How to do it
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Open the video and look at the share options
In the Photos app, open the video and tap the Share button. Note the options you have, such as Mail, Messages, or another app you installed. AirDrop only reaches Apple devices, so it won’t work for an Android phone.
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Decide between a link and a file
For a long video, choose a link: a Mail Drop email, or a cloud storage app you already use. If the person only needs a short, smaller version, plan to shrink the video first.
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Shrink the video first if you need to
Open PicWay, tap Compress, choose the video, and tap Compress. When it’s done, tap Compare, then share the compressed copy from the Photos app.
9:41Standard compressionLooks nearly identical
Strong compressionSmaller files for everyday clips
Compress -
Send it and ask them to check the result
Send the link or file, then ask the person to play it on their Android phone. If it looks wrong or won’t play, send a link instead of a message attachment.
Why a long video is hard to send to Android
Apple’s own tools are built around Apple devices. Apple’s Share guide says AirDrop shares with a nearby iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro, so it can’t reach an Android phone. The same page says the size limit of attachments is determined by your service provider.
According to Clean Email, iMessage doesn’t work between iPhone and Android, and it is best to avoid MMS because it heavily compresses videos and reduces quality. That is one site’s advice, not an Apple statement.
Ways to send it, compared
| Way | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Mail Drop | Long videos, up to 5 GB per Apple | Recipients have 30 days to download |
| Cloud storage link | Very long footage | The same site suggests cloud storage for an hour of footage |
| Message attachment | Short clips | Size limit is set by your service provider |
| AirDrop | Apple devices only | Not for Android |
Mail Drop details come from Apple’s Mail Drop limits page: attachments up to 5 GB, no cost to your iCloud storage, and the attachment expires 30 days after sending. Remember that the receiving email app might have a smaller limit of its own.
Pick a format Android is likelier to open
In the Photos app, tap Share, then tap Options. Apple’s guide lists three file format choices: Automatic for the best format for the destination, Current to prevent a format conversion, and Most Compatible, where files may convert to JPEG or MOV. If the video will not play on the other phone, try Most Compatible.
When to shrink it first with PicWay
If a link is not practical, PicWay can make the video smaller before you send it. It has two compression levels: Standard compression and Strong compression. PicWay makes a new video and keeps the original until you have compared the two.
This does lower the resolution of larger videos:
| Level | Longest side of the new video |
|---|---|
| Standard compression | At most 1920 px |
| Strong compression | At most 1280 px |
A video already below those sizes is not enlarged. If PicWay would save less than 10%, it discards the new copy and leaves your original as it was. The compressed copy is saved to your Photos library, so you can share it from there.
Quick answers
Can I AirDrop a video to an Android phone?
No. Apple describes AirDrop as sharing with a nearby iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Vision Pro.
Why does my video look worse after texting it?
According to Clean Email, MMS heavily compresses videos and reduces quality. Sending a link avoids that step.
How long can the person download a Mail Drop video?
Apple says recipients have 30 days after you send the email.
Does compressing in PicWay change the picture size?
Yes, for larger videos. Standard compression outputs at most 1920 px on the long side and Strong compression at most 1280 px.