I run on the treadmill a lot, but my gym doesn't have any service. I want to watch movies while I'm running, and the only way to do this is to download a movie directly to my iPhone. I'm trying to use a USB connection, but I can't figure out how to make it work. I've been stuck in a loop where YouTube tells me to download iTunes, iTunes tells me to download Apple Devices, and that leads me to download the Apple TV app on my PC. Each app requires multiple restarts just to function, and nothing is working.
I tried using Apple Devices and selecting the Photos tab to include videos, but it didn't detect the folder I selected. It started "syncing," but it ignored the movie file entirely. When I used the "import files to library" option in Apple TV, it didn't even acknowledge the scan. I double-clicked my movie file and nothing happened—no loading bar, no transfer, absolutely nothing.
I need to stick to USB transfers since my 4K movies are quite large, and going through the hassle of downloading to my PC, then uploading to OneDrive, and redownloading to my iPhone will take ages. I really want to avoid third-party apps if possible. Is there any solid solution for transferring movies directly?
3 Answers
Have you tried using VLC on your iPhone? It has several methods for transferring video files, including the option to start a temporary web server that allows uploads via a browser. That could be a workaround if you change your mind about using cable later!
You might want to try copying the movie file to a USB drive first, then plug the USB into your iPhone and move it to the Files app. However, keep in mind that some iPhones don't have a USB port, so double-check your model.
USB port into the iPhone? I don’t think I have that model, unfortunately...
First, what format is your movie in? And which iPhone model do you have? It could help narrow down the issue a bit.
It's in MP4 format, and I have an iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Yeah, but I really want to stick to transferring files directly with a cable. Not everyone has unlimited internet data for transfers!