2 Ways to Transfer Videos from External Hard Drive to iPhone
Watching videos is a great way to kill time while traveling. If you have a collection of videos stored on an external hard drive and want to watch them on your iPhone or iPad, you've come to the right place! In this guide, we'll walk you through two easy ways to transfer videos from an external hard drive to your iPhone or iPad. Whether you want to use a professional transfer tool or a manual method, we've got you covered.
No complicated steps, just easy-to-follow instructions to help you move your favorite videos in no time. Read on to learn the best ways right away. If necessary, you can go to how to transfer music from external hard drive to iphone.
Part 1: Transfer Videos from External Hard Drive to iPhone with iOS Transfer
If you're looking for an easy way to move videos from an external hard drive to iPhone, iOS Transfer is a great tool that gets the job done quickly and easily. This software lets you easily transfer videos, photos, music, contacts, and more between your computer or external hard drive and iPhone. No iTunes required, just plug in your device and you're ready to go.
A list of features of iOS Transfer:
- Move videos from an external hard drive to iPhone, and vice versa, in minutes without losing quality.
- Transfer, organize, and sync videos, TV shows, music, photos, contacts, and even text messages.
- An outstanding photo organizer, contact assistant, and music editor.
- Supports all Apple devices, such as iPhone 16/15/14/13/12/11/X/8/7/6, iPad, and iPod.
- Keep your data and privacy safe.
How to transfer videos from external hard drive to iPhone?
Step 1. Install and open iOS Transfer on your computer. Connect your iPhone using a USB data cable. The software will automatically detect your device and display its content.
Step 2. Click the "Videos" section in the sidebar. Then, tap the "+" button and select "Add Files" or "Add Folder" to select the videos you want to transfer.
Step 3. Locate the videos on your external hard drive, click "Open," and the transfer will begin. Once completed, your videos will appear on your iPhone, ready to watch.
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Part 2: Copy Videos from External Hard Drive to iPhone without Computer
With iPadOS and iOS 13 or later, Apple made it possible to connect external hard drives directly to an iPhone or iPad. This means you can transfer videos from your drive to your device or even watch them straight from the drive without taking up storage space.
Things to Know Before You Start
- Compatible Drive Formats: Your external hard drive must be formatted as FAT32, exFAT, APFS, or macOS Extended (Journaled).
- Supported Video Formats: iPhones and iPads can play MP4, MOV, and M4V files but do not support MKV or older formats.
- Power Requirements: Most external drives need their own power source. If your drive doesn't have one, you'll need a powered USB hub or an Apple Lightning to USB3 Camera Adapter to provide power.
How to Connect an External Hard Drive to Your iPhone or iPad
- Check your device's port: If you have a newer iPad with USB-C, you can connect the drive directly. If your iPhone or iPad has a Lightning port, use a Lightning to USB Camera Adapter or Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter (with power).
- Plug in your external hard drive.
- Wait a few seconds until your device recognizes it.
How to Transfer Videos from an External Hard Drive to Your iPhone/iPad
- Open the Files app on your device.
- Tap "Browse" (on iPhone) and look under "Locations."
- Find and open your external hard drive.
- Select the videos you want to move by tapping "Select."
- Tap "Move" > Choose "On My iPhone" or "On My iPad" > Pick a folder.
- Tap "Copy" and wait for the transfer to complete.
How to Watch Videos Directly from an External Hard Drive
Don't have enough storage on your iPhone or iPad? No problem! You can play videos directly from the external hard drive without saving them.
- Connect the external drive to your iPhone or iPad. Make sure it has enough power.
- Open the Files app > Tap "Browse" (if needed) > Select your external hard drive.
- Find the video you want to watch and tap it.
- Wait a few moments for it to load, then enjoy your movie!
This method lets you enjoy movies, TV shows, and other video files without filling up your device's storage. Happy watching!
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Part 3: FAQs on How to Transfer Videos from External Hard Drive to iPhone
Q1: What video formats are supported on the iPhone?
iPhones natively support MP4, MOV, and M4V formats. If your video is in a different format like MKV, AVI, or WMV, you'll need to convert it before transferring. You can use apps like HandBrake or VLC on a computer to convert the file into a compatible format. If you prefer to watch the video without converting, try using a third-party media player like VLC for Mobile, which supports more formats.
Q2: Why won't my iPhone detect the external hard drive?
If your iPhone isn't recognizing your external hard drive, here are some common reasons and solutions:
- File System Compatibility: iPhones support exFAT and FAT32. If your drive is formatted as NTFS, you'll need to reformat it using a computer.
- Power Issues: Some external drives require more power than the iPhone can provide. Try using a powered USB hub or a Lightning/USB-C adapter with power pass-through.
- Faulty or Incompatible Adapter: Ensure you're using an Apple-certified Lightning to USB adapter (for older iPhones) or a USB-C hub (for newer models like iPhone 15).
- Corrupted Drive or Cable Issues: Try connecting your hard drive to a computer to check if it works properly. Also, swap out the cable to rule out connection problems.
Q3: How can I transfer large video files to my iPhone?
Transferring large videos can be tricky due to file size limits and storage constraints. Here are a few methods that work well:
- AirDrop: If you have a Mac, you can quickly send large videos wirelessly. Just ensure both devices have AirDrop enabled and are close together.
- iCloud Drive or Google Drive: Upload the video to cloud storage and then download it to your iPhone when needed.
- Documents by Readdle: This app allows you to transfer large files via Wi-Fi or manage files directly from an external hard drive.
- Wired Transfer via Files App: If your external drive is compatible, you can copy large videos directly using the Files app, provided you have enough storage.
Finality
That's everything you need to know about moving videos from an external hard drive to your iPhone or iPad. You can use iOS Transfer to easily transfer videos to your device, or simply move them to your iPad using the Files app.
If you have any questions about this guide, feel free to leave a comment, and we'll get back to you as soon as possible!
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