The camera on the iPhone 13 is really good, and some of the pictures that you can capture with it are impressive.
But this image quality comes with a price, as the image files that the camera creates can have very large file sizes.
In today’s world where sharing large files is getting easier thanks to easy-to-use cloud storage platforms like Dropbox, iCloud, and Google Drive, file sizes are less of a concern than they once were.
But there are situations where large image files can be problematic, such as when you are sending files in text messages or when you include a bunch of them in an email.
You can change the image format on the iPhone 13 to get smaller picture sizes by going to Settings > Camera > Formats > and choosing High Efficiency.
Now the images that you take with your camera will be smaller, hopefully helping to alleviate the file size restrictions that you were encountering.
Our tutorial continues below with more information on how to reduce the iPhone 13 photo file size.
How to Make iPhone 13 Pictures a Smaller File Size
- Tap Settings.
- Choose Camera.
- Select Formats.
- Tap High Efficiency.
Our guide continues below with additional information on changing the iPhone camera picture file type, including pictures of these steps.
If you are a Pokemon Go player and you have a rocket radar equipped that you don’t want to use, then check out our rocket radar Pokemon Go article.
How to Create iPhone 13 Pictures That Take Up Less Storage (Guide with Pictures)
The steps in this article were performed on an iPhone 13 in the iOS 15.4.1 operating system.
Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone 13.
Step 2: Scroll down and select the Camera option.
Step 3: Choose the Formats button at the top of the screen.
Step 4: Tap the High Efficiency option to switch to the smaller file size.
Now that you know how to reduce the iPhone 13 photo file size, you can come back to this menu at any time and adjust the type of images that your camera is creating.
Our tutorial continues below with additional discussion about reducing iPhone picture file sizes.
Related: iPhone Screen Recording Tips
More Information on How to Change the Picture Format on an iPhone 13
When you make the change above, you are going to be using a different picture format for the images that you take.
The smaller picture files that you take when you choose the “High Efficiency” option are going to be in the HEIF/HEVC file format.
The larger picture files that you take when you select “Most Compatible” are going to be in the JPEG/H.264 file format.
Pictures that you took before you changed the file type won’t be affected. They will still be in the older, larger file type.
Note that this camera capture setting will also affect the file types for the videos that you create in the iPhone Camera app.
Speaking of iPhone videos, there is a setting on the Camera Settings menu called “Record Video” where you can choose the quality of the video that you take. The video recording options are:
- 720 HD at 30 fps
- 1080p HD at 30 fps
- 1080p HD at 60 fps
- 4K at 24 fps
- 4K at 30 fps
- 4K at 60 fps
The smallest video file sizes will happen when you choose the 720p HD at 30 fps option.
The largest video file sizes will happen when you choose the 4K at 60 fps option.
If you are worried about your iPhone’s picture file sizes because they take a while when you send them in text messages, then you can try changing a setting in the Messages Settings folder, too.
If you go to Settings > Messages > and choose the Low Quality Image Mode option at the bottom of the menu, it will reduce the size of the picture files you send in text messages.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing technology how-to articles and tutorials for over a decade. He has extensive experience in information technology both in small business and as a consultant.
His articles have appeared on dozens of websites and been read millions of times.
He covers many different topics concerning technology, but focuses primarily on smartphones, consumer software, and consumer electronics.
You can read his full bio here.