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Best ways to send large files on any device

File size can limit our ability to share content with family and friends. Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson explains how you can share your media with others no matter the file size.

Have you ever tried to send a longer video or a presentation and been alerted that the file is too large to send? 

Regardless of the device you use, most communication platforms such as texts, emails and other applications impose a file size limit, restricting you from sending larger files. However, that doesn't mean it's not possible. Here are my tricks for sending large files on any device.

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You can send large files a few different ways through iPhone, and choosing which way will depend on if the person on the receiving end also has an iPhone or not.

If both parties have an iPhone and are nearby, here's how to send a large file via AirDrop. You can send photos, videos, files or documents and more via AirDrop.

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Go to Settings General Airdrop Everyone for 10 minutes

The location it is saved to will depend on the file. If it's a photo or video, it will typically go to the Photos app. If it's a different type of file, the person receiving the file will choose where to save the file on their phone.

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If you're sending a large file with an iPhone, you can send it via iCloud link regardless of whether or not the person on the receiving end has an iPhone. As long as you're signed into your iCloud account on your iPhone, you can email or text larger files using the built-in iCloud feature. 

If you have an iCloud account, you’ll automatically be given the option to attach larger files to your email via what’s known as Mail Drop. Here’s how to attach a photo or video too large for an email using Mail Drop.

1. Compose a new email

2. Add an attachment

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3. Use Mail Drop if your attachment is too big

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Note: To use Mail Drop, only the sender needs to be an iCloud user, and you don’t even have to send the email from your iCloud account. Your iPhone will upload the video to your iCloud for one month and send a link to the recipient that they can click to download the attachment in its full resolution.

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To text files or send through any app, use your iCloud Files app. It comes on your iPhone, and you can upload any files to it.

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The best way to send large files over Android is using Google Drive. If you don't already have a Gmail or Google account, you can create one for free. Google accounts come with 15 GB of free storage (across all your Google accounts, including Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos). Then you can send large attachments using Google Drivewhich comes free with your Google account; just' download the app from the Google Play Store.

Settings may vary depending on your Android phone’s manufacturer.

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Now you can share your file through the Google Drive app, here's how.

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Similar to Androids, one way to send large files on Windows or PC computers is through a third-party app like Google Drive.

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Dropbox also offers a small amount of free storage – 2 gigabytes, to be exact. Dropbox is a great way to upload large files that you can easily share through their app or desktop website. If you've uploaded a file to Dropbox, you can tap Copy link or Share to add someone's email directly.

There are several ways to send large files on any device. On iPhone, files can be sent through AirDrop, email, text or other apps using the iCloud Files app. If you are trying to send a large file on a Mac, it's best to use AirDrop or email to send files.

For Android, PC or Windows, Google Drive is one option for sending large files. You can also use Dropbox, as mentioned above. Regardless, there are always options to send large files without having to worry about the file size limit.

Have you ever had trouble sending a larger video or file? How did you resolve the issue? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact/.

For more of my security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter/.

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