Cannot copy HEIC files to Windows computer

Question

Cannot copy HEIC files to Windows computer

I'm trying to copy some photos from my iPhone (12 mini) to a Windows computer. I'll skip the long account of how I got where I am. In short:

1. Apple changed the format it uses to store photos from the universally recognized JPG to its own invented HEIC format, without giving any notice. My phone has been recording photos in HEIC format for months, and I didn't know it.

2. When I try to copy these files to my computer, File Manager doesn't show that the copies are there. When I try to copy them again it says I'm trying to replace existing files, so they've been copied... they just aren't visible. (Not because they're hidden or system files... I set File Explorer to show those, and they still aren't visible.)

3. The DIR command doesn't display them either.

4. I learned that I can make my iPhone automatically convert HEIC files to JPGs when I copy them to my computer by setting the Settings > Apps > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC option to "Automatic," but...

5. When I checked that option, I found that it's already set to Automatic.

So the last several months of pictures I've taken with my iPhone are now uncopyable. That includes pictures I took of my favorite cat when I knew he was dying. Can't go back and reshoot those with a different device.

Now what?

iPhone 12 mini, iOS 18

Posted on Sep 7, 2025 10:32 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 8, 2025 05:12 AM in response to DevoutSkeptic

Windows needs .heic support installed so it can display them. Or install some .heic to .jpg converter for such old images, and set new images to be saved as .jpg in iPhone settings.

My Windows 10 setup does not have .such .heic support installed but it can import and copy .heic files like any other file format with no problem so I don't know what your copy problem might be.

But also I have experienced that iPhone iOS 18 Settings > Apps > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC option to "Automatic" might not automatically convert .heic to .jpg anymore. Maybe Apple presumes that Windows has finally .heic support built-in.

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Answer 2

lkrupp

Level 7

21,259 points

Sep 8, 2025 05:52 AM in response to DevoutSkeptic

You can change the format photos are saved in from .HEIC to .JPG in Settings on your iPhone for future use.

Settings->Camera->Formats->Camera Capture->select ‘Most Compatible’. Photos taken will now be saved in .JPG format. Takes up more space though.

You can also export your existing photos from your iPhone and use a third party converter app to change from .HEIC to .JPG

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Answer 3

Sep 8, 2025 06:05 AM in response to DevoutSkeptic

DevoutSkeptic wrote: 1. Apple changed the format it uses to store photos from the universally recognized JPG to its own invented HEIC format, without giving any notice.

HEIC is neither new nor invented by Apple. It was developed by the MPEG people in 2013, twelve years ago--nearly forever in computer years. It's just a better format, giving greater accuracy in smaller files. It's hardly a secret. By this time, using an operating system that doesn't recognize it is a choice. Apparently you have to install an app to bring Windows up to date.

https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9pmmsr1cgpwg?hl=en-US&gl=US

I've heard that they charge for this, but the App store page above doesn't say that.

The ""Transfer>Automatic" setting has Photos try to make a decision about what formats the receiving computer can recognize, but that appears to produce mixed results.

Have you tried Settings>Camera>Formats>Most Compatible?

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Answer 4

Sep 8, 2025 10:39 PM in response to Old Toad

The comments about Windows HEIC support were well intended but off point. I did not say that Windows 11 couldn't display HEIC files; I said that File Explorer couldn't display them. In other words, Windows didn't tell me that it didn't know how to display the images in these files; after I copied them to my local disk it couldn't even detect their presence.

I tried again tonight and had no trouble at all. Whatever conditions prevented Windows from detecting the files has gone away.

The inconsistent behavior does not reassure me about the reliability of HEIC format. I never had any kind of problem with JPGs, and so far my success rate with HEICs is 50%. But, given some luck and patience, it works.

And I found that Windows has no trouble at all displaying this format. Actually I could have said that yesterday if I made the connection; even though Windows was unable to detect copies of HEIC files, File Explorer displayed thumbnails of the originals just fine.

My preferred picture editor (PhotoScape) also handles HEIC files, so I'm good now.

I accept the correction that Apple did not invent this format to create headaches for Microsoft Windows users. My opinion of their choice to adopt it without advance notice or warning, when it had even the possibility of creating the kind of problems I encountered yesterday, is unchanged. But I doubt that most of this forum's habitues are ever going to see eye to eye with me about that.

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Answer 5

Sep 9, 2025 06:46 AM in response to DevoutSkeptic

DevoutSkeptic wrote: … The comments about Windows HEIC support were well intended but off point. The inconsistent behavior does not reassure me about the reliability of HEIC format.

If Windows is only showing a format inconsistently, then it sounds like the best place to discuss that would be a Windows forum. It doesn't seem like that's a problem with the format, itself.

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Answer 6

lkrupp

Level 7

21,259 points

Sep 9, 2025 09:30 AM in response to DevoutSkeptic

Apple did indeed announce the switch to .HEIC in September 2017, eight years ago. Both Apple centric websites and Windows websites announced it. Even Wikipedia has the information.

Latop Magazine

The Verge

There are more announcements of you want to look for them. So if you were expecting a personal phone call from Apple or personal email sent to you, that’s not how it works. Your claim that the switch was made without advance notice or warning fails. It’s up to you the user to stay informed.

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Answer 7

Sep 11, 2025 09:59 AM in response to Old Toad

I took this to the Microsoft user community forum and was told that refreshing the File Explorer display would fix it. I explained that I did refresh the File Explorer display, then switched to a different folder and back, then quit and restarted File Explorer, and none of it helped. After 36 hours, I've received no more comments.

So that forum's users don't seem to know any more about the problem than this one's. I'm left with nothing but "hope it doesn't happen again." My suspicion of HEIC format may or may not be warranted, but it's the only thing that was new in the situation.

To be accurate, I didn't think that HEIC format itself was at fault; I suspected that along with switching file formats, iOS did something to the file that made it invisible on Windows computers. Something like setting the System File bit or the Hidden File bit, that makes the file invisible but isn't documented or controllable on Windows machines.

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Answer 8

Sep 11, 2025 10:22 AM in response to DevoutSkeptic

DevoutSkeptic wrote: … I suspected that along with switching file formats, iOS did something to the file that made it invisible on Windows computers. Something like setting the System File bit or the Hidden File bit, that makes the file invisible but isn't documented or controllable on Windows machines.

Maybe-- but if that were it, then you'd think that there would be lots of discussions on the Windows site about it. But it could also be some other app that you have that pushes some of those bytes. Hard to know…

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Answer 9

Old Toad

Level 10

214,314 points

Sep 8, 2025 08:58 AM in response to DevoutSkeptic

What they said-⬆︎⬆︎⬆︎⬆︎⬆︎⬆︎ 😉

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