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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
Question marked as Best reply

Jan 24, 2017 2:03 PM in response to modocsot

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!

Mar 25, 2017 6:52 PM in response to bkim028

I know this is an old thread, but I wanted to share an update for Windows 10. The new path to find the iTunes backup file is:


C:\Users\<your user name>\AppData\Roaming\Apple Computer\MobileSync\Backup


It took me a while to find it, so I hope this saves others some time hunting. Also, the SpaceMonger app (old freeware program for Windows) is very useful for scanning the subfolders and finding the largest files.

Dec 20, 2017 11:08 AM in response to modocsot

Unbelievable that after 7 years Apple still hasn't resolved this issue, nor is it mentioned or warned. I've been trying to save a DIY video that I made with my kids to upload to YouTube only to be told that it was an error. I downloaded QuickTime even tried using my PowerDirector16 to upload to no avail. I downloaded and uninstalled so many programs trying to find the right one...I kept searching all night until 1:30 am only to give up! This is ridiculous. Now I have to download iExplorer? ugh... I don't want to have to pay for a service that should be fixed by a Multi-Billion dollar company. They already charge $$$ for a phone that is upgraded for a new model every two seconds... so what are we exactly paying for with these upgrades? I have a PC so apparently from the comments, isn't user friendly with my iPhone 7.


-_- I'm so annoyed right now

Dec 21, 2017 9:17 AM in response to modocsot

PS: one friend, and ex-Apple tech...I know they have a fancy name, just don't know it. She told me that she used to be told to recommend people using Dropbox to upload large videos. SERIOUSLY? If the software is not capable of doing a basic function, the solution is not use another company's solution...you should fix it!


I doubt Apple wants to Officially state that using another company software. She mentioned then to use Air Drop...but alas, I have just begun switching to Apple products from Android/Windows and with this issue...might not. So I don't have a Mac of any type to Air Drop it to. Would be great to see Apple offer this as an installable software for Windows. Since it is not using proprietary technology, just Wifi + Bluetooth to establish connection and transfer. So then she mentioned using my icloud...that won't work since it would take a month to do that with only 5gb of storage and each file is at least 2gb, most are 4gb, some are up to 7gb...so not an option. I won't pay money to get a simple solution to copy a file to my pc from my cell.


So I tried inside itunes on my windows machine. But cannot see movies in there. I am left believing the only option in this case, which I know am not the only customer facing this, considering this topic has 14 pages worth of replies, but the solution would be to use another company software to copy my video to my pc.


I trust Apple will prove me wrong. Spending billions on a playcenter, but not a penny invested in a solution to copy files? Please, please, please prove me wrong Apple. I have a dollar betting you will ignore this, and $5 bettering you will delete it. Prove me wrong!

Dec 21, 2017 9:16 AM in response to modocsot

LOL @ apple for continuing to delete posts they don't like! A customer states facts, and apple don't like it, so they just delete the post rather than address the issue...which is ongoing for 7 PLUS YEARS! Very pathetic on their part.


Guys - in short, this is only a sales point for apple. They will tell you to buy more icloud storage, buy a mac to use airdrop, or buy a time capsule to transfer files to. This is 100% a marketing scheme. If you think for 1 second that a multi-billion dollar company has not found a way to transfer a large file, you are just sadly blind to the truth.


$5 bet! This post will be deleted within seconds.

May 19, 2010 12:04 AM in response to tbuckpummell

The iPhone is expected to be able to transfer files via the USB cable. Since Apple never specify a max file limit, then it should expected to be able to do so w/o a size limit, based on general understandings, as it is a basic operation.

If the product is designed to be not able to transfer large files, then Apple should explicitly state so in the specifications. Else, failure to do so should be considered a product flaw.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/how-to/index.html#camera.uploading-photos-and-videos -to-your-computer
"Uploading Photos and Videos to Your Computer
*You can upload the photos and videos you take with Camera to photo applications on your computer*"

May 19, 2010 12:16 AM in response to modocsot

I suppose it is a product flaw for the inability to transfer large files via the USB cable w/o 3rd party Apps.

But anyway, there could be a workaround. perhaps you can upload it to iDisk and then use computer to download it from the web. Based on the way the iPhone is designed, it should support this operation.

http://www.apple.com/mobileme/features/idisk.html

But it is probably ridiculous method.. considering how long it takes to download a 1GB file.. not to mentioned the upload as well. But it is free, if you take up the trial subscription and have WiFi access.


modocsot wrote:
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?

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.

May 29, 2010 2:15 AM in response to modocsot

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)

Jun 5, 2010 3:35 PM in response to bkim028

Thanks for the tip! That workaround worked out great for me!!! Geez, I wonder if Steve Jobs is trying to make people switch over to using Macs? Hmmmmmm. If it's as simple as renaming a file extension, then why can't you simply copy the large video files (.mov) over to your PC from the Scanner and Camera Wizard. That's a bit odd . . . I read that it works on a Mac but people are having problems on both Windows and Linux. Go figure . . .

Jul 11, 2010 8:40 PM in response to modocsot

When you open my computer there will be two icons for the iphone.
One looks like a camera and one has a + to indicated subfolders.
*Ignore the one which looks like a camera* (strange but true).
Click on the plus sign; then on DCIM.
DCIM may have folders (ie 100Apple, 101Apple).
Open one of the folders and you will see your .jpgs and .movs.
Right click on the item you want to transfer, and a menu will pop up.
Select Export File and a dialog box will popup.
Select a folder on your PC to save the files.
That will do it. Naturally you can select several files at one time to export.

You can copy jpgs from the iPhone icon that looks like a camera, but not video.

It took some trial and error for me, but finally I figured it out. Unfortunately this is not located in any documentation I could find.

Hope that helps.

Can't copy large video files FROM iPhone to PC

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