Where are my large video files stored on iPhone 15 Pro Max?

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Level 1

4 points

Where are my large video files stored on iPhone 15 Pro Max?

I am shooting a short turnaround project for a client. Videos were shot in Cinematic mode on my iPhone 15 Pro Max. I can see and view the files in Photos on my phone, but any attempt at trying to download them make my phone go into "Preparing" mode which is taking FOREVER...(even though the phone is plugged up to my iMac via a USB-C cable. These files do not show up in the library of my synced iMac or my iCloud storage, so where the **** are they saved?? I need to start reviewing and editing, but I'm stuck in some kind of download limbo. What gives?

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

iPhone 15 Pro Max

Posted on Jun 11, 2025 12:24 PM

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Answer 1

Old Toad

Level 10

217,782 points

Jun 13, 2025 9:46 AM in response to VibeMistress

With your iPhone connected to your iMac via its charging/syncing USB cable launch Image Capture. Then check to see if Image Capture can locate your videos. If it can download them to a folder on your Desktop.

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Answer 2

Jun 11, 2025 5:55 PM in response to VibeMistress

VibeMistress wrote: …even though the phone is plugged up to my iMac via a USB-C cable.

or my iCloud storage,

You cannot do USB Finder transfers while iCloud Photos synchronization is turned on, so it's not clear what you're doing. These two processes interfere with each other.

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Answer 3

Jun 11, 2025 1:18 PM in response to VibeMistress

On an iPhone? Nowhere you can access directly.

How are you trying to download them exactly?

On the iMac, Photos should download them directly without any conversion required, but it may need to prepare the download and if they are very big, it may take a while yes.

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Answer 4

VibeMistress Author

Level 1

4 points

Jun 11, 2025 1:55 PM in response to Phil0124

I was finally able to select Download File for each video, wait for the iPhone to prepare them, then import them to the iMac and back them up as Original files to iCloud Drive. I will now be even more redundant and upload the raw files to another cloud storage option. But for an hour of footage overall, this takes forever. Most iOS updates are about a few GBs, but don't take nearly as long to download to the device. There should be a faster, easier way.

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Where are my large video files stored on iPhone 15 Pro Max?

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