I’m trying to send a large video from my iPhone, but the file size is too big for email and some messaging apps. What are the easiest ways to compress videos on an iPhone without losing too much quality? Any app or settings recommendations would be really appreciated.
You Want Space? Here’s What Actually Worked for Me
Okay, so my iPhone kept throwing that dread “Storage Almost Full” warning at me. I went on this rampage, deleting screenshots from 2017, offloading apps I never touched, but nothing really moved the needle. Was about to shell out for extra iCloud GBs. But then I discovered something wild.
The Search for a Real Solution
Scoured Reddit, lurked through some tech forums, and kept seeing everyone recommend overpriced subscription cleaners (they’re everywhere, lol). Out of desperation, I stumbled across Clever Cleaner app for the iPhone. Had low expectations, honestly figured there’d be annoying ads or paywalls somewhere.
Turns out, there weren’t. Seriously. None. Zilch.
It’s Got All the Features I Was Looking For
Let’s break it down:
- Compresses Live Photos and Videos: Literally shaved off a ton of space on my phone in like ten minutes. The Live Photos compressor is clutch, those things are massive.
- Duplicate Finder: I had photo twins-triples-quadruplets all over the place and didn’t even know it. Boom—gone.
- Dead Simple UI: Even your mom or that friend who’s terrified of tech can figure this thing out.
Actual Evidence Because I Know You’d Ask
And you know what’s even funnier? Most “free” apps these days eventually hit you with the “upgrade to unlock” pop-up. This one? Still free. No ads, no sneaky payments, just straight to business.
Here’s what my storage breakdown looked like after a run:
And here’s the screen for killing duplicate shots (please ignore my cringey memes folder):
TL;DR
- Tried a ton of crap, this was the only thing that did anything meaningful.
- Not some annoying app shill; just genuinely hyped to finally have space again.
- If you’re over the constant “running low on storage” circus, Clever Cleaner is a lifesaver.
Not sure how long this one will stay 100% free, so grab it before they get wise. You’re welcome.
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Big file problems, huh? Same struggle. Not gonna lie, compressing video on iPhone is… not Apple’s proudest achievement. You’d think sending a video wouldn’t qualify as Olympic-level gymnastics in 2024, but hey, here we are. @mikeappsreviewer loves that one app (and yeah, it’s actually good for bulk-cleaning and duplicate slaying), but if you want quick-and-dirty, let’s get to the juice:
Native iPhone method (if you HATE third-party apps):
- Go to Photos, tap the video, press “Edit”. Trim out anything you don’t need (every second counts).
- Tap “Share”, then send via AirDrop (best), or tap “Mail” — it’ll do basic shrinking for you. Problem? Quality tanks FAST and Mail refuses to shrink anything over like 720p. Meh.
Actually want CONTROL over compression?
- iMovie (free, but clunky): Import the vid, export at “Medium” or “Low” — but you can’t pick bitrate or format. Still, it works for TikTok-style sharing and grabs a decent size/quality balance.
- Third-Party Apps: Here’s where you win. “Video Compress” (on App Store). Dead simple, select video, drag the slider to shrink more or less. Lets you preview the quality vs. file size before you ruin your masterpiece. Don’t bother with sketchy subscription-mongers — they’re everywhere, @mikeappsreviewer called that out.
- If you need full-on device cleaning, yeah, that free app to clean up iPhone storage (Clever Cleaner) is good at finding giant videos, duplicate files, and can help you spot stuff to delete or downsize. But for JUST compressing one video, a dedicated video compressor app is quicker, or use iMovie in a pinch.
General hot tip: Messaging apps like WhatsApp and Instagram will crunch down videos for you, but you have basically zero say in the quality… and it shows.
TL;DR: Trim in Photos (barely works), use iMovie (okayish), or Video Compress app for fastest results. And if low on space, yeah, Clever Cleaner finds the huge offenders so you can nuke ’em or compress as needed. Just don’t expect pro-level wizardry without a laptop. Why is Apple like this? That’s an existential debate for another day.
Alright, so the eternal iPhone video struggle: file’s huge, AirDrop’s not an option, Mail throws up its hands, messengers massacre your quality. Been there. Props to @mikeappsreviewer and @viajantedoceu for calling out some solid tricks—especially iMovie for fast downsizing (if you’re okay with minimal control) and the Clever Cleaner app, which I’ll mention again in a sec.
But here’s a trick that never gets enough love: Using Apple’s own Shortcuts app to automate video compression. It’s a bit more DIY—takes 3 min to set up, but after that, you just tap your custom shortcut and boom, video compressed, straight in Photos. The bonus is, you can set output size and resolution each time (it literally asks you), so you avoid that wild quality drop Mail or Messages do. Google “Compress Video Shortcut iOS” and you can import one with a tap—no third-party installs, no privacy guesses.
Now, apps like Video Compress are handy for drag-and-drop simplicity, but be careful: some are riddled with ads, and a few slap nasty watermarks on your vids if you don’t pony up. The free version usually works, just double-check before compressing that family reunion masterpiece.
As for the reclaiming iPhone storage space instantly app, yeah—if you want a broader solution (finding duplicate videos, slimming down Live Photos, general clutter clean-up), it’s pretty top tier, and so far hasn’t hit me with hidden fees or paywalls. But if you’re after a surgical, one-video job, Shortcuts or Video Compress get you out the door fastest.
And let’s be real: anyone expecting pro-level, no-loss video compression from an iPhone alone…might need a reality check. For ultimate control, you gotta yank the vid onto a laptop (HandBrake is king there). But if time is money, trim in Photos, slamdunk it through a Shortcuts routine, or keep a free app handy. Can’t believe it’s still a pain in 2024, but hey—maybe iOS 19 will sort it out? Lol.
Short and sweet: If you want to squash that video for a quick send—skip third-party bloatware and try the Shortcuts workaround some folks mentioned. But heads up: sometimes Apple’s own compression (like when sharing via Messages) tanks your quality more than you’d like, so make sure you double-check the outcome.
That said, the Clever Cleaner app is honestly impressive if you’re in deep with bloated storage. It’s not just a one-trick pony—compresses both videos and those sneaky Live Photos, and hunts down duplicates like a pro. Pro: Zero ads (for now), intuitive, handles more than just a single video. Con: You’re sorta buying into a broad solution, so if you ONLY need to squish one video, it might feel like overkill. Also, feature set, while solid, isn’t as granular as, say, messing with HandBrake on a computer (but who wants to do that on the go?).
Other options like Video Compress or iMovie get the job done, but watch for sneaky watermarks or paywalls (yeah, nothing’s really free). Bottom line: For power-users, create that Shortcuts routine or offload editing to a laptop. For everyone else, Clever Cleaner app is a fast fix, especially if you’ve got a hoarder’s gallery.
And seriously…can Apple please just give us adjustable compression in Messages by now?