DB LabsQuick Answer
iPhones record in HEVC (H.265) inside a .MOV container by default. To get widely compatible H.264 MP4 files, either set Settings → Camera → Formats to Most Compatible before filming, or convert existing clips afterwards. The simplest conversion route is the free Shortcuts app with an Encode Media action, which runs entirely on-device.
What Your iPhone Actually Records
Two settings decide the format, and they are easy to confuse.
- High Efficiency records HEVC (H.265) in a .MOV container. Roughly half the file size of H.264 at the same visual quality. This is the default on iPhone 7 and later.
- Most Compatible records H.264 in .MOV. Larger files, but playable essentially everywhere. Note that 4K at 60fps and 1080p at 240fps are HEVC-only, so selecting this caps what you can shoot.
Both produce .MOV, not .MP4. In practice MOV and MP4 are close relatives and most modern players handle both, but some older software and upload forms reject the extension outright.
ProRes on the Pro models is a separate tier again: enormous files, around 6 GB per minute at 4K, intended for editing rather than sharing.
Converting With Shortcuts (Free, On-Device)
The Shortcuts app ships with iOS and can transcode video without uploading anything.
- Open Shortcuts and tap + to create a new shortcut.
- Add the Select Photos action and enable Select Multiple if you want batches.
- Add Encode Media. Expand it and set the format to H.264, then pick a resolution.
- Add Save to Photo Album, or Save File if you would rather it land in Files.
- Name it and run it. Conversion happens locally using the hardware encoder.
Convert on Export Instead
Often you do not need a conversion step at all, because the destination handles it.
- To a Mac or PC: set Settings → Apps → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic. iOS converts HEVC to H.264 during the copy.
- To messaging apps: WhatsApp, Messages, and most social platforms transcode on upload regardless of your source format.
- AirDrop: sends the original untouched, which is what you want between Apple devices.
Choosing a Resolution and Frame Rate
Format is only half the file-size story. Resolution and frame rate matter more.
- 4K at 60fps — about 400 MB per minute in HEVC.
- 4K at 30fps — about 190 MB per minute.
- 1080p at 30fps — about 65 MB per minute.
For anything destined for a phone screen or social media, 1080p at 30fps is genuinely sufficient and cuts file size by roughly two-thirds. Change it under Settings → Camera → Record Video. Our video storage guide has the full table.
When to Use a Third-Party App
Shortcuts covers ordinary H.264 conversion. Reach for a dedicated app only when you need something it cannot do: specific bitrate control, audio-only extraction, unusual containers, or batch jobs across hundreds of clips.
Prefer apps that convert on-device. Anything that uploads your footage to a server introduces a privacy question and a long wait on a slow connection, and free web converters usually impose a file size cap well below a single 4K clip.
If the underlying goal is reclaiming storage rather than compatibility, converting is the wrong tool. Deleting the clips you do not want is far more effective — see why video fills iPhones.
Clean Up Your Camera Roll
Swype Photo Cleaner helps you delete unwanted photos fast — swipe left to delete, right to keep. Free, private, no uploads.
Download Free