Optimizing iPhone Camera Formats to Save Storage

Step by step

1. 30 sec

   Navigate to Camera Settings

   Open the Settings app from your Home Screen. Scroll down and tap on the Camera menu to view specific capture configurations.

2. 1 min

   Select the Formats menu

   Tap the Formats option at the top of the list. Here, you will choose between High Efficiency and Most Compatible modes.

   Note: High Efficiency uses the HEIF/HEVC standard to reduce file size by approximately 50% without losing visual quality.
3. 1 min

   Choose your capture standard

   Select High Efficiency to maximize storage space. Select Most Compatible if you frequently share media with non-Apple devices that require standard JPEG or H.264 formats.

   Note: Most Compatible requires more storage space for the exact same image or video capture.
4. 1 min

   Adjust Apple ProRAW and ProRes settings

   If your device supports it, check the Apple ProRAW & Resolution Control toggle. Only enable ProRAW if you plan to edit colors and light manually in professional software, as these files consume significantly more storage.

   Note: A single ProRAW image can exceed 75MB, whereas a standard HEIF photo is usually under 3MB.
5. 30 sec

   Review video capture resolution

   Return to the main Camera settings menu and tap Record Video. Ensure the resolution matches your needs, as 4K at 60fps generates massive files compared to 1080p at 30fps.

   Note: Use 1080p for general social media sharing to preserve device capacity.