How to Manage Burst Photos on iPhone
Burst mode is a brilliant feature. By holding down the shutter button (or sliding it to the left), your iPhone captures 10 frames per second. It's essential for action shots, pets, or capturing the perfect smile on a squirming toddler.
But there's a catch: Storage.
A 5-second burst results in 50 photos. If you take 10 bursts at a birthday party, you've just added 500 photos to your camera roll. Usually, you only want to keep one or two perfect frames, but the other 498 junk photos sit there, clogging your storage and making your "All Photos" view a mess.
The Hidden Cost of Bursts
Burst photos are grouped together in the Photos app, appearing as a single "stack." This keeps your gallery looking tidy, but it's deceptive. Under that single thumbnail, dozens of full-resolution images are hiding.
- 1 Burst (single stack view): Looks like 1 photo.
- Actual Storage: Can range from 50MB to 200MB depending on length.
If you never clean them up, bursts can easily account for 10-20% of a user's photo library storage without them realizing it.
Managing Bursts Manually (The Native Way)
Apple provides a way to clean bursts, but it is manual and time-consuming.
- Open the Photos app.
- Go to Albums > Bursts (under Media Types).
- Tap a burst to open it.
- Tap Select at the bottom.
- Swipe through the filmstrip and tap the circle to checkmark the photos you want to Keep.
- Tap Done.
- iOS will ask: "Keep Everything" or "Keep Only [X] Favorites".
- Choose Keep Only Favorites.
This deletes the unselected frames. The problem? You have to do this one by one for every burst you've ever taken. It's a chore.
Using HEVCut's Burst Cleaner
HEVCut's Burst Cleaner tool is designed to speed up this workflow dramatically.
1. See the Scale of the Problem
When you open the Burst Cleaner, you see a list of all burst sequences on your phone along with the total space they are consuming. Seeing "2.5 GB used by 15 Bursts" is often a wake-up call.
2. AI Selection
For each burst, the app can help identify the sharpest, clearest frames.
3. Rapid Review
Instead of the slow "Select... Swipe... Tap... Done... Confirm" dance of the native app, HEVCut presents a streamlined interface to quickly lock in your "Keepers" and trash the rest.
When to Use Burst Mode (And When Not To)
To keep your storage healthy, use Burst mode intentionally:
- Sports / Action: YES. It's the only way to get the shot.
- Group Photos: YES. Helps avoid blinking eyes.
- Landscapes: NO. There is no movement; a single shot is fine.
- Food / Stationary Objects: NO.
Alternative: Use Live Photos for semi-static subjects. Live Photos capture 1.5 seconds before and after the shutter, giving you a "mini burst" without the massive file count of a continuous 10fps burst.
Conclusion
Don't let Burst mode be a burden. It's a powerful creative tool, but it requires cleanup. By using a dedicated cleaner like HEVCut, you can enjoy the action shots without the storage anxiety.