Sharing Large Video Files in Windows 11 Using Cloud Storage (or fallback options)
Okay, so I ran into this problem myself when trying to send a huge video to a friend. The usual email limits just don’t cut it—most providers top out at like 20 or 25MB, which isn’t anywhere close to large video files. Windows 11 doesn’t make this super obvious, and trying to drag a 2GB file into an email attachment? Yeah, forget it. So I looked for other ways, and honestly, cloud storage is by far the easiest route, but I’ve got some fallback tricks too if cloud isn’t an option for you.
Uploading Videos to Google Drive for Easy Sharing
Here’s the deal I found: you’ll want to be logged into your Google account first. Then go to Google Drive in a browser—Chrome works like a charm, but other browsers are fine too. I’ve noticed sometimes the desktop app gets a little buggy, so browser method is more reliable. Once you’re there, look for the “New” button—top left, classic spot—and click it. Then select “File upload”. Or, if you’re into keyboard shortcuts, hit Shift + S once the Drive window is active—that triggers the upload shortcut if you’ve set it up, otherwise just click through.
Choose your big video from your storage. You’ll see a progress bar—it can take a while if your connection isn’t blazing-fast or if the file’s massive. Once uploaded, hover over the file, right-click, and pick “Preview” just to make sure it’s the right one (because trust me, I’ve clicked the wrong file way too many times). You can also find it in your Drive, click it, then hit the “Share” button—usually top right. Under “General access”, it might be set to Restricted by default, which means only you can see it. Click the dropdown arrow next to “Restricted” and pick “Anyone with the link”. This way, your friends or colleagues can open or download it without messing with Google accounts or permissions.
Copy the link with “Copy link” and send it over. Easy. They don’t even need a Google account unless they want to comment or organize stuff in your Drive. Just a simple link that gets them right to your video. Helpful for sharing big files without the hassle of attachments that bounce back or get blocked. Keep an eye on permissions for a few seconds—Google sometimes delays applying the new sharing options, so refresh if needed. Also, you can always tweak permissions later if you want to restrict access or revoke it entirely.
Zipping and Compressing Videos for Email
If cloud isn’t your thing or maybe the other person prefers direct file transfers, here’s a tip I only figured out after messing around: ZIP files. Windows makes it pretty straightforward—just open File Explorer (hit Windows + E), find your large video, right-click, and choose “Send to” > “Compressed (zipped) folder”. This creates a smaller archive that’s easier to attach to emails—great if your provider limits attachments to 20 or 25MB.
Of course, ZIP compression only helps so much—sometimes, the file is still too big. In that case, considering apps like 7-Zip or WinRAR might help, because they let you set the compression level or split the archive into smaller parts. That way, you can send multiple pieces if necessary, and the recipient can reassemble them later. Honestly, for quick jobs, the native Windows ZIP is enough—if it’s close to the limit, it might reduce the size enough to work.
And if you want to send these big files via Bluetooth—yes, Bluetooth is still alive in Windows 11—it’s possible, but a bit more fiddly. I had to pair my device first, which sometimes required toggling Bluetooth settings or removing and re-adding devices. To do that, go to Settings > Devices > Bluetooth & other devices, turn Bluetooth on, then click Add device. Make sure your recipient’s Bluetooth device is discoverable. Once paired, right-click your ZIP or video file, then choose “Send to” > “Bluetooth device”. The recipient will get a prompt—if they’re close by, Bluetooth should work smoothly, but sometimes Windows just refuses to recognize the device or forgets permissions, which can be annoying. Sometimes a quick device restart or re-pairing helps fix that. Just be aware: Bluetooth transfers are only practical when the sender and receiver are physically close and Bluetooth supports file transfer.
Why these methods matter
Honestly, having these options saved in your toolkit makes life a lot easier when dealing with big videos. Cloud services like Google Drive (or OneDrive, Dropbox, whatever you prefer) are flexible because they work over the internet—no proximity required. But if you’re offline, or dealing with privacy concerns, ZIP files or Bluetooth can be way faster and more direct. It’s a matter of choosing what works best in the moment.
So, don’t let the “file too big” error get you down. Playing with cloud links, zipping files, or even Bluetooth transfers are all legit ways to get your videos where they need to go. It just takes a little experimenting, maybe some patience, and knowing the right settings to tweak.
And hey, double-check: Is your internet stable? Are your Bluetooth drivers up to date? Have you set sharing links correctly? Sometimes a quick restart or toggling permissions solves a lot of weird glitches.
Hope this helped — honestly, it took me way too long to figure out some of these tricks on my own. Anyway, hope this saves someone else a weekend of frustration!