Where you can upload movies and what each option does

You can upload movies to three main places: cloud storage services like Google Drive or OneDrive, video hosting platforms like YouTube or Vimeo, or external hard drives and USB drives connected to your computer. Cloud storage keeps files accessible from any device with internet. Video platforms let you share with others but compress the file and may have restrictions on content. External drives give you full control but only work when the drive is plugged in.

The method you choose depends on why you're uploading. If you want to watch your own movies from different devices, cloud storage works best. If you want to share with family or friends, a video platform or shared cloud folder is easier. If you're backing up files you want to keep safe, an external drive is reliable and doesn't depend on internet speed.

Key Takeaways

  • Cloud storage like Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox let you access movies from any device, but have file size limits that vary by service.
  • Video platforms like YouTube and Vimeo compress files and may take hours to process, but make sharing with others straightforward.
  • External hard drives and USB drives store movies locally without file size limits, but require the drive to be physically connected.
  • Movie files are large, so uploading over home internet can take hours depending on your connection speed and the file size.
  • Before uploading, check that you own the rights to the movie or have permission from the copyright holder.

Uploading movies to Google Drive

Google Drive is free up to 15 GB of storage across all your Google files. Open Google Drive in your web browser, click the "New" button on the left side, then select "File upload." Find the movie file on your computer and click "Open." The upload begins immediately, and you can watch the progress bar at the bottom of the screen.

If your movie file is larger than 5 GB, the upload may fail or take an extremely long time. Google Drive has a 5 TB file size limit per file, but your internet connection will likely be the bottleneck. Once uploaded, you can right-click the file, select "Share," and send a link to anyone you want to watch it. They don't need a Google account to view it if you set the sharing to "Anyone with the link."

Uploading movies to Microsoft OneDrive

OneDrive gives you 5 GB free and works similarly to Google Drive. Go to OneDrive.com, sign in with your Microsoft account, and click "Upload" at the top. Select "Files" and choose your movie from your computer. The file uploads in the background while you continue working.

OneDrive has a 250 GB file size limit, which is much higher than Google Drive, but again your home internet is usually the limiting factor. You can share files the same way as Google Drive by right-clicking and selecting "Share." If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you get 1 TB of storage instead of 5 GB, which gives you much more room for movies.

Uploading movies to YouTube or Vimeo

YouTube and Vimeo are designed for sharing video with others, not for personal backup. Go to YouTube.com, click your profile icon in the top right, select "Create a video or post," then "Upload a video." Click "Select files" and choose your movie. YouTube will begin uploading and processing the file, which can take hours for large files.

YouTube compresses your video, which means the quality will be lower than the original file. The platform also scans for copyright-protected content and may block the video if it detects music or footage you don't own. Vimeo has similar features but is better for filmmakers and artists — it compresses less aggressively but costs money for most features. Use these platforms only if you want to share the movie publicly or with a specific group, not for keeping a personal copy.

Uploading movies to an external hard drive

An external hard drive is the simplest method if you don't need internet access. Plug the drive into your computer with the USB cable. Your computer will recognize it as a new folder. Open the folder, then drag and drop your movie file into it. The file copies to the drive, and you can see the progress in a window on your screen.

External drives come in sizes from 500 GB to 20 TB and cost between $30 and $200 depending on capacity. They don't have file size limits and don't depend on internet speed, so a 50 GB movie file copies in minutes instead of hours. The downside is you can only access the movies when the drive is plugged in. Keep the drive in a safe place — if it gets damaged or lost, your files are gone unless you have a backup elsewhere.

What to do if the upload keeps failing

Uploads fail most often because of internet connection problems. If your upload stops or restarts repeatedly, move your computer closer to your router or use a wired ethernet connection if possible. Wired connections are more stable than Wi-Fi. Close other programs using the internet, like streaming services or downloads, to free up bandwidth.

If the file is extremely large (over 10 GB), break it into smaller pieces using video editing software or a file compression tool, upload the pieces separately, and combine them later. Some cloud services also have desktop apps that upload more reliably than the web browser — Google Drive has Google Drive for Desktop, and OneDrive has the OneDrive app built into Windows. Installing these apps can solve repeated upload failures.

Understanding file size and upload time

Movie files are measured in gigabytes (GB). A typical two-hour movie in standard quality is 1 to 2 GB. The same movie in high definition (HD) is 4 to 8 GB. Ultra HD (4K) can be 25 GB or more. Your home internet speed determines how long the upload takes. Most home internet is 50 to 500 megabits per second (Mbps). A 5 GB file on a 100 Mbps connection takes roughly 7 to 8 minutes. On a 25 Mbps connection, the same file takes 30 to 40 minutes.

Check your internet speed by visiting speedtest.net. Write down the "Download" number — that's your upload speed as well (they're usually similar for home internet). Divide your file size in gigabytes by your speed in megabits, then multiply by 8 to get the time in seconds. This gives you a realistic estimate of how long the upload will take. If the time is more than an hour, consider using an external drive instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I upload movies I don't own?

You can upload them to your own devices for personal use, but uploading to cloud services or video platforms may violate copyright law. YouTube and Vimeo scan for copyrighted content and will block or remove the video. If you want to share a movie you don't own, ask the copyright holder for permission first.

What happens if my internet cuts out during the upload?

Most services pause the upload and resume when your connection returns. Cloud storage apps like Google Drive for Desktop and OneDrive handle interruptions better than the web browser. If you're using the browser and the upload fails completely, start over — most services don't save partial uploads.

Is it safe to upload movies to cloud storage?

Cloud storage is as safe as the password protecting your account. Use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication if the service offers it. Your files are encrypted in transit and at rest on the company's servers. The main risk is someone gaining access to your account, not the service itself losing your files.

How much storage do I actually need?

If you have five movies in HD quality, you need roughly 25 to 40 GB of storage. Google Drive's free 15 GB covers about two HD movies. OneDrive's free 5 GB covers one. If you plan to store more than a few movies, pay for extra storage or use an external drive instead.

Can I upload movies directly from my phone or tablet?

Yes, cloud storage apps for phones and tablets have upload buttons. Open the app, tap the plus or upload icon, select the movie file from your phone's storage, and tap upload. The process is the same as on a computer, but uploads may be slower on mobile networks than home Wi-Fi.