[Note: While serving large video files from your hosting service using WordPress is not the recommended method for many reasons (flexibility, host issues, bandwidth and storage space to name a few), sometimes it is necessary for proprietary reasons. Keeping that in mind, this video shows you how to do exactly that.]
Links to tools mentioned in the video
Add From Server WordPress plugin Homepage
Transcript from the video
Embedding a large video file in WordPress
If you have a video file over 50 MB, you won’t be able to upload it using WordPress. First, you’ll need to upload via FTP.
I use Filezilla. Once you’ve connected to your Hosting server, on the right side double click the wp-content folder to open it, then double click uploads, then double click the year folder and then double click the month.
To upload the file, click and drag it from its location on your computer to the open month folder and it will begin uploading.
I use Filezilla because it’s a free program and works the same way whether you’re using Windows, Mac or Linux, you can find a link below. Your hosting service will also have an FTP program available.
Once the file is uploaded, you’ll have to make an entry in the database for WordPress to recognize it. I use a plugin called “Add from Server” for that, you can see a link below.
Once you’ve logged in to you WordPress site, on the left hand side of the dashboard, hover over Media and click Add From Server. This takes you to a new window and you’ll see the uploads folder is one of the quick jump destinations.
Click that and you’ll see the file you just uploaded. Click the checkbox for your file and then click import.
When it’s finished importing, you’ll get a success message and you’re ready to Embed your video.
To do that, hover your pointer over Posts or Page Click add new, title it, then click in the content area and click the add media button.
The insert media window will open, click the file you want to embed. Information about the file will appear on the right side and in the lower right double check that the Embed or Link dropbox says Embed Media Player.
Click the Insert into post button. The video is inserted.
Click the publish button on the right and the embedded video will be saved. Once it’s saved, click view and you will see the embedded video and you can click the play symbol to check that it’s working.
If you have any questions, let me know in the comments.
