Question
File OdditiesOctober 2, 2026Why are iPhone photos HEIC, and why won't they open on a Windows PC?
Windows is missing the HEIF extension. iPhones save photos as space-saving HEIF (.heic) by default, and Windows Photos can't open them without the HEIF/HEVC extensions. Install those, let the iPhone convert to JPEG when transferring, or switch the camera to Most Compatible.
Details
What HEIC is
Starting with iOS 11, Apple devices support HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) for photos and HEVC (H.265) for video. Apple says both compress better than JPEG and H.264, so they take less space at the same visual quality. iPhone 7 and later can shoot in these formats, and the camera's default "High Efficiency" setting uses them.
On Windows: add the extensions
Microsoft's support page says the Photos app may show "You need an extension to use this file" for HEIF or HEVC files. The easiest fix is installing HEIF Image Extensions (free) and HEVC Video Extensions ($0.99) from the Microsoft Store; Microsoft says you need both even for photos only. Uploading the photos to OneDrive, which converts them, is another option.
On the iPhone: change settings
Settings › Camera › Formats › Most Compatible makes new photos JPEG and new videos H.264. To keep shooting HEIC, go to Settings › Apps › Photos and set the transfer option to Automatic, which converts to a compatible format when you import over USB; Keep Originals leaves files untouched. Sharing via AirDrop, Messages or email to a device that can't handle HEIF may also send a JPEG automatically.
Also Asked As
can't open HEIC on Windows · iPhone photos HEIC to JPG · what is HEIC · iPhone most compatible format