Share 4K Video Files Online

How big is 4K really?

File size depends on bitrate, not resolution alone. A phone recording at 4K and 30 frames per second typically uses somewhere around 400 MB per minute, so ten minutes is about four gigabytes. Professional codecs such as ProRes are several times larger. That means a free account with a 5 GB per-file ceiling suits short 4K clips, while a premium ceiling of 20 GB fits longer deliveries.

If a file is above the ceiling, you can export at a lower bitrate, trim the unneeded portions with the video trimmer or split it into reels.

Streaming versus original delivery

Uploaded videos are processed into HLS for smooth playback. On the current configuration the streaming version is encoded for up to 1080p, which suits most viewers and keeps playback quick on average connections. If recipients need the untouched 4K master, say a colourist or an editor, wrap it in a ZIP archive, which is stored as a plain file without conversion, and send the file link instead.

Test with your own file before you promise a client anything. Upload a sample, check what the player offers and compare the download with the original.

Plan and share a 4K delivery

1. 1Check the final file size. Under 5 GB, a free account works. Up to 20 GB, use premium.
2. 2Decide the audience. Reviewers who just need to watch can use the streaming link. People who need the master should get an archive of the original file.
3. 3Upload using the browser on a stable connection, or over FTP for the largest files.
4. 4Copy the right link and note the file size in your message so the recipient can plan the download.
5. 5Ask for confirmation of receipt and remove the upload when the job is finished.

Rough size guide

Approximate figures for planning only. Your actual bitrate will differ.

Make files smaller without ruining them

Re-export from your editor with a high-quality H.264 or H.265 preset rather than an intermediate codec, and cap the bitrate for the final delivery copy. For screen captures and animation the savings are enormous. The video compressor runs in the browser if you do not have an editor handy, but test the result at full screen before you send it.

Do the recipients have the means to play it?

Older computers struggle with 4K H.265 files. If you are sending to a client, ask what they use. A 1080p streaming link plus a 4K download for archiving is usually a better offer than just the biggest file you have.

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