How to move an MPEG-4 file from Photos to Files or VL:C on the iPad

Tom

For future reference, where you can't find an obvious method to use the Share function to export files to a different App, using iPadOS drag-and-drop is usually the simple solution.

You don't need to use Stage Manager* - but you do need to use either iPadOS multitasking Split/Slide-Over Screen to have both the source and destination App (e.g., Files) on screen at the same time.

(*) Stage Manager (if available) can usefully achieve the same when using an external monitor - but is arguably less helpful when using operating within the confines of just the iPad screen. Stage Manager App windows on the iPad screen actually reduce the available working space - and can complicate drag and drop operations when using multiple stages.

The same drag-and-drop technique is incredibly useful when attempting to attach emails as attachments to an outgoing email - as the native Mail App doesn't provide an easy or otherwise obvious method to attach email messages as attachments.

I tried it on my iPad, dragged it to the Downloads section of the Files app - the Files app is opened - so the two apps, Photos and Files are side-by-side on the iPad.

Silly question, but is the file DRM-protected?

Hello.

Have you tried dragging and dropping the video file from Photos to Files from within the iPad? If you can enable Stage Manager (if your iPadOS version supports it), then it will be easier to drag and drop. I have not tried dropping it on VLC, since I don't have the VLC app on my iPad.

Good luck.

App-folders (with overlaid icons) may be fussy about receiving a dropped file - accepting only filetypes supported by the associated App. That said, you can create other folders under the root directory - and freely drag files to your self-created folders (which can also contain a full directory tree of sub-folders as required).

By example - here I have created the folder entitled "WIP" under local iPad storage, created specifically for small projects that require a temporary home for files imported from elsewhere and other Apps:

You're very welcome. Apple's documentation can be very sparse.

This is an iPadOS rodeo that I've had to explore on many occasions - and have developed (through necessity) some consistent workflows that work across applications.

Where Apps support multitasking (identifiable through visibility of the three-dot multitasking button at top centre of the respective App window), I have yet to encounter a situation where this workflow doesn't allow files to be exchanged between Apps that support the filetype.

'Tis my pleasure to offer help where I can...

iPadOs is generally very useable for most tasks - but has it's quirks.