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How to Work With Videos
Before you can upload your videos to YouTube, you need to transfer them from your camera to your computer. You can also transfer videos you’ve taken with your smartphone to your computer, but if you don’t need to edit or copy the video it’s often quicker and easier to upload videos to YouTube directly from your device (see Uploading from a smartphone or tablet).
Transferring video from your camera over USB
If you don’t have a memory card reader, you can connect your camera directly to your computer using a USB cable. This cable is usually included with your camera.
See your camera’s manual for instructions on connecting the camera to your computer.
Windows
1. Turn on your camera and connect it to your computer using a USB cable. For more information on how to do this, see your camera’s manual.
If it’s the first time you’ve connected this camera to your computer, you might need to wait while the drivers are automatically installed.
2. In Windows, go to the Start menu, then click Computer.
A window appears, showing computer’s available hard drives. Your camera will appear as Removable Disk.
3. Double-click the Removable Disk icon.
4. Navigate through the folders in your camera to find the video you’re looking for. The location will depend on the type of camera you’re using.
5. Once you’ve found your video, copy the file from the camera to any folder on your computer. For example, you might drag the file to your desktop.
6. When the file has finished copying, unplug your camera from your computer.
Mac (using iPhoto)
To follow these steps you’ll need to have iPhoto installed. This usually comes with Mac OS, but if you don’t have it, then you can download it from the Apple App Store.
Otherwise, you can use another program, Image Capture, to transfer your videos.
1. Turn on your camera and connect it to your computer using a USB cable. For more information on how to do this, see your camera’s manual.
iPhoto opens automatically, displaying your camera’s images and videos in the Importwindow.
2. Select the video you want to import, then click Import Selected.
3. When your video has finished importing, a popup appears, asking whether you want to delete or keep the video on your camera. Click Delete Video or Keep Video, depending on your choice.
4. In the LIBRARY section of the iPhoto sidebar, click Photos. You will be able to see the video you have just imported.
5. Copy the video from here to any folder on your computer.
6. Once the file has finished copying, unplug your camera from your computer.
Mac (using Image Capture)
If you don’t have iPhoto installed, you can import videos from your camera using Image Capture.
1. Turn on your camera and connect it to your computer using a USB cable. For more information on how to do this, see your camera’s manual.
2. The Image Capture application opens. If it doesn’t open automatically, go to your Applications folder and double-click Image Capture.
3. Select the video you want to import.
4. Choose an Import To location from the drop down menu, then click Import.
5. Once the video has finished importing, you can unplug your camera from your computer.