Video not saving to Photos but consuming iPhone storage

Not all video formats can be stored or played directly in the Photos app. If you receive a video in a format that the Photos app doesn’t support, it won’t appear there. Instead, the video is saved in the app that can open and play that file.

For example:

• Videos in common formats like MP4, MOV, or HEVC usually show up in the Photos app.
• Videos in less common formats such as MKV, AVI, FLV, or WEBM are not compatible with Photos.
• If you receive one of these unsupported videos through Mail, WhatsApp, or a browser download, it may open and save in a third-party app like VLC, Documents, or Files, instead of Photos.
• The video is still on your device—it’s just stored inside the app that knows how to play it.

Think of the Photos app as a picky eater: it enjoys the popular formats, but anything exotic goes straight to a specialist kitchen.

"Video not saving to Photos but consuming iPhone storage: I was sent a video with an aerial drop, it wasn't saved in the gallery, but it took up all the memory of my phone, what should I do?"

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iPhone with All Storage Taken Up:

Has the iPhone stalled? This occurs when all the internal data is used up; as a result, caches cannot even be created. So, see if you can clear out the caches. Clear out items from here. Use my User Tip: How to Clear "System Data" in your iPhone's Storage - Use Backup - User Tip

Maintaining iPhone Storage:

Internal storage cannot be upgraded. It is what it is. So, the maximum internal storage capacity never increases, even if you upgraded your iCloud plan. Learn More here: What's the Difference Between Device Storage and iCloud Storage? Apple Support

So, what to do...

Clear Space Using my User Tips:

• How to Clear Space from your Mobile Device, and What to Clear: - User Tip
• How to Clear "System Data" in your iPhone's Storage - Use Backup - User Tip