You copy photos from an iPhone to a Windows computer and they show up as .HEIC files that the Photos app refuses to open, or that a website will not accept. This is normal, and there are three easy ways to fix it.
What is a HEIC file?
Since iOS 11, iPhones and iPads save photos in HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container). The quality is the same as JPG but the files take about half the space, which is why Apple chose it.
The downside is compatibility. Windows needs extra codecs to display HEIC, and many websites, online forms, printers and older Android phones do not accept it at all.
Solution 1: convert the photos to JPG (the quickest)
- Open the HEIC to JPG converter.
- Select your photos or drag them onto the page. Up to 30 at once.
- Click Convert to JPG and download the result. Several photos arrive in one ZIP file.
The photos keep their full resolution, and the orientation stored by the iPhone is applied, so portrait shots are not turned sideways. Location data (GPS) is not copied into the new files.
Need the photos in a single document, for example to send copies of an ID card or receipts? Use HEIC to PDF instead.
Solution 2: install the codecs on Windows
Windows 10 and 11 can display HEIC once two extensions are installed from the Microsoft Store:
- HEIF Image Extensions (free).
- HEVC Video Extensions (often free from the device manufacturer, otherwise a small fee).
After installing them, the Photos app opens HEIC files. Note that this only helps on your own computer. When you send the photos to someone else or upload them to a website, they are still HEIC.
Solution 3: make the iPhone use JPG
Two settings on the iPhone avoid the problem for the future:
- Settings › Camera › Formats › Most Compatible. New photos are saved directly as JPG. They take more space on the phone.
- Settings › Photos › Transfer to Mac or PC › Automatic. Photos stay in HEIC on the phone but are converted to JPG when you copy them with a cable.
Which solution should I choose?
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| A few photos to send or upload now | Convert online to JPG |
| You often view iPhone photos on your PC | Install the Windows extensions |
| You never want to deal with HEIC again | Change the iPhone camera format |
| You need to edit the photo without any loss | Convert to PNG |