4 Ways to Put Movies on Your iPad/iPhone.
It is not easy to transfer videos from computer to any iOS device. The default video app on your iOS device can only play a certain format (mostly mp4) and that too with a certain resolution (720p).
But the videos you download from the internet are usually in Mkv, Avi, etc. formats. Now, if you try to put these videos on your iOS devices using iTunes, you will get an error message like – “The video was not copied to your iPad because you can’t play on it. ”
Related: How to Use USB Drive on Android and iOS
So what’s the solution?
Well, there are two workarounds here –
# 1 Convert videos to a supported format on your computer and then transfer them to your iOS device using iTunes (cable) or Airplay (WiFi).
# 2 Use third party applications to play unsupported format. And yes, they also have the ability to send files over cable or wireless.
So let’s see how to do this.
Convert video to iOS supported format
First method: handbrake
Handbrake is one of the best video converters. It’s free, open source, and available for all major operating systems including Windows, Mac, and Linux.
How it works?
Download the handbrake to your computer and open it. Click the Source button and select the file you want to convert. Then click on the preset selector and select the device you are going to play on. Then click the “Start” button.
It will take a minute or two to convert the video. Now that you have the output video, you need to put it on your iOS devices.
Here’s how to do it using iTunes.
# 1 Connect iPad / iPhone to Computer with Lightning Cable.
# 2 Open iTunes on your computer and click the iPad / iPhone icon.
# 3 Go to video and drag and drop the video you just converted.
# 4 After that, you will find these videos in the video app on your iOS device.
Benefits
This method is free and allows you to play movies inside the default video app, which means less battery drain.
Disadvantage
You need to convert every video, it takes time and little effort.
Method 2: Waltr
In the previous method, we first converted the movies and then transferred them. Right? Waltr combines these two steps into one. Basically, Waltr is a program (available for Windows and Mac) that converts and downloads videos to your iOS devices at the same time.
So this is how it works
Start by connecting your iOS device to your computer with a Lightning cable. Then download Waltr to your computer and open it. Now all you have to do is drag and drop all your videos into the Waltr app. The program will automatically convert and transfer them to a video application on your iPad or iPhone.
The whole process is simple. And the transfer rate is surprisingly fast too. It took me about 10 minutes to transfer 10 GB of series. There was no loss in video quality either.
Benefits –
This method is quick and easy. In addition, it works with the native video application, so the battery consumption is low. On a full charge, I had about 12 hours of video playback.
Disadvantages –
There are two main problems with the app. First, you’ll need a cable – no Wi-Fi support. And secondly, Waltr is quite expensive (yes, there is a 14-day free trial). One PC / MAC license costs about $ 30.
Use third-party apps to play videos
Method 3: VLC
VLC is a popular media player that is known for its ability to play back whatever you throw at it. And you know what, on iOS, that won’t disappoint either. That is, you can play any video / audio format in VLC for iOS. There is no need to convert your files.
This is how it works
Install VLC on your iPad or iPhone from the AppStore. It’s free. Then you need to transfer the video from your computer to the VLC app on your iOS devices. You can do this with a cable or Wi-Fi. Let’s take a look at each method.
To do this with a cable, connect your computer and iPad with a Lightning cable. Then open the iTunes app on your computer, go to iPad Apps VLC. And then drag and drop all your video files there. After that, open the VLC app on your iOS device and there you will find all your videos. However, you cannot play these videos in other applications.
Do it wirelessly. Connect iPad and computer to the same Wi-Fi network. Open the VLC app click the VLC icon in the top right corner. You will see a hidden menu. Turn on Wi-Fi there. It will provide an IP address, enter it in your computer browser and drag files onto it. And it’s all.
Benefits
This method is free, simple and fast. No need to waste time converting video to format. You also send videos over Wi-Fi, which is always nice.
disadvantages
Since we are using a third party video player, your battery will drain much faster. I had 10% battery drain for every hour of video playback in VLC, while the same video only took 6-7% of the charge in the default video application.
Method 4: broadcast
This is a real media player. It has everything you would like to have in a default media player app. Like VLC, it can also play almost all video / audio formats.
The app store has two versions of this app. One is free and the other is paid. The free version has almost all the features you need, with no ads. And in the paid version ($ 9), you get additional options like 4k support, the ability to stream videos to Chromecast, and more.
How it works?
The work is similar to the VLC app. You download the Infuse app from the app store. And add videos from iTunes or WiFi. You can also stream videos from your computer / NAS, or even import them from cloud services like Dropbox.
In short, Infuse is like VLC. But it has more features, smooth playback.
Benefits
Advanced features such as streaming video directly from another computer. And unlike VLC, it also imports metadata quite well, and the battery drain is also less.
disadvantages
The app is paid (only if you need an advanced option), but it’s not bad. It works well and is well worth the price.
Last words
In this article, we have covered several ways to put movies on iOS devices. Some are free but require extra work, while the best are paid. But whatever you choose, there will always be a compromise. For example, a backup battery at the price of v / s.
Apparently I use Infuse. The battery backup isn’t as good as in the video app, but that’s not a big problem. And I carry an external battery with me anyway.
However, let me know which is your favorite method in the comments below.