Sharing Big Video Files in Windows 11 Using Cloud Storage (or Alternative Options)
G’day! I’ve been there myself—trying to send a huge video to a friend and hitting a brick wall with email limits. Most email providers cap attachments at around 20 or 25MB, which isn’t much use for large videos. Windows 11 doesn’t exactly make this obvious, and dragging a 2GB file into an email? Forget about it. So I looked for other solutions, and honestly, using cloud storage is by far the easiest way. But I’ve also got some fallback tricks if cloud options aren’t suitable for you.
Uploading Videos to Google Drive for Easy Sharing
Here’s the simple approach I found: first, make sure you’re logged into your Google account. Then head to Google Drive in your favourite browser—Chrome tends to work best, but other browsers will do fine too. I’ve noticed sometimes the desktop app acts up, so sticking to the browser is generally more reliable. Once there, find the “New” button—top left, classic spot—and give it a click. Select “File upload”. Or, if you like using shortcuts, press Shift + S once the Drive window is active—if you’ve set up the shortcut. Otherwise, just navigate via the menu.
Choose your large video file from your device. You’ll see a progress bar—this might take a while if your internet isn’t blazing or the file is enormous. Once uploaded, hover over the file, right-click, and select “Preview” to double-check it’s the right one (trust me, I’ve clicked on the wrong video plenty of times). You can also open the file from your Drive, click the “Share” button—usually at the top right. Under “General access”, it might be set to Restricted by default, meaning only you can see it. Click the dropdown arrow next to “Restricted” and select “Anyone with the link”. This way, your mates or colleagues can view or download it without needing a Google account or special permissions.
Copy the link with the “Copy link” button and send it over. Easy as. They won’t need a Google account unless they want to comment or organise things in your Drive. Just a straightforward link that takes them directly to your video. Perfect for sharing large files without the fuss of attachments that bounce back or get blocked. Keep an eye on the permissions for a few seconds—occasionally Google delays applying the new sharing settings, so refresh if the link isn’t working immediately. You can always tweak the permissions later if needed.
Compressing Videos to Attach to Emails
If cloud storage isn’t your thing or if the other person prefers a direct file transfer, here’s a handy trick: ZIP files. Windows makes this straightforward—open File Explorer (press Windows + E), locate your big video, right-click, then choose “Send to” > “Compressed (zipped) folder”. This creates a smaller archive, making it easier to attach to emails—great if your provider limits attachments to 20 or 25MB.
Of course, ZIP compression doesn’t always do the trick—sometimes your file is still too large. In that case, apps like 7-Zip or WinRAR can help, as they let you choose higher compression levels or split the archive into smaller parts. This way, you can send multiple files, and your recipient can rejoin them later. For quick jobs, though, Windows’ built-in ZIP feature usually does the job—if the file’s just a bit over the limit, it might reduce the size enough to send.
And if you really want to send these big files via Bluetooth—yes, Bluetooth is still kicking in Windows 11—it’s doable but a bit more fiddly. First, pair your device—sometimes you need to toggle Bluetooth settings or remove and add devices again. Head to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, turn Bluetooth on, then click Add device. Make sure your recipient’s Bluetooth device is visible. Once paired, right-click your ZIP or video file, choose “Send to” > “Bluetooth device”. The recipient should get a prompt—if they’re close by, Bluetooth can work smoothly, but Windows sometimes refuses to recognise the device or forgets permissions. A quick restart of the device or re-pairing usually sorts things out. Just bear in mind, Bluetooth transfer is only practical if both parties are physically near each other and Bluetooth supports file sharing.
Why These Methods Matter
Having these tricks up your sleeve makes life a lot easier when dealing with big video files. Cloud services like Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox, or whichever you prefer are flexible because they work over the internet—no matter where you are. But if you’re offline or concerned about privacy, ZIP files or Bluetooth can be quicker and more direct. It’s all about choosing the best option for the moment.
So don’t get stuck on that “file too big” error. Using cloud links, zipping files, or Bluetooth transfers are all solid options to get your videos where they need to go. It just takes a bit of experimenting, some patience, and knowing the right settings to tweak.
And a quick tip—check whether your internet connection is stable, your Bluetooth drivers are up to date, and your sharing links are correctly set up. Sometimes a simple restart or toggling permissions can fix weird glitches.
Hope this helps! Honestly, it took me ages to figure out some of these tricks myself. Hopefully, it saves someone else a whole weekend of frustration!