How to Download Flip Video (10 Steps)
By Andrew Tennyson
Sure you can watch videos directly on your Flip camera, but its screen is pretty tiny. Instead, take a look at your videos on a screen that lets you appreciate your handiwork. Download Flip videos from your camera onto your computer using either the proprietary FlipShare software that came with the camera or the File Explorer program that came with your Windows 8 computer. Be careful not to unplug your Flip camera from your computer while videos are downloading. Doing so can result in lost data.
With FlipShare Software
Step 1
Press the “Power” button on the Flip camera to turn the device off. Slide the USB latch down to reveal the Flip camera’s USB arm. The latch is located on the side of the camera.
Step 2
Connect the USB arm to an available USB port on your computer. Slide the arm in gently and support the camera with a small object, if necessary. If this is the first time you’ve connected your Flip camera to your computer, follow the prompts to install the FlipShare software.
Step 3
Click the “Unsaved” folder located under the "Video Camera" heading at the top of the navigation pane in FlipShare. Depending on what generation of Flip camera you have, the Video Camera heading may be called "Camcorder" instead. The number of unsaved videos currently saved on your Flip camera is displayed in parentheses next to the Unsaved folder.
Step 4
Select the videos you want to download from your camera. If you want to select all the videos, click the “All” button located at the bottom of the FlipShare window. To select only certain videos, press the “Ctrl” key on your keyboard and click the videos you want to download.
Step 5
Click the “Save” or “Save to Computer” icon located at the bottom of the FlipShare window to launch the "Save Videos To Computer" dialog.
Step 6
Place a check mark in the “Remove videos from camcorder after saving” check box if you want to delete the videos from your camera after they’ve been downloaded to your computer. If you want to make this the default setting whenever you download videos, place a check mark in the “Don’t ask me again” check box as well.
Step 7
Click “OK” when you’re finished. Videos will automatically be downloaded to the FlipShare library.
Without FlipShare Software
Step 1
Press the “Power” button on the Flip camera to turn the device off. Slide the USB latch down to reveal the Flip camera’s USB arm. The latch is located on the side of the camera.
Step 2
Connect the USB arm to an available USB port on your computer. Slide the arm in gently and support the camera with a small object, if necessary. Close the FlipShare software on your computer if it launches automatically.
Step 3
Press “Windows-E” on your keyboard to launch the File Explorer program on your computer. Click your Flip camera on the list of removable storage devices, click the “DCIM” folder and then click the “100Video” folder. Drag and drop the videos to your desktop or another folder in File Explorer to download them from the camera.
References
Tips
- To work properly with your computer, the Flip camera needs to connect to a USB 2.0 or higher USB port.
- Your Flip camera automatically charges when it is connected to a USB 2.0 or higher USB port.
- If you download videos using FlipShare, you must export them from that program before you can edit them elsewhere. To do this, launch FlipShare and click the folder in the navigation pane that contains the videos you want to export. Folders are listed under the "Library" heading. Click the individual videos you want to export or click the “All” button if you want to export all the videos located within the current folder. Right-click one of the selected videos and click “Export to” on the menu that appears. Click the “Export” button, browse to the location on your computer where you want to save the exported videos and click “OK.”
Writer Bio
Andrew Tennyson has been writing about culture, technology, health and a variety of other subjects since 2003. He has been published in The Gazette, DTR and ZCom. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in history and a Master of Fine Arts in writing.