How to reduce video file size on an iPhone

Capturing high-quality videos on your iPhone has become easier than ever before. However, these videos often come with a trade-off: large file sizes that quickly consume storage space and are cumbersome to share.  

Fortunately, there are several methods to reduce video file sizes without significantly compromising quality. This guide will walk you through some effective hacks to achieve this on your iPhone. 

How to reduce video file size on an iPhone

Here’s how you can reduce the file size on your iPhone within minutes.

1. Change video recording settings

One of the simplest ways to reduce video file size is to adjust the recording settings before you start filming. The iPhone allows you to change the resolution and frame rate of your videos: 

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. 

2. Scroll down and tap on the ‘Camera’ option. 

3. Tap on ‘Record Video.’ 

Here, you can select lower resolutions (e.g., 1080p instead of 4K) and frame rates (e.g., 30 fps instead of 60 fps). 

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By choosing lower settings, you can significantly reduce the file size of your videos while still maintaining decent quality for most purposes. 

2. Use video compression apps

There are several apps available on the App Store designed specifically to compress video files. Some of the most popular ones include ‘Video Compressor & Editor’ and ‘Compress Videos & Resize Video.’ These apps typically allow you to choose the desired output size and quality, providing a quick and easy solution to managing large video files. 

3. Edit your videos

Editing your videos can help reduce file sizes by trimming unnecessary footage or removing audio tracks. Here’s how you can do it using the built-in Photos app on your iPhone: 

1. Launch the Photos app and select the video you want to edit. 

2. Tap on the ‘Edit’ button at the top right corner. 

3. Use the sliders to trim the video to your desired length. 

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4. After trimming, tap ‘Done’ and select ‘Save as New Clip.’ 

By cutting out unnecessary parts of your video, you can significantly reduce its size. 

4. Use iCloud and other cloud services

If reducing the file size isn’t sufficient, another option is to store your videos in the cloud. This helps free up space on your device while still giving you access to your files whenever needed. iCloud is seamlessly integrated with iOS, but you can also use other services like Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive as well. 

To upload your videos to iCloud: 

1. Go to Settings, tap on your name, and select ‘iCloud’. Then tap on ‘Photos’ and enable ‘iCloud Photos.’ 

2. Your videos will automatically be uploaded to iCloud, provided you have enough storage space available. 

Regularly reviewing your camera roll and deleting any videos you no longer need is an effective way to manage and reduce the amount of storage space occupied on your iPhone, thus allowing you to store larger videos when required.  

Additionally, avoid recording in slow motion, as these videos take up substantially more storage space compared to standard videos. Finally, try to shoot shorter videos by keeping them concise and avoiding unnecessarily long footage. Implementing these tips can help you effectively manage video file sizes and optimise the storage capacity of your iPhone.