You send a photo from your iPhone and your friend on Windows sees nothing but an unknown file. That is HEIC, Apple's default photo format since iOS 11, and it is the number one reason iPhone pictures do not open elsewhere.
Why Apple chose HEIC
HEIC stores the same quality in roughly half the space of JPG. For people who take thousands of photos, that saves a lot of storage.
Where it breaks
Many Windows PCs, older Android phones, print shops and online forms do not understand HEIC. They either refuse the file or show an error.
Two ways to fix it
Convert the files with the HEIC to JPG tool whenever you need them. Or open iPhone Settings, Camera, Formats and choose Most Compatible, so new photos are saved as JPG from the start.
What HEIC actually is
HEIC is the picture format, and HEIF is the container behind it. It uses modern video-style compression, which is why it fits a photo into about half the space of JPG with the same look. It can also hold extras such as Live Photo data and depth information for portrait mode. Those extras are part of why other programs struggle: they were built before this format existed and simply do not know how to read it.
Why the converted photo is bigger
People are often surprised when a 1.5 MB HEIC turns into a 3 MB JPG. Nothing is wrong. JPG just needs more space to hold the same picture. If the new file is too large for a form, run it through the Image Compressor and pick a lower quality setting. You lose nothing you will notice, and the size drops quickly.
Live Photos, dates and orientation
A Live Photo converts to a normal still image, so the short video part is not kept. The date and camera details usually stay with the file, which is handy when a portal asks when a photo was taken. If a converted picture appears sideways, rotate it once and save it, and it should stay that way from then on.
Sending from the iPhone without converting
If you only need to send photos once, the iPhone can often do the conversion for you. In the Photos app, tap Share and look under Options for a Most Compatible choice before sending. Email and some messaging apps also convert automatically, and Safari frequently converts photos when you upload them to a website. None of this is guaranteed, which is why a converter you trust is worth keeping handy.
When it is fine to keep HEIC
If your photos stay inside the Apple world, HEIC is a good deal. Keep it for your own gallery and iCloud backup, and convert only the copies you need to send out. That way you keep the storage savings and still have a JPG for the moments when compatibility matters.
Free, no signup, and your files never leave your device.
Open HEIC to JPGCommon questions
Will I lose quality converting HEIC to JPG?
A very small amount, and at a high quality setting you will not see it. The JPG file will be larger than the HEIC.
Can I convert many HEIC photos at once?
Yes, you can add several files together and download them all as JPG.
Also useful: Image Compressor.
Topics
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