To use less storage, set your camera to an efficient format such as HEIF where available, and choose the highest resolution only when you need the extra detail. Leave RAW for photos you plan to edit. If your existing photo library is taking up room, cloud optimization or transferring files to a computer can free local space—but those steps do not make new camera captures smaller.
Start with the setting that changes new photos
Capture settings affect the file your phone creates. High-efficiency formats can store photos more compactly than JPEG while maintaining comparable visual quality, according to Apple. The actual file size depends on the phone and the image; there is no reliable universal percentage of space saved by switching formats.
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Choose HEIF when your sharing and editing apps support it
On supported iPhones, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and select High Efficiency. This uses HEIF for photos rather than JPEG. HEIF is a sensible default if the people and apps you share with can open it. For older devices or workflows that require JPEG, choose Most Compatible instead. Apple explains the format trade-off in its HEIF and HEVC documentation.
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On Android, look for a high-efficiency or HEIF option in the camera app, if your model offers one. For example, the Samsung Galaxy S23-series manual describes a High efficiency pictures setting. That label and availability are not universal across Galaxy phones or Android devices; consult the manual for your model. The S23 manual also notes that RAW files take more storage. Samsung Galaxy S23-series user manual.
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Use fewer megapixels unless the extra resolution has a purpose
More megapixels can give you more room to crop or make large prints, but they are not necessary for every snapshot. On supported iPhones, Apple’s current camera guide says the Main or Fusion camera default can be set to 12MP or 24MP; 48MP capture requires resolution controls on supported models. Menu names and options vary by model and software version. See Apple’s guide to advanced camera settings.
Use a lower default for everyday photos, then switch to the maximum resolution when you expect to crop heavily, need detail for a large print, or otherwise benefit from the additional pixels. Lowering the default changes new captures; it does not shrink photos already in your library. On Android, look for a still-photo resolution control in your camera app, but do not assume the setting exists or has the same name on every phone.
Reserve RAW for photos you intend to edit
RAW preserves more image data for post-processing, which can be useful when adjusting exposure, color, or shadows. It also creates larger files. Apple’s approximate sizes for ProRAW are 25MB at 12MP and 75MB at 48MP; Apple says its ProRAW files are 10 to 12 times larger than HEIF or JPEG files. These figures describe Apple ProRAW, not RAW files on other phones. Availability of 48MP ProRAW depends on the supported camera and capture mode. Apple’s About Apple ProRAW page.
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For everyday photos that you do not expect to edit extensively, use the camera’s standard processed format rather than leaving RAW enabled. If your phone supports RAW plus JPEG or HEIF, check whether it saves both files: doing so can use more storage than saving a processed image alone.
Know whether a storage option changes the capture or just your library
| Option | What it changes | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| HEIF or another high-efficiency capture format | The new camera file | Can reduce storage use; older devices or apps may have compatibility issues. |
| Lower photo resolution | The new camera file | Uses fewer pixels, so there is less room for cropping or large prints. |
| RAW instead of a processed format | The new camera file | Offers more editing latitude but uses more storage. |
| Cloud storage optimization | Local copies on the phone | Can free device space while keeping originals in the cloud; depends on cloud capacity and syncing. |
| Cloud backup quality set to Storage saver | The backed-up copy | May compress or resize the cloud copy; it does not make the camera’s local capture smaller. |
| Transfer to a computer | Where your archived files are stored | Can free device space after a successful transfer; it is not a camera setting. |
Free space used by photos already on your phone
iPhone: optimize local copies with iCloud Photos
With iCloud Photos and Optimize iPhone Storage enabled, full-resolution originals remain in iCloud while the phone can keep space-saving versions locally as needed. This uses iCloud capacity, and it is a syncing service: deleting a photo on one synced device deletes it from the others. Before removing a photo you want to keep, confirm you have a separate copy. See Apple’s guidance on managing photo and video storage.
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Google Photos: Storage saver affects the backup copy
Google Photos’ Storage saver setting changes the backed-up copy, not the original capture stored on your phone. Google says photos larger than 16MP are resized to 16MP, and photos and videos are stored at slightly reduced quality; some files are not eligible for compression. Storage saver uploads count toward Google Account storage under current policy, as do Original quality uploads. Google accounts include up to 15GB of storage, shared across Google services. Check Google Photos’ backup quality guidance and Google’s account storage details for current terms.
Transfer a copy to a computer before deleting local files
If you do not want to rely on cloud storage, copy photos you want to keep to a computer. Open a few transferred files and confirm the transfer is complete before deleting anything from the phone. Apple also recommends transferring photos to a computer as a way to reduce device storage use. Apple’s device-storage guidance.
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Android camera menus differ by manufacturer, model, and software version. On Pixel phones, Google’s Camera help points to Camera > Settings > More settings > Device storage for options including Storage saver and Free up space. The help page’s Full HD resolution instruction is for video, not still-photo resolution, so do not treat it as a way to lower photo megapixels. Google Pixel Camera help.
Pixel’s camera Storage saver is distinct from Google Photos’ Storage saver backup quality. The former is a camera/device-storage option; the latter changes the backed-up copy. For other Android phones, check the camera’s settings or the manufacturer’s manual for high-efficiency formats, photo resolution, and RAW controls.
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