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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsEstimate a screen recording’s size from its bitrate and duration: size in decimal GB ≈ bitrate in Mbps × recording time in seconds ÷ 8,000. At 5 Mbps for one hour, that works out to about 2.25 GB before container overhead or bitrate changes. This is a calculation, not a measured result for a particular phone or app.
Estimate storage from bitrate and recording time
Bitrate tells you how much data the recording encodes per second. Multiply it by the duration, then divide by eight to convert bits to bytes. For decimal storage units, use:
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- Decimal MB: Mbps × seconds ÷ 8
- Decimal GB: Mbps × seconds ÷ 8,000
- One-hour shortcut: Mbps × 0.45 ≈ decimal GB per hour
For example, 5 Mbps × 3,600 seconds ÷ 8,000 = 2.25 decimal GB. The estimate assumes the bitrate stays constant; it does not include extra space for container overhead or account for bitrate variation.
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|---|---|
| 2 Mbps | 0.9 decimal GB |
| 5 Mbps | 2.25 decimal GB |
| 8 Mbps | 3.6 decimal GB |
| 20 Mbps | 9 decimal GB |
These figures are arithmetic estimates, not published measurements for specific devices. Decimal GB uses 1 GB = 1,000 MB; a device’s storage display may use a different unit convention.
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Why the same recording length can use different amounts of space
Duration alone does not determine file size, and a resolution label such as 1080p is not enough to predict it. The encoded bitrate, frame rate, codec, audio and on-screen content all affect the result.
- Bitrate or quality mode: A fixed bitrate makes duration-based estimates more predictable. Variable-bitrate and quality-based recording can use different amounts of data for different scenes.
- Resolution and frame rate: More pixels or more frames per second can require more data to represent video at comparable quality.
- Codec: Compression and compatibility trade-offs affect storage needs. Apple says ProRes files can be up to 30 times larger than HEVC files, a comparison about ProRes video—not a screen-recording benchmark. Apple’s ProRes guidance
- Audio: Microphone or system audio adds data. Apple’s iPhone screen-recording instructions include an option to capture microphone audio. Apple’s iPhone guide
- What is on screen: A mostly static screen and a scene with frequent motion may encode differently under variable-rate settings.
Android’s MediaRecorder API exposes video size, frame rate and bitrate settings, and notes that the platform may adjust a requested bitrate based on its capabilities. That illustrates why an app’s settings do not guarantee the exact encoded rate or a universal file size.
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When the bitrate is hidden, use a short test recording
A device-specific test is often the most practical way to estimate storage when the recorder does not show a bitrate. Record a short sample using the settings and content you expect to capture, then scale its file size to your planned duration:
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estimated full recording size ≈ test file size × (planned duration ÷ test duration)
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For example, if a 2-minute test file is 120 MB, scaling it to 30 minutes gives an estimate of 1,800 MB, or 1.8 decimal GB. Treat this as an approximation: a longer recording may contain different content, and variable encoding can change the average bitrate. Leave free-space headroom rather than treating the estimate as a guaranteed maximum.
What to know about screen recording on iPhone and Android
iPhone
Apple says iPhone screen recordings are saved to the Photos library. To include your voice, press and hold the Screen Recording control, turn on Microphone, then start recording. Some apps may prevent their content from being recorded. Apple’s guide does not publish a standard storage amount per minute or hour. See Apple’s iPhone screen-recording instructions.
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Apple’s external-storage instructions concern large video exports and direct ProRes recording on supported iPhone 15 Pro, 16 Pro and 17 Pro models. They do not establish that ordinary built-in screen recordings save directly to an external SSD. The cited ProRes workflow has its own conditions: Apple specifies at least 220 MB/s for certain 4K60 modes on iPhone 15, 16 and 17 Pro, and at least 440 MB/s for supported 4K120 modes on iPhone 16 and 17 Pro; the drive’s maximum power draw must be 4.5 W. Apple also says at least 10% of device storage must be free to record ProRes. These are ProRes requirements, not requirements for the built-in screen recorder. Apple’s ProRes and external-storage guidance
Android
Android’s MediaRecorder API documents configurable video dimensions, frame rate and bitrate, and says the system may adjust the requested bitrate to suit platform capabilities. This API documentation does not provide one expected file size for every Android device or screen-recording app. Read the Android API reference.
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A community estimate is not a device specification
An Apple Support Community response dated July 6, 2023, estimated that a 13-hour recording on an iPhone 11 running iOS 16 could range from about 94 to 286 GB across four resolution and frame-rate combinations. The response also cautioned that compression, audio and content complexity can change the actual size. This is one community answer—not an official measurement, a current iPhone specification or a general range for screen recordings. Read the community response.
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