Ever tried to open an iPhone photo on a Windows PC, upload one to a job form, or send it to an Android friend, only to find it won’t open? That’s because your iPhone saves photos as HEIC instead of JPG. Here’s how to switch your camera to JPG in a few taps, how to fix the HEIC photos you already have, and whether you should turn it off at all.
Why Does My iPhone Save Photos as HEIC?
Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos in HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) by default. Apple uses it because it stores the same quality photo in about half the space of a JPG, so you fit more photos on your phone.
The problem is compatibility. HEIC opens fine on Apple devices, but many Windows PCs, Android phones, older apps, websites and government forms still can’t read it. That’s when you get the “file won’t open” or “unsupported format” message.
You have two options: switch your camera to shoot JPG from now on, or keep HEIC and convert photos to JPG only when you need to share them. Let’s cover both.
How to Turn Off HEIC on iPhone (Shoot JPG Instead)
This makes your camera save every new photo as a standard JPG that opens everywhere:
- Open Settings on your iPhone.
- Scroll down and tap Camera.
- Tap Formats.
- Select Most Compatible.
That’s it. From now on your iPhone takes photos in JPG instead of HEIC. To switch back later, choose High Efficiency in the same menu.
Note: this only changes new photos. The HEIC photos already in your gallery stay as they are, so you’ll still need to convert those (next section).
How to Fix the HEIC Photos You Already Have
Changing the setting doesn’t touch your existing photos, so to open or share those, convert them to JPG. The easiest way is a free browser tool, with no app to install and nothing uploaded to a server.
- Open the Image Converter.
- Add your HEIC photos (one, or a whole batch at once).
- Choose JPG and click Convert.
- Download your JPGs, ready to open or upload anywhere.
It works right in your phone’s browser too, so you can convert straight from your iPhone or after moving the files to a computer.
Should You Actually Turn HEIC Off?
It depends on what matters more to you: space or compatibility.
| Keep HEIC (High Efficiency) | Switch to JPG (Most Compatible) | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage used | About half the size | Larger files |
| Opens everywhere | No (issues on Windows, Android, forms) | Yes |
| Photo quality | Same | Same |
For most people, the best approach is actually to keep HEIC on (so you save space) and simply convert to JPG when you need to share. You only switch to Most Compatible if you constantly send photos to Windows or Android and don’t want to convert each time.
Sending iPhone Photos to Windows or Android
If you mainly have trouble when transferring photos to a PC, there’s one more handy setting. In Settings → Photos, scroll to the bottom to the “Transfer to Mac or PC” option and choose Automatic — this tells your iPhone to convert photos to a compatible format when you transfer them by cable. (The exact wording can vary slightly between iOS versions.)
If your iPhone photos simply won’t open on a PC or in WhatsApp, we’ve covered that in detail in our guide to why HEIC photos won’t open on Windows and WhatsApp. For sending to friends, converting first is the safest bet. Run the HEIC files through the converter, then share the JPGs so everyone can open them, whatever phone or computer they use.
Converting a Whole Album at Once
Got hundreds of HEIC photos from a trip or an event? You don’t have to do them one by one. The converter takes many files at the same time — add them all, convert, and download everything as a single ZIP.
If those photos are going onto a website or blog rather than a form, convert them to WEBP instead of JPG for the smallest file size. Here’s how to convert iPhone HEIC photos to WEBP. Once they’re JPGs, you can also compress them to fit under an email or form size limit, or resize them for Instagram or a profile picture, all free and privately in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop my iPhone from taking HEIC photos?
Go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats, and choose Most Compatible. Your iPhone will save new photos as JPG instead of HEIC.
Will turning off HEIC lower my photo quality?
No. JPG and HEIC photos look the same. The only difference is that JPG files are larger, so they use more storage.
Does changing the setting convert my old HEIC photos?
No. It only affects new photos you take. To fix existing HEIC photos, convert them to JPG with a free converter.
How do I open a HEIC file on Windows or Android?
The simplest way is to convert it to JPG, which opens on every device. You can do it free in your browser with the Image Converter.
Can I convert many HEIC photos to JPG at once?
Yes. Add all your HEIC files to the converter, convert them together, and download them individually or as a single ZIP.
Is it safe to convert HEIC photos online?
With imgformats, yes. Everything happens in your browser on your own device, so your photos never leave your phone or computer.