Where to find resolution settings on your iPhone

iPhone does not have a single "resolution" setting you can adjust before taking a photo the way some Android phones do. Instead, Apple locks the camera to shoot at the phone's native resolution — which is determined by your iPhone model and the camera app you use. What you can control is the file format (HEIF or JPG) and whether you shoot in standard or ProRAW mode, both of which affect file size and image quality.

If you want to reduce the resolution of photos you have already taken, you can resize them in the Photos app or use third-party apps. This is the most practical option for most people who want smaller files to save space or share online.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhones shoot at a fixed resolution based on your model and camera app; you cannot change this before taking the photo.
  • You can reduce file size by switching from HEIF to JPG format in Settings, or by resizing photos after you take them.
  • The Photos app has a built-in crop tool that reduces resolution, and third-party apps like Image2Go or Pixelmator offer more control.
  • ProRAW mode captures more detail but creates much larger files; turn it off in Settings if you want smaller photos.
  • Older iPhone models shoot at lower native resolutions than newer ones, so a 2-year-old iPhone takes smaller photos than the current model.

Understanding what resolution means on an iPhone

Resolution is the number of pixels (tiny dots) that make up your photo. A higher resolution means more pixels and more detail, but also a larger file. Your iPhone's camera has a fixed megapixel count — for example, the iPhone 15 Pro has a 48-megapixel main camera, while the iPhone 15 has a 12-megapixel main camera. You cannot change this number.

What confuses people is that "resolution" is often used to mean "file size" or "image quality." On iPhone, these are separate things. You can take a 12-megapixel photo and save it as a small JPG file or a large HEIF file. You can also crop or resize a photo after taking it, which reduces the pixel count and makes the file smaller.

Changing the file format to reduce file size

The easiest way to make your photos smaller without changing how they look is to switch the file format from HEIF to JPG. HEIF files are smaller and higher quality, but JPG files are more compatible with older devices and email. Go to Settings, tap Camera, then scroll down to Formats. Choose Most Compatible to shoot in JPG instead of HEIF.

This change affects all new photos you take going forward. It does not change photos you have already taken. If you want to convert existing HEIF photos to JPG, you can use the Photos app to export them, or use a free app like Image2Go or CloudConvert.

Resizing photos in the Photos app

To make a photo smaller after you have taken it, open it in the Photos app and tap Edit. Tap the crop icon (it looks like two overlapping right angles in the bottom toolbar). You can now drag the corners to crop the photo, which removes pixels and reduces the resolution. When you are done, tap Done and then tap Save to overwrite the original, or tap Save as Copy to keep both versions.

Cropping is the built-in way to reduce resolution, but it only works if you are willing to remove parts of the image. If you want to shrink the entire photo without cropping, you need a third-party app. Pixelmator Photo, Affinity Photo, or Image2Go all let you resize to a specific pixel width or height.

Using ProRAW mode and when to turn it off

If you have an iPhone 12 Pro or newer, you can turn on ProRAW mode in the Camera app settings. ProRAW captures much more detail and gives you more control when editing, but the files are 10 to 15 times larger than standard photos. A single ProRAW photo can be 100 to 200 megabytes, compared to 5 to 10 megabytes for a standard photo.

If you are running out of storage or want smaller files, turn ProRAW off. Open the Camera app, tap the three dots in the top right, and toggle ProRAW to off. You can also turn it off in Settings under Camera. This does not affect photos you have already taken, only new ones.

Why different iPhone models have different native resolutions

Older iPhones have smaller camera sensors and lower megapixel counts than newer models. An iPhone 11 shoots at 12 megapixels, while an iPhone 15 Pro shoots at 48 megapixels. This means a photo from an iPhone 15 Pro has more pixels and a larger file size than the same scene shot on an iPhone 11, even if both are saved as JPG.

You cannot upgrade the camera hardware, so if you need smaller files and you have an older phone, you are already getting them. If you have a newer phone and want smaller files, your best options are switching to JPG format or resizing photos after you take them.

Third-party apps for more control over resolution

If the Photos app crop tool is not enough, several free and paid apps let you resize to exact dimensions. Image2Go (free) lets you choose a target width and height in pixels or percentage. Pixelmator Photo (paid, around $5) is more powerful and includes filters and editing tools. Affinity Photo (paid, around $12) is professional-grade and gives you pixel-perfect control.

For most people, the Photos app is enough. Use a third-party app only if you need to resize many photos at once, or if you need exact dimensions for a specific use — like uploading to a website that requires photos under a certain file size.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I take photos at a lower resolution to save storage?

Not directly — iPhones do not have a resolution setting. Your best option is to switch from HEIF to JPG format in Settings, which makes files smaller. You can also resize photos after taking them using the Photos app or a third-party app.

What is the difference between HEIF and JPG on iPhone?

HEIF is Apple's newer format and creates smaller, higher-quality files. JPG is older and more compatible with other devices and email. Both are the same resolution; the difference is file size and how the image is compressed. Switch to JPG in Settings if you need better compatibility.

Does cropping a photo reduce its resolution?

Yes. Cropping removes pixels from the edges, so the resulting photo has fewer total pixels and a lower resolution. The file size gets smaller. If you want to shrink a photo without removing parts of it, use a resize app instead.

Why are my iPhone photos so large?

Newer iPhones have higher megapixel cameras, and HEIF format can still create large files depending on the scene. If you have ProRAW turned on, files are much larger. Check Settings under Camera to see if ProRAW is on, and switch to JPG format if you want smaller files.

Can I change the resolution of photos I already took?

Yes, by resizing or cropping them. The Photos app has a crop tool that reduces resolution. Third-party apps like Image2Go or Pixelmator let you resize to specific dimensions without cropping. The original photo stays the same; the resized version is a new file.