How to do it
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Trim the parts you do not need
In the Photos app, open the video and tap the edit button. Drag either end of the frame viewer to set the start and stop times, then tap Done. Tap Save Video as New Clip if you want to keep both versions.
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Check Share options before you send
Open the video, tap Share, then tap Options. Pick Automatic, Current or Most Compatible for the file format.
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Compress from the Share sheet with PicWay
With PicWay installed, tap Share on the video and scroll to Compress. PicWay makes a smaller copy and keeps the original, so you can compare before you delete.
What Apple’s Photos guides cover
Apple’s guide to trimming video length, adjusting speed and editing audio (iOS 26 edition) introduces three things in the Photos app: trimming where a video starts and stops, changing the playback speed, and editing sound with Audio Mix. Apple’s guide to sharing photos and videos adds one more: before you share, you can adjust the format, file type and information that goes with the item.
Neither guide describes a compress option. That is a statement about what the guides say, not about everything iOS can do.
One third-party guide is more direct. CleverFiles says the Photos app lets you trim videos but does not offer any compression or export settings, and suggests the Shortcuts app, iMovie or a third-party tool to actually reduce the file size.
Trimming is not compression
According to Apple, you open a video, tap the edit button, drag either end of the frame viewer to change the start and stop times, and tap Done. Then choose Save Video to keep only the trimmed video, or Save Video as New Clip to keep both. That edits the length of the video; Apple’s steps do not mention any change to compression.
Apple also notes that a video saved as a new clip can’t be reverted to the original, so use Save Video as New Clip with care.
The format choices when you share
Apple says that when you share a photo or video you can tap Options and choose Automatic for the best file format for the destination, Current to prevent a file format conversion, or Most Compatible, where files may convert to JPEG or MOV. This is about the format, and Apple’s page does not say it makes a video smaller. For background on the formats, see Apple’s HEIF and HEVC page.
How PicWay adds compression
In the Photos app, tap Share and scroll to Compress, or touch and hold a video in PicWay’s library and choose Compress. You can also tap Compress on PicWay’s home screen.
PicWay offers two levels: Standard compression and Strong compression. The first time you compress, PicWay uses Standard. They limit the long edge of the picture to 1920 pixels and 1280 pixels, so a 4K video comes out smaller in pixels as well as in size. PicWay makes a new video and keeps the original. Tap Compare to check the two versions, and delete the original yourself when you are happy. Space is freed only once the original is deleted.
Quick answers
Does trimming a video make it smaller?
A shorter clip usually takes less space, but trimming changes the length of the video. Apple’s guide presents it as editing, not compression.
Is there a hidden compression setting in Photos?
Apple’s guides describe trimming, speed, audio and share-format options. CleverFiles reports no compression or export settings in the Photos app.
Can I compress straight from the Share sheet?
With PicWay installed, yes. Tap Share and scroll to Compress.
Does PicWay delete my original?
No. It keeps the original until you compare the versions and delete it yourself.