The quickest method is to confirm that Photos is using significant storage, then sort your video library by known file size. Library Surgeon can scan Apple Photos metadata and show the largest known videos without uploading your library.
First, check whether videos are the problem
Go to Settings, General, then iPhone Storage. The Photos figure combines photos and videos, so it tells you whether the library is a useful place to investigate, but it does not identify the individual clips responsible.
Find the largest known videos
- Check Settings, General, then iPhone Storage to confirm whether Photos is a major part of your device storage.
- Open Library Surgeon and allow the level of Photos access you are comfortable with.
- Run the metadata scan, then open Largest 20 videos or apply a file size filter.
- Sort and preview the results. Keep anything important, and select only the videos you have positively identified.
- Review the complete selection, accept the in-app warning, then approve Apple Photos' system confirmation.
Apple does not expose a reliable file size for every asset. Library Surgeon marks unknown sizes instead of guessing them, so a largest videos list describes the videos whose sizes are available to the app.
Use more than size alone
A large file may be worth keeping. Duration, creation date, resolution, recording type, favourite status, and local or iCloud availability can help you narrow the results before you preview anything. The goal is a smaller, more relevant review list, not automatic deletion.
What happens after deletion
Apple Photos moves deleted videos to Recently Deleted. They can remain recoverable there for up to 30 days, and storage may not change immediately. Read our guide to why iPhone storage may not update after deleting videos.
Apple explains how to inspect device storage in its official guide to checking iPhone and iPad storage.