What is HEIC? Why does only the iPhone use it?

HEIC is the image format Apple adopted as the iPhone's default in 2017 (iOS 11). It stores the same quality at a much smaller size than JPG, saving storage space. But not every program and website can open HEIC yet, so when you move photos to a PC or upload them online, you sometimes need to convert to JPG.

Can I shoot in JPG from the start by changing an iPhone setting?

Yes. In the iPhone Settings app, choose Camera → Formats → Most Compatible, and photos from then on are saved as JPG. Photos you already shot in HEIC stay as they are, so convert those with a converter. Handle future shots with the setting and existing photos with conversion.

Is it safe to upload photos to an online converter?

The thing to check is how long an uploaded photo stays on the server. Most online converters receive the file on a server and process it there, and retention times and deletion policies differ from service to service, so read each service's privacy policy or official guidance before you use it. For portraits or personal images, choosing an approach that never stores the file on a server—converting it in memory and deleting it immediately—means retention time is simply not a question you have to ask.

iPhone Photos Won't Open on Your PC? The Easiest Way to Convert HEIC to JPG

Jul 8, 2026

A photo for a form, an image for a website, a family shot to print—you took it on your iPhone, moved it to your PC, and it just won't open. The extension isn't the familiar .jpg but .HEIC. Windows' default viewer rejects it, and so does the site you were trying to upload to, calling it an "unsupported format." Yet it looked fine on the iPhone.

Let's start with the conclusion. HEIC is the format the iPhone uses, and converting to JPG makes it open anywhere. There's nothing to install—it's done in seconds in your browser. Let's walk through why this happens first.

HEIC is just the iPhone's photo format. Convert it once to JPG and it opens anywhere—PC, web, or print.

What is HEIC, and why won't it open?

HEIC is the image format Apple adopted as the iPhone's default in 2017 (iOS 11). Its biggest advantage is size—it stores the same quality at a much smaller size than JPG. Take thousands of photos and they eat less storage, so for Apple it was a sensible choice.

The problem is compatibility. JPG is the "universal language" of image formats—every device and program has supported it for decades—while HEIC is relatively new and doesn't open everywhere yet. Windows PCs, older programs, and some website upload boxes reject it. That's why photos look fine iPhone-to-iPhone but hit a wall the moment they reach a PC.

HEIC compat.

Limited

JPG compat.

Almost everywhere

HEIC trades broad compatibility for a small file size; JPG's strength is that it opens anywhere.

The easiest fix—convert to JPG

The method is simple. Convert the HEIC file to JPG once and you're done. Drop the HEIC photo into Image Convert, choose JPG, and it changes in seconds. You can upload several at once, with no install and no sign-up.

Check whether the photo "stays on the server"

Most online converters receive your file on a server and process it there. Retention times and deletion policies differ from service to service, so read each service's official guidance before you use it. For family photos, portraits, or other personal images, picking a tool like Image Convert that never stores the file on a server—converting it in memory and deleting it immediately—means retention time is simply not a question you have to ask.

If you'd rather shoot in JPG from now on

If converting every time is a hassle, you can change an iPhone setting to save as JPG from the start.

SETTING

Change the iPhone camera format

Go to Settings app → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible. Photos from then on are saved as JPG. (High Efficiency is HEIC; Most Compatible is JPG.)

EXISTING

Convert the HEIC you already shot

Even after changing the setting, photos you already took in HEIC stay as they are. Convert those to JPG with Image Convert. Future shots via the setting, existing photos via conversion—splitting it that way keeps things clean.

Switching to "Most Compatible" increases size

JPG stores the same photo at a larger size than HEIC. If storage is tight, keep HEIC (High Efficiency) by default and convert only when needed—that's better for space. Choose based on how you use your phone.

Handy things to do while you're at it

When you need to	Use this tool
Fit an ID photo spec	Resize to an exact pixel size
Submit several photos as one file	Bundle images into one PDF for submission
Speed up a web page	Convert to WEBP to cut the size

Need an ID photo spec? Fit the pixels with Resize Image. Submitting several as a document? Bundle them with Image to PDF. All in one place, free, with nothing to install.

In short—HEIC isn't scary anymore

iPhone photos not opening on a PC isn't a malfunction or a mistake. It's just that the format is HEIC, and converting to JPG once makes it open anywhere. Future shots via the iPhone's Most Compatible setting, existing photos via conversion—remember these two and you'll never be caught off guard again.

To learn more about the HEIC format, see Apple's official guide on photo formats, which explains the difference between High Efficiency and Most Compatible.

When iPhone photos won't open, remember just one thing—convert to JPG and you're done.

Frequently asked questions

: HEIC is the image format Apple adopted as the iPhone's default in 2017 (iOS 11). It stores the same quality at a much smaller size than JPG, saving storage space. But not every program and website can open HEIC yet, so when you move photos to a PC or upload them online, you sometimes need to convert to JPG.
: Yes. In the iPhone Settings app, choose Camera → Formats → Most Compatible, and photos from then on are saved as JPG. Photos you already shot in HEIC stay as they are, so convert those with a converter. Handle future shots with the setting and existing photos with conversion.
: The thing to check is how long an uploaded photo stays on the server. Most online converters receive the file on a server and process it there, and retention times and deletion policies differ from service to service, so read each service's privacy policy or official guidance before you use it. For portraits or personal images, choosing an approach that never stores the file on a server—converting it in memory and deleting it immediately—means retention time is simply not a question you have to ask.

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Image Convert Resize Image Image to PDF

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