When photos moved from your iPhone to a PC won't open, the fastest route depends on what you need. Here they are in order of urgency. Why this happens is explained in the HEIC article.
Method 1: Convert and view right away (nothing to install)
If you need to open one or two photos right now, this is the fastest way. Drop the HEIC file onto this site and choose JPG. Conversion happens only inside your browser, so your photos are never sent to a server and family or document photos are safe to use. For many photos, add them all at once and download a ZIP.
Convert HEIC to JPGThe advantage is that it works even on a work PC where you can't install programs.
Method 2: Add HEIC support to Windows
If you need to view photos on your PC often, you can install extensions so File Explorer and the Photos app open them directly. Install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store and, if needed, HEVC Video Extensions too. One of them may be paid, and some PCs come with it preinstalled by the manufacturer. Even after installing, web browsers and upload screens still can't open HEIC, so you'll still need to convert to JPG for uploads.
Method 3: Convert automatically while transferring from the iPhone
When you copy photos over a cable, choosing Automatic under Transfer to Mac or PC at the bottom of the Photos section in the Settings app converts them to a compatible format during the transfer. The default, Keep Originals, copies the HEIC as it is. The menu name can differ slightly by iOS version.
Method 4: Shoot JPG from the start
If the photos you take will mostly be used on a PC or the web, open the Camera section in Settings, then Formats, and choose the more compatible option. Later photos are saved as JPG. The same photo then takes up more storage. Photos you've already taken aren't affected.
Method 5: Choose the format when downloading from iCloud on the web
When you download photos from the iCloud website, you can choose whether to get the original as it is or a more compatible format. Pick the more compatible one to get JPGs that open directly on a PC.
Which method fits?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| You just need to look at a few photos now | Method 1 |
| It's a work PC and you can't install anything | Method 1 |
| You view photos on your PC often | Method 2 or 3 |
| Most of your future photos go to a PC or the web | Method 4 |
| An upload screen rejects HEIC | Method 1 (or Method 4) |