Open the Screen Recordings collection

In Photos, open Collections and look under Media Types for Screen Recordings. This brings recordings together even when they were captured months apart. If the collection is small, review it from oldest to newest.

Do not confuse screen recordings with ordinary videos downloaded from another app. The Media Types view is a starting point, not a complete storage diagnosis.

Check which recordings use the most space

Open a recording and swipe up or tap Info. Photos can show file size, date, duration, and other metadata; Apple describes the available details in its photo and video information guide.

Long tutorials, video-call demonstrations, and bug reports are good candidates for review. Watch enough of each clip to confirm whether it contains information you still need.

Export anything that remains useful

If a recording documents a workflow, bug, conversation, or project, move it to the appropriate archive and verify that the exported file plays. Apple’s transfer guide covers moving photos and videos to a Mac or Windows PC.

Be mindful of private notifications, account information, and other sensitive content visible in a screen recording. Store necessary clips somewhere appropriate rather than leaving them in a general camera roll.

Delete clear rejects and check the result

Select failed, obsolete, or accidental recordings and review the batch before confirming. Deleted items normally remain in Recently Deleted for 30 days; Apple documents the recovery window in its Photos guide.

For a broader one-at-a-time cleanup of photos and videos, use Swyper or continue with our guide to large iPhone videos.

Common questions

Why are screen recordings so large?

They capture continuous video of the display, sometimes for many minutes and with audio. Duration, resolution, motion, and encoded content all influence file size.

Will deleting a screen recording remove it from iCloud too?

Yes, when iCloud Photos is syncing. The deletion affects the shared library and other connected devices, with the normal Recently Deleted window.

What should I keep before deleting a bug recording?

Save the original in the project or support record where it belongs, confirm it plays, and preserve any notes needed to reproduce the issue. Be careful with private notifications visible in the recording.

Explore SwyperReview photos one at a time and check the cleanup bin before deleting.