Getting .m4v files to iPhone and using them.

By Khomus, 25 September, 2026

Forum
iOS and iPadOS

Hi all.

I haven't done much with sending files to the iPhone, and I assume this is a general process. But in this case, I have a bunch of .m4v files in a couple of directories that I want to send to the phone, and then play them on the phone. I'm on a Mac. I assume I have multiple transfer options, e.g. airdrop, hooking up a cable.

Can anybody give a quick overview of the basic process? Can I pick both directories/folders and just send those? Do I have to pick individual files? When I send them, do they go into the Files app, or do I send them to a specific app, iMovie? VLC? I assume once the app knows about them, i can just play them in it. If it goes to Files, do I share to an app?

I assume this works for everything, .m4v, .mp3, documents, whatever? Or are there specific processes? If there's already something written up on this somewhere please point me at it, and I'll happily read up. The reason I'm thinking of other files is that I just checked and aside from the videos, there are also some .PDF files, written material for the lessons. SO if I wanted to transfer everything and use it, I'm not sure if I can do that all at once or what. I assume the different file types go to different apps, somehow or other.

TIA for any help.

Options

Comments

By Brian on Friday, September 25, 2026 - 18:56

Follow these steps:

  • Copy the files with command + 'c'.

  • Press command + shift + 'i' to open iCloud Drive (assuming the hot key hasn't changed).

  • Choose a directory within iCloud Drive, I'd recommend 'downloads'.

  • Paste or move the files into said directory with command + 'v', or command + option + 'v' respectively.

  • Open the files application on your iPhone, and navigate to the same directory where you placed the files (downloads, in this example).

  • Your files will be there, they may or may not be uploading upon first look. If so, give it a moment to finish synching.

  • Focus on the file you want to listen to, and swipe up or down on the actions rotor until you find open or play. Double tap and enjoy.

HTH. 😀

By Khomus on Friday, September 25, 2026 - 19:08

I want them on the phone. Also they're 13 GB of files. I'm not sure I have that much iCloud space. Besides, since I'm using a Mac, I assume I can transfer them to the phone directly fairly easily, no?

Thanks for the explanation, that's good to know. I just don't think it will work in this case. I guess I could transfer them in batches, but I may as well just send it all over at once, if I can.

You're not really gonna get them on your iPhone without using the Files application. It's just the way the filesharing system on iPhone works.
You can use AirDrop, or a data cable to get the files onto your iPhone from your Mac, but you're still gonna end up using the Files application regardless.

By Khomus on Friday, September 25, 2026 - 23:01

I don't have a problem using FIles, I just don't want to use iCloud. Do you share to an app from FIles then, or just go into FIles every time? I know with VLC you could set up a web server, at least on Windows, and get things right into VLC.

By Brian on Friday, September 25, 2026 - 23:09

The way I understand it, if you have an application dedicated to the.M4V file system, you can share the files directly to that. Otherwise, you would just go into Files and navigate to the directory your video files are stored, and play them from there. For example, say you have a ton of photos you want to move over onto your iPhone, they would obviously go to your Photos application.

HTH.

By Chris on Saturday, September 26, 2026 - 00:05

If you'd rather not deal with AirDrop and other file transfer methods, download Synctrain from the App Store and link it to your Mac using the standard SyncThing client. You can create a folder on your Mac, put the files you want into it, and keep Synctrain open on the iPhone until syncing is finished. After that, go grab your files from the files app and play them directly, share them to an app like VLC, etc. The only caveat is that you need to keep Synctrain open on the screen until syncing is complete. This is unfortunately an Apple limitation on iOS that can't be worked around. Apps don't really run in the background, at least not reliably. iOS is very aggressive about that.

By Khomus on Saturday, September 26, 2026 - 00:44

I just don't know how to do it. I tried hooking the phone up with a cable, copying the files, and pasting them on to iMovie in Finder. Paste does nothing.

So if somebody could explain whatever the typical methods are, i.e. how do you do it in Finder, how do you do it with airdrop, that would be awesome.

By Chris on Saturday, September 26, 2026 - 03:31

Find the file, folder, or zip file you want to share in Finder. Open the context menu and find share. Select AirDrop, then find your iPhone in the list. The files should automatically transfer and either open in the appropriate app automatically, or you'll be asked what app they should open in. I still think Syncthing is the easiest option. You don't have to go through that tedious process. Just copy your content to the shared folder in Finder, keep Synctrain active on the iPhone screen until sync is complete, then work with your files in the Files app. This is by far the best solution I've found for working with files. It works on any operating system that can run Syncthing, and your data transfers directly without relying on cloud storage or other workarounds.

By Khomus on Saturday, September 26, 2026 - 05:34

I actually did airdrop. I don't see how it's anymore tedious than Syncthing, which I've heard about but haven't tried yet, presumably I have to tell ST what files/folders to sync. I don't see how that's any easier or more convenient than just telling Finder, copy these files and put them on the phone. The videos aren't changing, they're a set of clawhammer ukulele lessons. There's only so many of them.

I'll definitely keep SYnc Thing in mind, if I actually need to sync things or deal with larger amounts of stuff. But right now, I'm just trying to understand the basics of, I have a phone and a mac, and I want to put files on the phone from the Mac.

Apparently the videos go to Photos, so I need to see if I can hook a cable up, copy stuff, and paste into Photos. But I really should try to find something else, because Photos sorting is awful. If it did a standard alphabetical name sort the lessons would show up in order, they don't. I'm surprised they didn't show up in Files.

Honestly, I think you are overthinking this.
Whether you use AirDrop, iCloud Drive, another, drive, service, or a Data cable, files are going to transfer pretty much the same way.

Using a data cable:
1. Plug your phone into your Mac.
2. Find the files on your Mac's harddrive and copy them with command plus C.
3. Navigate to your iPhone within Finder for macOS, and then pace or move your Files into your iPhone directory with command plus V, or command plus option plus V respectively.

I do believe they will still end up in the Files application. Again, iOS limitations. 🤷