How to Configure Camera Capture Formats on iPhone

Optimize your iPhone storage and compatibility by configuring High Efficiency and Most Compatible camera formats in iOS settings.

1. Access camera settings. Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down the main menu and tap on the Camera option to reveal your capture preferences.
2. Select the format menu. Tap the Formats menu located at the top of the Camera settings screen. This menu dictates how your iPhone processes image and video data at the hardware level.
3. Choose High Efficiency. Select High Efficiency to use HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) and HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding) formats. This setting significantly reduces file size while maintaining high quality, ideal for saving storage space.
4. Choose Most Compatible. Select Most Compatible if you require standard JPEG and H.264 formats. This ensures maximum compatibility with older devices, third-party software, and external operating systems that may not natively support HEIF or HEVC.
5. Toggle Apple ProRAW and ProRes. If you are using a Pro model iPhone, toggle the ProRAW and ProRes switches at the bottom of the screen. Enable these only if you intend to perform professional-grade color grading or heavy post-processing, as these formats create massive file sizes.