Edit Large Video Files from External Drives Without Copying

Bitcut can work with videos stored on external USB-C or Lightning drives without copying them to your iPhone. This is a huge advantage when working with large files — a 200 GB SSD full of 4K footage works seamlessly without consuming any iPhone storage.

How It Works

1

Connect your drive

Plug in your USB-C or Lightning external drive. iOS recognizes it automatically — no setup needed.

2

Browse via the Files tab

In the media picker, switch to the Files tab. Your external drive appears in the file browser alongside iCloud Drive and On My iPhone. Navigate to your video files.

3

Select and import

Tap a video to import it. Bitcut creates a secure bookmark to the file — no data is copied. The video plays directly from the drive during editing and preview.

When the Drive Is Disconnected

Bitcut caches thumbnails locally, so your project list and timeline look normal even without the drive connected. Here is what works and what doesn't while the drive is disconnected:

  • Works: Browsing projects, viewing thumbnails, adjusting settings
  • Requires drive: Video preview playback, exporting, AI processing

Simply reconnect the drive and everything resumes instantly — no re-importing needed.

Do not rename or move files on the drive after importing. Bitcut's bookmark points to the file at its original location. If the file moves, the link breaks and you will need to re-import.
Storage savings: A single 4K video can be 5-10 GB. Working directly from an external drive avoids duplicating these files on your iPhone. This is especially useful for creators working with large volumes of footage.