How to compress videos on iPhone
iPhone has no built-in “compress” button for existing videos. You can trim a clip in Photos, record future videos smaller with High Efficiency (HEVC) and a lower resolution, or re-encode existing videos with an app. Puri’s Compress tab re-encodes photos and videos at a quality you choose, previews the estimated size, and keeps the original until you confirm.
Option 1: record smaller from now on
- Settings → Camera → Formats → High Efficiency records HEVC video and HEIF photos, roughly half the size of Most Compatible.
- Settings → Camera → Record Video: 1080p at 30 fps takes far less space than 4K at 60 fps. Keep 4K for moments that deserve it.
Option 2: trim what you don’t need
Open the video in Photos, tap Edit, drag the ends of the timeline, then Done → Save as New Clip (keep both) or Save Video. Trimming a 3-minute clip to the 30 seconds that matter saves more than any compression.
Option 3: re-encode with Puri
- Open the Compress tab and choose Photos or Videos. The largest items are listed first.
- Pick a quality: High, Medium or Low. Puri shows the estimated output size before it starts.
- Puri writes a new, smaller copy and checks it. The original is removed only if you choose that and confirm.
- Files that wouldn’t get smaller are skipped rather than re-encoded for nothing.
Compression is lossy: Medium is a good default for clips you want to keep watching; Low suits screen recordings and videos you keep “just in case”. Compression runs on the iPhone — the video isn’t uploaded anywhere.
Which option saves the most?
| Method | Works on | Quality impact | Effort |
|---|---|---|---|
| High Efficiency format | New recordings | None visible | One setting |
| Lower recording resolution | New recordings | Less detail | One setting |
| Trim | One video at a time | None on what you keep | Manual |
| Re-encode in Puri | Existing photos and videos | Depends on the quality you pick | Batch |
Frequently asked questions
Can you compress a video on iPhone without an app?
Not directly. You can trim it in Photos, or record future videos with High Efficiency and a lower resolution so they take less space.
Does compressing a video reduce quality?
Yes, somewhat — compression is lossy. Choose a higher quality setting for videos you care about and compare before deleting the original.
Is compression free in Puri?
Puri includes a few free compressions (files up to 15 MB each); unlimited compression is part of Puri Premium.
Are Live Photos compressed too?
Puri can convert Live Photos you don’t need to move into still photos, which removes the video part. That is a Premium action.
Sources: Apple Support: Using HEIF or HEVC media on Apple devices