Trying to email a large video? You’ve probably hit that frustrating “file too big” error. Most email services limit attachments to 20–25MB – barely enough for a few seconds of HD video.

But there’s a better way. In this guide, we’ll walk you through several methods to send large videos by email without sacrificing quality – including the fastest one that skips compression altogether.

Why Emailing Large Videos Can Be a Problem

Before we fix it, let’s break down why sending video over email is tricky:

• Gmail limits attachments to 25MB
• Outlook is capped at 20MB
• Mobile uploads (like from iPhones) often exceed limits quickly
• Compression often ruins video quality – blurry, pixelated, or unplayable
• Attachments can fail to upload or get blocked by firewalls
• Recipients may have storage limits or slow download speeds

🔒 Security risk alert: When you send a raw file, you lose control over it. If it's sensitive, there’s no easy way to revoke or track access.

Method 1: Send Large Video Without Compression (Using Videolink) ✅

The easiest, cleanest way to send a large video by email is to avoid attachments entirely.

Here’s how:

1. Record or upload your video in Videolink
2. Add optional edits: blur, trim, branding
3. Copy the private shareable link
4. Paste into your email body with a quick message
5. Hit send – done!

📬 Your recipient watches instantly in any browser – no login, no download, no size limit.

📊 Bonus: You can track who viewed your video and when.

🟢 Works on: Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, iPhone, Android, and more.

Method 2: Upload to Cloud Storage (Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive)

If you already have a video file and don’t want to use a video tool, cloud storage can help – but with caveats.

Steps:

1. Upload the video to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive
2. Set permissions to “Anyone with the link can view”
3. Copy and paste the link into your email

⚠️ Drawbacks:

• No viewer tracking
• No branding or thumbnails
• Links may look spammy
• Some recipients won’t click raw cloud URLs

Method 3: Compress the Video (Not Ideal for Quality)

If you must send the file as an attachment, compressing it might help meet the size limit.

Ways to compress:

• Use tools like HandBrake, QuickTime, or VideoProc
• Lower the resolution (e.g., 720p)
• Shorten the length

💔 But remember: compression reduces quality, and the process can be time-consuming.

Or skip compression entirely by learning How to Email Large Videos Without Compression Problems.

Method 4: Send from iPhone or Android Without Compression

On mobile? Large videos are common, especially in 4K.

Best option:

• Use Videolink’s mobile upload feature to generate a shareable link
• Paste the link into your email app (Gmail, Outlook, etc.)

💡 Pro tip: Add a short note like:

“Hey – here’s a quick video update. No download needed!”

Want to send faster with no install or quality loss? Read How to Send a Video Through Email (Step-by-Step).

Why Skip Compression? Because Video Drives Engagement

• 📈 Emails with video get 2–3x higher click-through rates
• 🔍 Adding “video” to the subject line boosts opens by up to 19%
• 🖼️ Thumbnail images increase click-to-open by 40%
• 🤝 90% of users say video helps them make purchasing decisions

👉 Want the best results? Skip compression and use a tool built for video sharing.

Final Tip: Make the Video Easy to Watch

✔️ Use a clear subject line (e.g., “📹 Quick product demo video”)

✔️ Add context in your message body

✔️ Include a preview image or thumbnail with a play button

✔️ Always test the link before sending

Size limits don’t have to stop you. For a complete overview on sending large, high-quality video messages via email, explore The Ultimate Guide to Video Email – including tools that skip attachments entirely.

Send Large Videos – the Easy Way

Stop compressing, resizing, or struggling with broken uploads.

With Videolink, you can:

• Record or upload in seconds
• Share without limits
• Track who watched
• Keep your video crisp and secure

🎥 Start using Videolink →

Sources

1. Dropbox – How to send large videos over email
2. CampaignRefinery – Send a large video through email
3. VideoProc – Compress video for email
4. Smartmail – Why video in email works
5. Mailtrap – Video in email marketing
6. Campaign Monitor – Average CTR from video

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