A minute of 4K video at 60 frames per second can take several hundred megabytes, and pro formats like ProRes much more. If your iPhone fills up quickly, changing a few camera settings makes a big difference to every video you record from now on.
Record in High Efficiency
Open Settings > Camera > Formats and choose High Efficiency. Photos are saved as HEIF and videos as HEVC (H.265), which use noticeably less space than JPEG and H.264 at similar quality.
If you choose Most Compatible, files are larger but play on more older devices. When you share HEVC videos with devices that do not support it, your iPhone usually converts them automatically.
Choose a sensible resolution
Open Settings > Camera > Record Video. iOS shows approximately how much space a minute of video takes at each setting.
- 1080p HD at 30 fps is a good balance for everyday videos.
- 4K at 30 fps gives more detail for footage you might edit or watch on a large TV.
- 4K at 60 fps produces very large files. Keep it for action you plan to edit.
You can also change resolution and frame rate quickly in the Camera app by tapping the indicators at the top of the screen in video mode.
Turn off pro formats you do not need
On iPhone Pro models, Settings > Camera > Formats may include Apple ProRes and ProRAW. These are designed for professional editing and produce very large files. Leave them off unless you need them.
Also check Record Slo-mo and Record Cinematic settings, which have their own resolution options.
Trim long videos
Often only part of a video is worth keeping.
- Open the video in Photos and tap Edit.
- Drag the ends of the timeline to the part you want.
- Tap Done, then Save Video as New Clip to keep both, or Save Video to replace the original (you can revert later).
Saving as a new clip creates a smaller copy; delete the original once you are happy.
Make a smaller copy of an existing video
iOS does not have a built-in "compress" button in Photos, but you can create a smaller copy:
- iMovie (free from Apple): create a movie with the clip, tap Done, then Share > Save Video, and choose a lower resolution such as 720p or 1080p.
- On a Mac: move large videos to your Mac and use Finder or QuickTime to make smaller copies.
After making a smaller copy, watch it to check the quality, then delete the original. Remember to empty Recently Deleted to free the space.
If you use iCloud Photos
With Optimize iPhone Storage on, your iPhone keeps smaller versions of videos and downloads originals from iCloud when you play them. This saves space on your phone without changing what is stored in iCloud. See iPhone storage full with iCloud Photos.
Frequently asked questions
What video setting uses the least storage on iPhone?
High Efficiency format with 720p or 1080p at 30 fps uses the least space. 1080p at 30 fps is a good everyday balance.
Can I compress a video on iPhone without an app?
Photos can trim videos to make them shorter, and iMovie (a free Apple app) can export a smaller copy at a lower resolution. There is no direct compress button in Photos.
Does HEVC reduce video quality?
HEVC uses more efficient compression than H.264, so it produces smaller files at similar visual quality.
Want this done for you?
spacerecover lists your largest iPhone videos first, estimates the saving for each quality, and makes a smaller copy on your phone or your paired Mac. You watch the copy before anything is replaced, and originals can be kept safely on your Mac.