Movies, transfer and watching imac to ipad

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jeffbeck2727 Author

Level 1

63 points

Movies, transfer and watching imac to ipad

So I have movies on iMac that I watch on locations on my iPad.

Im doing it the wrong way and need advice.

So these are downloaded full length movie files .mkv or .mp4.
I convert or downsize .mp4 in handbrake to save space.
I airdrop the files onto my iPad.

4.They show up in the photos app and I am able to play them.

This sucks, for many reasons, I will describe.

They have no titles, you only see the date uploaded above the movie in the list so you are constantly searching for what you are looking for. The ikon for them is a black square.
Playing them in photo app is a pain. if you touch the screen while playing it usually takes you back to the list, closing the movie and not saving your place. You have start all over trying to find where you were when it closed.

There must be a better way.

Any help is appreciated

Thank you!

iPad Air, iOS 12

Posted on Mar 1, 2024 7:52 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Phil0124

Community+ 2026

Level 10

223,820 points

Mar 1, 2024 8:17 AM in response to jeffbeck2727

Instead of Airdropping the Movie use iTunes, or the Finder (depending the macOS version on tour iMac) to sync the movies to the iPad. When synced they should appear in the TV app / Videos App instead of the Photos App and allow you to watch them like an actual movie and save your place, etc....

click here ➜ Import media on your Mac into the Apple TV app - Apple Support

then here ➜ Sync content between your Mac and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

External drive access on iPad requires iOS 13 or later, it won't work on an iPad Air running iOS 12 as the one shown, and playing them through the Files app, will not be much better than through the Photos app.

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Answer 2

Mar 1, 2024 8:10 AM in response to jeffbeck2727

I think maybe you shouldn't use Photos for watching movies-- I don't think that movies is the best thing that Photos does. I had some movies on a portable SSD, and I just plugged that in and played a movie from the files menu. I also copied a video from my SSD to the Files menu (it goes to Downloads,) and I played it from there. I'd say work from the Files menu rather than from Photos.

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Answer 3

Mar 1, 2024 10:12 AM in response to jeffbeck2727

jeffbeck2727 wrote: My iPad is old, for apple, not me. IOS 12.5.7

So Phil0124's suggestions are good. The deal is to get the movies on the iPad without going through Photos. You may need to look for an app that will play them-- If not the TV app or the older Videos app, then VLC is free though not as elegant.

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