How to share a video as a link

Video files are awkward to pass around. A ten-minute screen recording, a cut of a wedding film or a product demo exported from an editor can run to several gigabytes, far beyond what an email attachment allows. The person on the other end usually just wants to press play.

This guide covers the usual ways people share a video by link and the trade-offs of each, then shows how to do it from Fabric: uploading the file, publishing it as a link, choosing whether people can download it, and switching to a shared link when you need feedback on specific moments.

How people usually share a video as a link

Uploading to YouTube as an unlisted video is a common choice because playback is familiar and works on any device. The video sits on a public platform, though, and anyone who has the link can pass it on. Uploads also take time to process before they’re watchable at full quality, which matters when a client is waiting.

Vimeo gives more control over privacy and presentation, and many video professionals use it for that reason. It’s another account and subscription, and it’s separate from where your project files live.

Cloud drive links from Google Drive or Dropbox keep the file with the rest of your work. Recipients sometimes find a preview still processing, or have to download the file before they can watch it, and access settings need checking each time. Transfer services such as WeTransfer handle large files well, but the recipient has to download before watching and the link expires after a set period.

Step 1: Upload the video to Fabric

Drag the file into the Fabric web or desktop app, or click Upload a file. If you edit video, the Fabric desktop app is the more practical route: it mounts Fabric as a virtual drive on Mac, Windows and Linux, so you can export from your editor straight into a Fabric folder. Files on the drive take no space on your computer and stream when you open them, which how to access cloud files without using disk space explains in more detail.

For a video recorded on a phone, use the share sheet in the Photos app or any other app and choose Fabric, or set the mobile app to back up your camera roll automatically. The free plan has file size caps, so very large exports may need a paid plan.

Step 2: Publish it as a link

Select the video, click Share to open the share modal, then open the Publish tab and click Create link. Publishing is for delivery: people with the link can view the video, and download it if you allow that, but they can’t edit it or comment.

Name the link after where it’s going, for example “Client cut, v2” or “Website hero”. You can create several publish links for the same video, each with its own settings, so a version for a client and a version for social media can sit side by side.

If you’re sending a whole set of clips, such as rushes from a shoot or every episode of a course, put them in one folder and publish the folder. It appears as a web page with all the videos on it.

Step 3: Decide on downloads, indexing and analytics

Allow downloads is available on every plan. Turn it on when the recipient needs the file itself, for instance an editor collecting your footage or a client taking delivery of a final export, and off when they only need to watch. The choice of export format affects how easily people can play a download, and video file formats explained is a good reference if you’re unsure which to send.

Allow indexing by search engines decides whether the link can show up on Google. For most private videos, leave it off. Allow visitors to copy it to their Fabric lets Fabric users save the video into their own library.

On the Pro and Team plans, turning on engagement analytics shows visits to the link over time, with the date, location and device of each visit. Link analytics won’t name the viewer, so give each recipient their own named link if you need to know who has watched. For a private cut, password protection (also Pro and Team) adds a password prompt; there’s no password reset, so store it somewhere safe.

Step 4: Use a shared link when you need feedback

Published links don’t take comments. When you want notes on a cut, share the video with commenter permission instead. Commenters can leave timestamped comments, and on video a comment can include a drawing on the frame, so “move this title up” comes with a circle around the title. The annotations page shows how that looks.

Each comment can be marked completed once you’ve dealt with it, which turns a round of notes into a checklist. External people can use a shared link without signing up.

Transcription, on paid plans, makes the spoken content of the video searchable and lets the AI assistant answer questions about it with timestamps. Audio and video transcription works on MP4, MOV and WebM files, which helps when you need to find the moment someone said something across hours of footage.

Frequently asked questions

How do I share a large video file as a link?

Upload it to Fabric, click Share, open the Publish tab and click Create link. Anyone with the link can view it, and download it if you turn on Allow downloads.

Can I share a video without uploading it to YouTube?

Yes. Publishing from Fabric gives you a link to the file in your own library. You decide whether people can download it and whether search engines can index it.

Can people download the video from the link?

Only if you turn on Allow downloads for that link. The option is available on every plan.

Can I see who watched my video?

On Pro and Team plans, analytics show visits with dates, location and device. To tell individual viewers apart, create a separate named link for each person.

How do I get feedback on a video at specific timestamps?

Share the video with commenter permission. Commenters can leave timestamped comments, draw on the frame, and you can mark each comment completed when it’s handled.

Can I password protect a video link?

Yes, on Pro and Team plans. Viewers enter the password and their access lasts six hours before they need it again.

Does sharing a video from Fabric use space on my laptop?

Not if you use the desktop drive. Files there take no space on your computer and stream when opened. Check pricing for storage on each plan.

Can I share several videos at one link?

Yes. Put them in a folder and publish the folder, which appears as a single web page with every video in it.

Is sharing a video link secure?

For sensitive footage, add a password (Pro and Team), keep indexing off, and leave downloads off unless the recipient needs the file. How to share large files securely covers further precautions.