Improve the Photo Resolution on an iPhone or iPad: Quick Guide

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posted on 6 years ago — updated on 1 second ago

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Trying to take the best picture and video possible on your iPhone or iPad? You can easily increase the video resolution in the Camera app. Though there’s no way to adjust photo resolution directly, you can switch to the HEIF format for the highest-quality photos. This wikiHow will show you how to improve photo and video resolution on an iPhone or iPad.

Things You Should Know

Go to Settings > Camera > Formats to change the way your device saves photos and videos.
Select High Efficiency to save photos in the HEIF format. This tends to be higher quality.
Select Most Compatible to save photos as JPEG. This is a more widely compatible format.
To increase video resolution, go to Settings > Camera > Record Video.

Changing Media Formats

Open your iPhone’s Settings iPhone Settings App Icon. You’ll usually find this app on the home screen. You can also check out our general guide on taking a good picture with your phone’s camera. This method will help you change the file format in which your videos and photos are saved.

Scroll down and tap Camera.

Tap Formats. It’s at the top of the Camera options.

Select a format that works best for your needs. Now you’re ready to take a great picture of yourself and others! High Efficiency compresses photos and videos to HEIF and HEVC formats, which are smaller files than JPEG and H.264. HEIF (which are saved as .HEIC) images can be high quality since they have a broader dynamic range than JPEG. But, they are less compatible than JPEG. Most Compatible saves photos in the JPEG format. This image type doesn’t support transparency. Since it’s been around longer than HEIF, it tends to be more compatible on different systems and software. Note that you can convert HEIF files to JPEG later if needed! The Photos app has an export function for exporting HEIF files as JPEG images. EXPERT TIP Brandon Phipps Brandon Phipps Technology Specialist Brandon Phipps is a Technology Specialist based in Bakersfield, CA. He is the owner of Second Star Technologies and specializes in Managed IT Services for small and mid-sized businesses in Bakersfield, CA. With over 23 years of experience, he offers expert cloud computing, cybersecurity, and network management solutions. Brandon is a committed community member and coach who leads and innovates in tech and sports coaching. His dedication to local businesses and communities is evident in his hands-on, tailored approach to IT solutions. Brandon Phipps Brandon Phipps Technology Specialist High Efficiency Image Format (HEIC) is a file format that provides high-quality images while minimizing storage space. However, they're incompatible with many apps and devices, so you often have to convert them to other formats.

Changing Video Resolution

Open your iPhone’s Settings iPhone Settings App Icon. You’ll usually find this app on the home screen.

Scroll down and tap Camera. It’s toward the bottom of the menu.

Tap Record Video. A list of resolution options will appear.

Select a higher resolution. The options will vary by phone or tablet model. The higher the number, the better the quality! This setting will take effect immediately. 4K is the highest resolution option. Increasing the frames per second (fps) will increase the smoothness of the video. Increasing the resolution will increase the file size for videos.