. If you are quickly sharing a family video, you might want to use the tools provided by your phone or computer like iMessage or Android Messages. Hopefully, you have learned many ways to expand your project's reach.