How to download videos from a computer to an iPhone

There are many different options for transferring video files from your computer to your iPhone, both by cable and wirelessly. Let's look at the most popular and fastest methods that work for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

How to send videos from your computer to your iPhone via AirDrop

The easiest and fastest way to transfer videos without any restrictions on file size and format. However, since AirDrop is an Apple proprietary technology, it is only available on macOS. This is the only downside.

1. Right-click the video you want to upload and click "Share" → "AirDrop."
2. Select your iPhone in the device list and wait for the transfer to complete.

The video will appear in the Photos app, where it can be viewed.

How to download videos from your computer to your iPhone via Finder or iTunes

Another option for copying is using the standard Finder or iTunes file-sharing feature. You will need some kind of player on your iPhone and a Lightning cable. And after the initial connection, you won't even need the latter. As a player, we recommend choosing the free VLC with support for almost all formats.

1. Install VLC on your smartphone.
2. Connect your iPhone to your computer with the Lightning cable, and then enable the connection on your device and PC.
3. Open the Finder in macOS Catalina and newer versions or iTunes in earlier versions and in Windows.
4. Select your device in the sidebar and switch to the Files tab.
5. Expand VLC in the list, drag the video file, and click "Sync."
6. Once the process is complete, the video will appear in the "Video" tab of VLC on the iPhone, where it can be viewed.

To do without the Lightning cable next time-, in the "Basic" tab, just check the "Show this iPhone when connected to a Wi-Fi network" box.

How to upload video from computer to iPhone via FTP

If you don't want to mess around with Finder and iTunes, or if you're just using someone else's computer, then FTP is ideal. All popular players, including the free VLC, have this feature. This method transfers files from any browser on your computer directly to the player on your iPhone.

In VLC on your smartphone, go to the "Network" tab and turn on the "Provide Wi-Fi access" toggle switch.

Make sure your computer and iPhone are connected to the same network. In the browser on your computer, enter the address you specified in step one (192.168.0.107 in our example) and drag the video to the top of the window.

Once the download process is complete, the file will appear in the "Video" tab of VLC on the iPhone.

How to download video from computer to iPhone via the cloud

If you use cloud storage with sufficient capacity, it can also be an effective means of transferring video. All you need to do is upload a file to the cloud from your computer and then open it from a mobile app on your iPhone. Let's take Mega as an example, which provides 20GB of free storage, which is enough even for a movie.

1. Register and log in to your Mega account using any browser on your computer. Also, download the mobile app at the link above.
2. Drag and drop the video into your browser window.
3. Select the desired folder and click "Download."
4. Open Mega on your iPhone and locate the file in the folder where you downloaded it. You can view the video right here or in another installed app through the Share menu.

How to send video from computer to iPhone via messenger

Oddly enough, Telegram, Viber, and other messengers are also suitable for video transmission. All you have to do is send the file to yourself from your desktop or web client, and then open the clip in the mobile app on your iPhone.

Let's take a closer look at the algorithm for Telegram:

1. If necessary, download and launch Telegram Desktop or use the web version.
2. Go to search and select "Favorites."
3. Drag the video to the top of the window.
4. If desired, add a signature, click "Send," and wait for it to load.
5. On the iPhone, go to "Favorites" through the search bar and open the clip in the same way.

The video can be viewed directly in the messenger or in any other application through the "Share" menu.