How Long Can a Video Be to Send on iMessage?
iMessage allows users to easily share photos, videos, and messages between Apple devices. However, there are limitations when sending videos through iMessage.
Fortunately, there are several methods to optimize video length and file size so you can successfully send longer, clearer videos through iMessage:
Compress Videos Before Sending
Have you ever wondered if AirDrop reduces video quality? Not if you compress your videos. You can simply use video compression to reduce file size without excessively sacrificing quality.
Use built-in compression tools on your iPhone camera app or Apple Photos app to shrink files before sending via iMessage.
You can also use third-party video compressor apps. Compressing videos enables you to send longer videos within iMessage's file size restrictions.
Lower Video Resolution
Recording or exporting videos at lower resolutions, such as 720p instead of 1080p, yields smaller files.
Adjust resolution in your iPhone's camera settings before recording or use video editing apps to alter resolution of existing clips.
Sending lower-resolution videos allows you to share longer videos with reasonable quality over iMessage.
Shorten Length By Trimming
Trim any unnecessary footage from your videos to shorten their duration.
The Apple Photos app and various third-party iOS apps provide video trimming tools to easily remove unwanted sections.
Eliminating excessive content decreases file size and length to meet iMessage requirements.
Split Videos Into Parts
If your video exceeds 4 minutes 20 seconds, split it into multiple shorter clips. Most video editing apps offer options to divide longer videos.
Send each section separately through iMessage and provide context so viewers understand it is a multi-part video.
Use Web Optimized Formats
Convert videos to web-friendly formats like MP4 or H.264 before sending them through iMessage.
These formats employ better compression for reducing file size while maintaining visual quality.
Web exporting options are available in both Apple Photos and third-party iOS video editor apps.
Share Links Instead of Sending Videos
To bypass iMessage restrictions altogether, upload videos privately to YouTube or other platforms which provide shareable links.
Paste the links into iMessage conversations rather than attaching the files directly. Recipients can then stream or download the videos from the links you provide.
Use iCloud Drive Sharing Options
iCloud Drive gives you up to 5GB of free storage to upload videos. You can easily learn how to upload videos to iCloud Drive. In Apple Photos, select Copy iCloud Link and share the generated link through iMessage conversations.
Recipients can then stream or download the full high-quality video using the shared iCloud link.
Leverage AirDrop For Local Sharing
AirDrop permits transferring files up to 1GB instantly between Apple devices over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth without using cellular data.
When physically near the intended recipient, AirDrop sends full original videos without compression or trimming required.
Email Videos as Attachments
Most email services accommodate large video attachments better than iMessage.
Attach videos to email if iMessage size limits prompt failure notifications when attempting to send. However keep in mind recipients' email attachment size limits may differ.
Assess Storage Space on Sending and Receiving Devices
Check available storage capacity on both the sender's and recipient's iPhone before transferring long videos.
Temporarily offloading existing apps and media can free up space for receiving lengthy video files through AirDrop, iMessage, or other sharing methods.
Use Strong Cellular Data or Wi-Fi Networks
Slow internet connections hamper transferring big video files and can cause failed sending attempts.
Connect iPhones to reliable high-speed Wi-Fi networks before sharing videos.
For cellular data, LTE networks manage larger sizes better than older 3G networks when using iMessage or email attachments.
Conclusion
By following these tips, you can successfully send longer, clearer videos via iMessage despite its inherent file size and length restrictions.
With the right optimization methods, iMessage can facilitate easy video sharing between Apple device users.
Jim's passion for Apple products ignited in 2007 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iPhone. This was a canon event in his life. Noticing a lack of iPad-focused content that is easy to understand even for “tech-noob”, he decided to create Tabletmonkeys in 2011.
Jim continues to share his expertise and passion for tablets, helping his audience as much as he can with his motto “One Swipe at a Time!”