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Can't copy large video files FROM iPhone to PC

I've searched high and low for a solution to this one. Every google hit on this search finds no resolution. Does the Apple community know how to get around this problem?

I used my 32GB iPhone 3Gs to shoot a video which turned out to be 48 minutes long, and approximately 1.2GB in file size. It plays OK on the iPhone itself.

However, when attempting to transfer or copy the large video file from the iPhone to PC, it FAILS. The photos and small-under-7gb-videos copy to PC just fine. The PC shows it's copying the file for a few minutes, however when done, the file copied to PC won't open, and shows a file size of zero. In some attempts, an error 80004005 shows.

Seriously, why use the iPhone to shoot a long video, if it can't be transferred to your PC? Any help on this matter is much appreciated.

I'm a PC, Windows XP

Posted on May 18, 2010 7:50 AM

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Posted on Jan 24, 2017 2:03 PM

I have an iphone 5, but I am using windows 10. The issue does appear to be any video much longer than 41 minutes (yikes). I consider this a serious UX fail. Anyway, in windows 10, do the same backup, but the BACKUP PATH is slightly different:


C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup


The files are encoded and without extensions, i.e.:


[BACKUP PATH]\0ce8a47b967a22788d641039303ff3f07f169778\67\67cd8850500c7d4a2649776e4272e 1d1a803f6f9


So, at the backup path location, do a search on everything (use '*') and sort by SIZE DESCENDING. Then go to the bottom of the window, and you will be looking for a file 4.5 GB or bigger. Copy (don't move) those to someplace safe, and rename them with .MOV (you should also call them something nicer than 67cd8850500c7d4a2649776e4272e1d1a803f6f9.MOV).


Anyway, then you can browse through them much quicker and find that video I was so desperate to get up on YouTube! I mean, you were so desperate to ... anywho.


Thanks!

166 replies

Nov 24, 2011 12:07 AM in response to JoeChasko

Another simple and free way you can do is:

1. Trim the video into a few manageable pieces like Part 1, 2, 3 and so forth.

Iphone 4 has the capability to trim now. Just go to camera roll, that video, then trim it down to sizes.

2. Then, go to camera wizard or Computer>your iphone>drag to to desktop. Walla!

3. You can alway join it back using Splice App for free.

Dec 7, 2011 12:16 AM in response to modocsot

Same problem here (again Windows XP... I think there is a connection here). I spent hours on it and found a solution! None of the solutions posted worked for me because:


1) I was trying to transfer to a machine that I do not normally sync my ipod to (so it didn't have the backup data)

2) Even on the machine I sync to, I have the backup files encrypted.

3) I don't have the latest version of itunes on the machine, so I can't use many of the third party tools mentioned by others.

4) my ipod touch is not configured in disk mode.


My solution:

1) Install media player classic

(http://www.afterdawn.com/software/general/download_splash.cfm/media_player_class ic)

2) Hook up ipod via USB cable (if you get a dialog box that pops up automatically, hit cancel)

3) Run MPC, file-->open-->browse...-->my computer--> ipod-->select the video you want-->ok (this may take some time and will copy the file to a temporary location.)

4) The video should load and you can play it and/or save it to another location.


P.S. If no files show up in the ipod when you are in the open dialogue window, you may need to do the following first:


1) My Computer--> right click on ipod --> get pictures (this opens the scanner/camera wizard)

2) Click blue words (advanced users only)

3) close the dialogue box

4) restart media player classic

5) complete steps 3&4 above.

Dec 9, 2011 2:49 AM in response to modocsot

All of you are overthinking this. Apple video by default saves to the camera roll. Either, while iphone is synced to iTunes, bottom screen under "apps" you'll see iMovie. If you've transferred your video to iMovie for iPhone, then your video presents under this menu and can be synced via iTunes. Exporting resolution is best this, as opposed to exporting via mail or youtube. The simplest way to export is sync your iphone, sync your photos to iPhoto, browse your iphone iPhoto library and drag and drop the video into folder on your desktop iPhoto. Now you can do whatever you want with it.

Dec 28, 2011 2:55 PM in response to amu07

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I'm sure it is easy to transfer iPhone videos to a MacBook Pro. The problem is that it is complicated figuring out how to transfer large videos from an iPhone or iPod Touch to a PC. More specifically PC in reference to Windows. The topic heading should define the problem here. Thanks again though for your input!

Dec 29, 2011 1:12 AM in response to bkim028

bkim028's solution worked for me as well.


Prior to that I tried direct-copying with explorer, using Windows' Scanner and Camera Wizard, and Google Picasa, but none of these were able to do it. Disabling auto-lock seemed promising but didn't help.


For what it's worth, I had two large videos, about 1.1GB and 600MB, plus more than a hundred smaller photos and videos. I'm using iOS 5.0.1, iTunes 10.5.2, iPhone 4, and Win XP Pro SP3. Looks like they still haven't fixed the issue.

Jan 2, 2012 6:27 PM in response to modocsot

I had the same issue on XP, tried various methods and 'renaming from backup' is the only one which worked.


Between iTunes and Windows one should be able to transfer files. It is ridiculous to have to download another piece of software just to transfer files. Firstly, what's the logical reason for a seemingly random 500MB limit? And secondly, why does neither the Apple nor Windows software give a clear error message saying "your file could not be copied because it exceeded so-many-MB" instead of leaving the user guessing?


the above mentioned Apple KB points the finger at microsoft: "Windows XP cannot import video files larger than 500 MB using Camera and Scanner Wizard"

Jan 10, 2012 7:14 PM in response to modocsot

gotta love it when innovation can't do basic, anyway another solution to another stupid problem I found is to ditch the software, http://itools.hk/tscms/index.php?a=webpage&pid=12 has a program iTools, copies ALL video files regarless of size, tells you more than you'd need to know about your iPhone, works great as a media transferer and is very lightweight, did i mention wifi connection too?

Jan 20, 2012 12:34 PM in response to modocsot

I've had the same frustrating problem. I'd like to use the photos from my iphone 4S, with its great camera , in Lightroom, but Lightroom won't import them directly. I'd llike to use Moviemaker on my XP with my longer videos, but haven't been able to get them off the Iphone. Now, tbtg, I found this thread.. Of all the solutions proposed for video, I like Nightweb's the best. Itools seems a very simple, clean and fast way to get everything off the iphone and onto an external drive the way I want. . I think what has happened at Apple is that Iphone's camera capability has gotten ahead of the geniuses charged with transferability. But let's be fair, it's an amazing piece of equipment overall.

Jan 21, 2012 6:09 AM in response to bkim028

Just wanted to acknowledge this poster's tip worked for me. Easy to follow instructions, but highly unnecessary if Apple would only do their job and fix this bug.


Hi guys, I've been wondering about this too. It seems like iphone is not designed for recording 15min videos 😟 But I found a way to get the video off the phone.

The photos and video files are stored in 'Backup' folder ("C:\Documents and Settings\\Application Data\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup\ (for win xp)) just before iphone is sync'ed with itunes program. So, after you sync it, find the backup folder, try sorting the files according to size, and find the big files which should be the video files. Then copy them to your folder & rename them to .mov extension.

I've done it just now and it works perfectly. 🙂

(Source: http://superuser.com/questions/32248/transfer-video-off-iphone-3gs)


Message was edited by: A109E

Can't copy large video files FROM iPhone to PC

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