Transferring videos from your iPhone to your computer doesn't have to be complicated. While iTunes was once the go-to solution, many users find it clunky and restrictive. The good news is that there are several simpler alternatives that don't require iTunes at all. In this guide, I'll walk you through various methods to transfer your iPhone videos to your computer quickly and efficiently.

Whether you have hundreds of family videos taking up precious storage space or want to edit your iPhone footage on a larger screen, these solutions will help you move those files without the iTunes hassle. Let's explore the easiest ways to free up space on your iPhone while keeping your precious video memories safe on your computer.

Why Look for Alternatives to iTunes?

Before diving into the solutions, it's worth understanding why many iPhone users search for iTunes alternatives:

• iTunes can be slow and resource-heavy
• The interface isn't user-friendly
• It often requires multiple steps to transfer files
• iTunes syncing can sometimes replace existing content
• The program doesn't offer selective transfer options

If you've experienced any of these frustrations, you'll appreciate the straightforward methods covered below.

Method 1: Using iCloud to Transfer Videos

iCloud offers a wireless way to transfer videos from your iPhone to your computer. Here's how to use this cloud-based approach:

Steps to Transfer Videos Using iCloud

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings and tap on your Apple ID at the top
2. Select "iCloud" and then "Photos"
3. Turn on "iCloud Photos" or "iCloud Photo Library"
4. Make sure the "Upload to My Photo Stream" option is enabled
5. Wait for your videos to upload to iCloud (this requires a Wi-Fi connection)

Accessing Your Videos on a Computer

For Windows PC:

1. Download and install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store or Apple's website
2. Sign in with your Apple ID credentials
3. Select "Photos" during setup and click "Apply"
4. Open File Explorer and look for "iCloud Photos" in the sidebar
5. Your iPhone videos will be available in the "Downloads" folder

For Mac:

1. Open the Photos app on your Mac
2. Sign in with the same Apple ID as your iPhone
3. Your videos should automatically appear in the Photos library
4. Select the videos you want to save to your computer
5. Drag them to a folder on your desktop or right-click and select "Export"

The main advantage of this method is that it's wireless and requires minimal setup if you already use iCloud. However, it does count against your iCloud storage limit, which may require a paid upgrade if you have many large video files.

Method 2: Using a USB Cable with File Explorer or Finder

The most direct way to transfer videos is using a simple USB connection. This method doesn't require any additional software:

For Windows PC Users:

1. Connect your iPhone to your PC using the USB cable
2. Unlock your iPhone and tap "Trust" if prompted
3. Open File Explorer on your PC
4. Look for your iPhone under "This PC" or "Computer"
5. Double-click on your iPhone
6. Open the "DCIM" folder
7. You'll see one or more folders (like "100APPLE") containing your videos
8. Videos typically have file extensions like .MOV or .MP4
9. Select the videos you want to transfer
10. Copy and paste them to your desired location on your computer

For Mac Users:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using a USB cable
2. Unlock your iPhone and tap "Trust" if prompted
3. Open Finder on your Mac
4. In the sidebar, look for your iPhone under "Locations"
5. Click on your iPhone
6. Select the "Files" tab at the top
7. Navigate to find your videos
8. Alternatively, you can use the Photos app that opens automatically
9. Select the videos you want to import
10. Click "Import Selected" or drag them to a folder on your Mac

This direct connection method is fast and doesn't require internet connectivity or cloud storage. It's ideal for transferring large video files quickly.

Method 3: Using Email or Messaging Apps

For transferring just a few short videos, email or messaging apps can be a quick solution:

Using Email:

1. Open the Photos app on your iPhone
2. Select the video(s) you want to transfer
3. Tap the share icon (square with an up arrow)
4. Choose "Mail" from the sharing options
5. Enter your own email address
6. Send the email
7. Open your email on your computer
8. Download the video attachments

Note: Most email services have attachment size limits (typically 25MB), so this method only works for shorter videos.

Using Messaging Apps:

1. If you use iMessage and have a Mac, message the videos to yourself
2. For cross-platform options, use WhatsApp Web, Telegram, or Facebook Messenger
3. Send the videos to yourself or a trusted contact
4. Access the messaging platform on your computer
5. Download the videos from the conversation

This method is convenient for quick transfers but may compress video quality and isn't suitable for multiple or large videos.

Method 4: Using Third-Party File Transfer Apps

Several dedicated apps make transferring videos from iPhone to computer simple and efficient:

Documents by Readdle

1. Download the Documents app from the App Store
2. Open the app and tap on the "Browser" icon at the bottom
3. Enable the Wi-Fi transfer feature from the menu
4. The app will display a URL (like http://192.168.x.x:8080)
5. Enter this URL in your computer's web browser
6. You'll see your iPhone files in the browser window
7. Navigate to find your videos
8. Select and download them to your computer

Send Anywhere

1. Install Send Anywhere on both your iPhone and computer
2. Open the app on your iPhone
3. Select the videos you want to transfer
4. Tap "Send"
5. The app will generate a 6-digit key
6. Open Send Anywhere on your computer
7. Enter the 6-digit key
8. The transfer will begin automatically

Comparison of Third-Party Transfer Apps

App Name	Free Version Available	File Size Limits	Speed	Requires Installation on Both Devices
Documents by Readdle	Yes	No limit	Fast (Wi-Fi dependent)	No (web interface for computer)
Send Anywhere	Yes	No limit in paid version	Very fast	Yes
SHAREit	Yes	No limit	Very fast	Yes
FileApp	Yes	No limit	Medium	No (web interface for computer)

These apps offer more flexibility than native options and are designed specifically for file transfers, making them efficient for moving multiple videos.

Method 5: Using Cloud Storage Services

Cloud storage services provide another convenient way to transfer videos without iTunes:

Using Google Drive

1. Download and install Google Drive on your iPhone
2. Sign in with your Google account
3. Tap the "+" button and select "Upload"
4. Choose "Photos and Videos"
5. Select the videos you want to transfer
6. Wait for the upload to complete
7. On your computer, go to drive.google.com
8. Sign in with the same Google account
9. Find your uploaded videos
10. Download them to your computer

Using Dropbox

1. Install Dropbox on your iPhone
2. Sign in to your account
3. Tap the "+" icon and select "Upload Photos"
4. Choose the videos you want to upload
5. Wait for the upload to finish
6. On your computer, go to dropbox.com or open the Dropbox desktop app
7. Sign in with the same account
8. Locate your videos
9. Download them to your computer

Using OneDrive

1. Install Microsoft OneDrive on your iPhone
2. Sign in with your Microsoft account
3. Tap the "+" button and select "Upload"
4. Choose "Photos and Videos"
5. Select the videos you want to upload
6. After uploading, access OneDrive on your computer
7. Find and download your videos

Cloud storage methods are great for transferring videos without a direct connection between devices, but upload and download speeds depend on your internet connection.

Method 6: Using AirDrop (Mac Only)

If you have a Mac, AirDrop is one of the fastest and most convenient methods:

1. Make sure both your iPhone and Mac have Wi-Fi and Bluetooth turned on
2. On your iPhone, open the Photos app
3. Select the videos you want to transfer
4. Tap the share icon
5. Select "AirDrop"
6. Your Mac should appear in the AirDrop menu
7. Tap on your Mac's icon
8. On your Mac, click "Accept"
9. The videos will be transferred to your Downloads folder or Photos app

AirDrop is extremely fast and maintains full video quality with no compression. It's limited to Apple devices but is unbeatable for speed and convenience when available.

Method 7: Using Photo Transfer Apps

Specialized photo and video transfer apps offer additional features:

PhotoSync

1. Download PhotoSync on your iPhone
2. Open the app and select the videos you want to transfer
3. Tap the red transfer button at the bottom
4. Choose your preferred transfer method (Direct Wi-Fi, computer, etc.)
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the transfer

Simple Transfer

1. Install Simple Transfer on your iPhone
2. Open the app and allow access to your photos
3. The app will display a web address
4. On your computer, open a web browser and enter the address
5. Your iPhone's photos and videos will appear in the browser
6. Select the videos you want to download
7. Click "Download" to save them to your computer

These specialized apps often provide batch transfers and additional organization options that general file transfer apps might not offer.

Quick Tip to ensure your videos never go missing

Videos are precious memories and all of us never want to lose them to hard disk crashes or missing drives. PicBackMan is the easiest and simplest way to keep your videos safely backed up in one or more online accounts. 

Simply download PicBackMan (it's free!), register your account, connect to your online store and tell PicBackMan where your videos are - PicBackMan does the rest, automatically. It bulk uploads all videos and keeps looking for new ones and uploads those too. You don't have to ever touch it.

Method 8: Using Windows Photos App

Windows 10 and 11 users can use the built-in Photos app:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Windows PC
2. Unlock your iPhone and trust the computer if prompted
3. On your PC, open the Photos app
4. Click "Import" in the top-right corner
5. Select "From a USB device"
6. The app will detect your iPhone and display available videos
7. Select the videos you want to import
8. Choose where to save them
9. Click "Import"

This method is convenient for Windows users as it uses built-in software and provides options for organizing imported videos.

Method 9: Using Web-Based Services

Some web services allow transfers without installing any apps:

Using WALTR DROP

1. On your computer, visit drop.softorino.com
2. On your iPhone, visit the same website
3. Both devices will connect automatically if they're on the same Wi-Fi network
4. On your iPhone, tap "Select Files"
5. Choose the videos you want to transfer
6. The files will be transferred directly to your computer

Web-based services are convenient when you don't want to install additional software but may have limitations on file sizes or transfer speeds.

Troubleshooting Common Transfer Issues

Sometimes video transfers don't go as planned. Here are solutions to common problems:

iPhone Not Recognized by Computer

• Try a different USB cable (preferably an official Apple cable)
• Restart both your iPhone and computer
• Try a different USB port on your computer
• Make sure your iPhone is unlocked
• Check if you need to tap "Trust" on your iPhone

Videos Not Showing Up

• Check if the videos are in a different folder on your iPhone
• Make sure you're looking in the correct DCIM subfolder
• Some videos might be in the "Recently Deleted" folder in the Photos app
• Restart the Photos app on your iPhone

Slow Transfer Speeds

• Use a USB 3.0 port if available
• Close background apps on both devices
• For wireless transfers, move closer to your Wi-Fi router
• Try transferring fewer videos at once

Transfer Interruptions

• Make sure your devices have sufficient battery power
• Disable auto-lock on your iPhone during transfers
• For cloud transfers, ensure you have a stable internet connection
• Try a wired connection instead of wireless

Tips for Managing Video Transfers Efficiently

Make your video transfers smoother with these practical tips:

Before Transferring

• Clean up your videos by deleting unwanted ones
• Organize videos into albums on your iPhone for easier selection
• Check available storage on your computer
• Create a dedicated folder on your computer for incoming videos

During Transfer

• Don't use your iPhone for other tasks during transfers
• Keep your devices connected to power for longer transfers
• Transfer in smaller batches if you have many videos

After Transfer

• Verify that all videos transferred correctly
• Create backups of important videos
• Consider organizing videos by date or event on your computer
• Delete transferred videos from your iPhone to free up space (after confirming successful transfer)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Will transferring videos from iPhone to computer reduce their quality?

When using direct methods like USB cables, AirDrop, or dedicated transfer apps, the video quality remains the same as the original. However, when using email or some messaging apps, videos may be compressed to reduce file size, resulting in lower quality. Cloud services typically maintain original quality but may take longer to upload and download.

2. How can I transfer videos that are too large for email?

For large videos, use direct USB connections, AirDrop (for Mac users), cloud storage services, or dedicated file transfer apps. These methods don't have the size limitations of email attachments and can handle videos of any size, limited only by your storage capacity.

3. Do I need internet access to transfer videos from iPhone to computer?

Not necessarily. Methods like USB cables, AirDrop, and local Wi-Fi transfer apps work without internet access. Cloud-based methods (iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox) and email transfers do require internet connectivity. Choose a direct connection method if you have limited or no internet access.

4. Why can't I see my videos when I connect my iPhone to my computer?

This could happen for several reasons: your iPhone might not be trusted by your computer, you may need to unlock your iPhone first, the USB connection might be faulty, or you might be looking in the wrong location on your computer. Try unlocking your iPhone, tapping "Trust" if prompted, using a different USB cable, or checking different folders in the DCIM directory.

5. Is it safe to delete videos from my iPhone after transferring them to my computer?

Yes, but only after verifying that the transfer was successful. Open the transferred videos on your computer to ensure they play correctly and completely before deleting them from your iPhone. For extra security, consider backing up important videos to a second location (external drive or cloud storage) before removing them from your iPhone.

Conclusion

Transferring videos from your iPhone to your computer without iTunes is actually quite simple when you know your options. Whether you prefer the direct approach of a USB cable, the convenience of cloud storage, or the speed of wireless transfers, there's a method that fits your needs.

For quick transfers of just a few videos, methods like AirDrop (for Mac users) or email might be sufficient. For larger collections, dedicated transfer apps or direct USB connections will save you time. Cloud-based options provide flexibility but may require patience depending on your internet speed.

By using these iTunes alternatives, you can keep your precious video memories safely backed up on your computer while freeing up valuable space on your iPhone. Choose the method that works best for your specific situation, and you'll never have to struggle with iTunes for video transfers again.