Apple's own way to compress a video on iPhone is to export it from iMovie at a lower resolution: add the video to a new movie project, then choose Share > Save or Share Video > Options and pick 720, 540 or 360. By Apple's per-minute figures, 1080p video takes 70 to 105 MB, 720p takes 19 to 27 MB and 540p takes 12 to 16 MB, so 720p is roughly a quarter of the size. iMovie saves a new, smaller video, so your storage only drops after you delete the original and empty Recently Deleted. A smaller file always gives up some detail. To record smaller videos from now on, choose a resolution below 1080p, turn off HDR Video and keep High Efficiency selected.
The steps below follow Apple's guide for iOS 26 and later.
How much smaller will it get?
Apple lists the approximate size of one minute of video at each export resolution. The last column is our arithmetic on those figures.
| Resolution | One minute of video (Apple) | Compared with 1080p |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p (default camera and iMovie setting) | 70 to 105 MB | baseline |
| 720p | 19 to 27 MB | about a quarter |
| 540p | 12 to 16 MB | about a sixth |
| 360p | 6 to 9 MB | about a twelfth |
Apple says 540p is suitable for social media and 360p for text messaging. It also warns that quality might be reduced, depending on the settings the video was recorded with.
Method 1: Compress with iMovie
Apple's guide needs an iPhone 12 or later running iOS 26 or later, the latest iMovie for iOS (a free download from the App Store) and a video in your photo library. On earlier iPhones and iOS versions, the steps and options can differ.
- Open iMovie, tap Start New Project, then tap Movie.
- Tap Media, then Video, and tap the video you want to compress. A check mark confirms the choice. Tap Create Movie, then tap Done.
- Tap the Share button, then Save or Share Video, then Options.
- Select a lower resolution, such as 720, 540 or 360, and tap Done.
- Tap Save Video to add the smaller video to your photo library. With iCloud Photos on, it also appears on your other devices. You can instead choose Save to Files or AirDrop.
To check the result, open the new video in Photos and tap the Information button: the file size appears with the other technical details. If the file is still too large, Apple suggests trimming the video to make it shorter.
The export is a new video. Your original stays in the library until you delete it, so the storage bar will not move yet. Our guide to finding large videos on iPhone covers how to pick the right ones, and our guide to iPhone storage that stays full after deleting photos covers emptying Recently Deleted.
Method 2: Record smaller videos from now on
For consistently smaller files, Apple suggests three camera changes: choose a resolution lower than 1080p HD, turn off HDR Video and make sure High Efficiency is selected. The resolution and HDR options are in Settings > Camera > Record Video, and the format is in Settings > Camera > Formats. Apple says High Efficiency saves more space than Most Compatible at the same visual quality.
Method 3: Send a big video without shrinking it
If the goal is to share a long video rather than free space, you do not have to compress it. Apple's guide to sharing long videos lists three ways: AirDrop; an iCloud link (Photos > Share > Options > Copy iCloud Link, which needs iCloud Photos and stays available for 30 days); and Mail Drop (Photos > Share > Mail, with attachments up to 5 GB, available for 30 days). None of these makes the file smaller or frees space on your iPhone.
Method 4: Use an app to compress many videos
Disclosure: PhotoGO AI is our app. It compresses photos and videos in batches. For a video, you pick a preset and see the exact resolution it will produce before you start. The compressed copy keeps the original's date, location, favorite status and albums, and the original stays until you say otherwise. A batch shows which file is in progress, such as "File 12 of 45", and you can select every file on the screen in one tap. Compression leaves Live Photos, portraits, Cinematic and slow-motion videos as they are, so they keep their motion, depth and frame rate, and it skips files that would barely shrink. Scanning and sorting are free. Compression and unlimited cleanups are part of PhotoGO Pro.
You can compress videos without an app, as Method 1 shows. An app saves time when you have many files.
After compressing: free the space
Delete the originals you no longer need: in Photos, tap Select, tap the videos and tap the trash button. They go to Recently Deleted for 30 days, and the space comes back when you delete them from that album.
FAQ
How do I compress a video on iPhone?
Apple's method is to open the video in iMovie, then export it with Share > Save or Share Video > Options at a lower resolution such as 720, 540 or 360. For smaller videos in the future, record below 1080p, turn off HDR Video and keep High Efficiency selected.
How much smaller does a compressed video get?
By Apple's per-minute estimates, a 1080p video takes 70 to 105 MB, 720p takes 19 to 27 MB, 540p takes 12 to 16 MB and 360p takes 6 to 9 MB. That makes 720p about a quarter of the size of 1080p.
Does compressing a video delete the original?
No. iMovie saves a new, smaller video, and the original stays in your library until you delete it. Delete the original, then delete it from Recently Deleted, to free the space.
What resolution should I use to share a video?
Apple says 540p is suitable for social media and 360p for text messaging. Use 720p if you want to keep more detail.
Does compressing a video reduce quality?
A smaller file always gives up some detail. Apple notes that when you export at a lower resolution, quality might be reduced, depending on the settings the video was recorded with. Try one video first and compare before you compress the rest.
