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To make future phone photos and videos take up less space, switch the camera to its High Efficiency format if your device offers it. On iPhone and iPad, that means HEIF photos and HEVC video; compatible Android phones may offer HEIC/HEIF capture. The setting affects new captures—not photos already saved—and may make files less convenient to open on older devices or apps.
How do I turn on High Efficiency capture?
On iPhone or iPad
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Open Settings > Camera > Formats.
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Select High Efficiency. Apple says supported iPhone 7 or later and supported iPad models can use this option. The setting uses HEIF for photos and HEVC for video. Apple’s format-setting guidance explains the available choices.
Choosing Most Compatible instead makes new photos and videos use JPEG and H.264, formats Apple describes as more broadly compatible with other devices and operating systems. The selection changes capture format for new media; it does not automatically convert files already on the device.
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On Android
Open the Camera app’s settings and look for an option labeled HEIF, HEIC, or high-efficiency photos. The exact name, location, and availability vary by phone. Android 10 supports HEIC at the platform level, but the manufacturer must implement it with a compatible hardware encoder. Android’s media-format documentation describes the platform support; it does not mean every Android phone has the setting.
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Why can this save space, and how much?
HEIF and HEVC are designed to compress media more efficiently than JPEG and H.264. Apple says they use less device and iCloud Photos storage while preserving the same visual quality; Android’s platform documentation describes HEIC images as smaller than JPEG at better quality. These are platform and vendor claims, not a guarantee of a particular saving for every phone, scene, or file.
There is no universal percentage to expect. Actual file size depends on the device and the content being captured. The setting is most useful as a default for future captures when storage efficiency matters more than maximum compatibility.
Will the setting free up space already used?
No. Changing the camera format governs new captures; it does not shrink or replace existing photos and videos. If storage is already full, this setting can help limit future growth, but existing files need a separate storage-management decision.
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What if HEIF or HEVC files will not open when I share them?
Use JPEG/H.264 capture when you regularly send media to older devices, apps, or workflows that may not support newer formats. Apple says sharing from an Apple device can automatically convert media when the recipient does not support HEIF or HEVC, but conversion behavior depends on the sharing route and recipient.
Android 12 and later can convert HEVC to AVC for certain apps, but the app must declare the relevant capability. Android documents that this behavior is off by default and adds processing delay. Android’s media transcoding guidance explains those conditions.
How can I reduce video storage further?
Choose a lower recording resolution when it suits the footage
Lower resolution generally produces smaller video files, but also captures less detail. If you do not need high-resolution footage, lower the camera’s recording resolution in its settings; exact labels and available choices depend on the phone.
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Consider export size separately from camera recording size
For iMovie exports, Apple’s July 29, 2026 guide gives these approximate file sizes for one minute of video. They describe exports, not universal camera recording sizes:
| Export resolution | Approximate size for one minute |
|---|---|
| 1080p | 70–105 MB |
| 720p | 19–27 MB |
| 540p | 12–16 MB |
| 360p | 6–9 MB |
These figures are Apple’s estimates for iMovie exports. Apple’s current instructions for consistently smaller recordings call for iPhone 12 or later with iOS 26 or later and iMovie, and suggest capturing below 1080p, disabling HDR Video, and using High Efficiency. See Apple’s iMovie resolution guide. Lower resolution and disabled HDR can reduce image detail or dynamic range, so choose them only when that trade-off works for the footage.
Check whether ProRAW is enabled
On supported Pro iPhones, Apple estimates a ProRAW photo at approximately 25 MB at 12 MP or 75 MB at 48 MP, and says ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files. These are Apple’s estimates for ProRAW, not a rule for every phone’s RAW format. If you do not need the extra editing latitude, check the camera’s format controls before taking more RAW photos.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Does cloud Storage saver change camera file sizes?
No. Google Photos’ Storage saver applies to backed-up copies, not the camera’s local capture format. Google says photos above 16 MP may be resized to 16 MP, videos above 1080p to 1080p, and some media may not be compressed. Storage saver uploads count toward Google Account storage. It is a separate choice with image-quality and cloud-account storage consequences, not a way to change what the camera captures. See Google Photos’ backup quality guidance.
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