How to Change Photo File Formats on iPhone (And Why You Need To)

If you own an iPhone, you have probably run into this exact problem. You take a great photo, email it to your Windows computer, and... it won't open. The file ends in .HEIC instead of the standard .JPG.

Apple tried to do us a favor a few years ago by changing the default camera format to High-Efficiency Image Container (HEIC). It saves storage space. But it also created a massive headache for anyone trying to share files across different devices or upload them to certain websites.

Here is exactly how to fix the iPhone photo problem, both for future photos and the ones already stuck on your phone.

How to change the default file format on your iPhone

If you are tired of dealing with HEIC files entirely, you can force your iPhone to shoot in normal JPG format. It will take up a little more storage space, but it guarantees compatibility everywhere.

Step-by-step to change your camera settings:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and tap on Camera.
3. Tap on Formats.
4. Change the selection from "High Efficiency" to "Most Compatible".

From now on, every photo you take will be a standard, universally accepted JPG.

How to convert an existing file format to JPG

Changing your settings fixes the future, but what about the hundreds of HEIC photos already sitting in your camera roll?

If you search the App Store, you will find dozens of converter apps packed with annoying ads or expensive weekly subscriptions. You don't need any of them. You can change a file format to JPG directly in your mobile browser.

Frequently Asked Questions