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Why Your iPhone Photos Won't Open on PC (And How to Fix It)

Fix iPhone photos not opening on Windows PCs. Learn why HEIC fails on some systems and the fastest ways to convert and share.

Why your photos won’t open

Most iPhones save images as HEIC. Windows can open HEIC after adding Microsoft’s HEIF and HEVC extensions, but many PCs do not have them yet. Without those components, double‑clicking a .heic file can result in an error or a prompt to find a codec.

This is a compatibility issue, not a corruption problem. Your photos are fine — your PC just needs support for the format or you should convert to a more universal format.

Fix 1: Install Microsoft extensions (recommended)

Open the Microsoft Store and install the HEIF Image Extensions. If prompted for video compatibility or Live Photos playback, install the HEVC Video Extensions as well. After installation, the Photos app and File Explorer can preview HEIC images on supported builds of Windows 10/11.

  • HEIF Image Extensions: enables .heic still photo viewing
  • HEVC Video Extensions: helps with motion photos and HEVC video
  • Works system‑wide in Photos and File Explorer

Fix 2: Convert before sharing (fastest for recipients)

If you are sending photos to someone who cannot install extensions, convert them into a single PDF before sending. A PDF opens on virtually any device and preserves the order of your images for easy viewing and printing.

  • Use HassleFreePDF to convert HEIC/HEIF to PDF in the browser
  • No installs, mobile‑friendly, preserves high visual quality
  • Ideal for email, messaging, and printing

Fix 3: Change your iPhone capture format

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos will use JPEG/H.264 for maximum compatibility. You can switch back to High Efficiency at any time.

Troubleshooting tips

If Photos still won’t open HEIC after installing extensions, update Windows to the latest version and restart. Try opening images in a different app that supports HEIF, or convert the images to PDF as a reliable fallback.

When emailing, avoid compressing image attachments multiple times. Converting to a single PDF helps keep quality predictable.

Official resources

FAQs

Do I need both HEIF and HEVC extensions?
Install HEIF for still photos. HEVC may be needed for motion photos and videos recorded on iPhone.
Will converting to PDF reduce quality?
Conversion preserves high visual quality suitable for viewing and printing while optimizing file size for sharing.
What if I cannot install anything on my work PC?
Convert HEIC to PDF before transferring. PDFs open in browsers and standard viewers without installing codecs.

How HassleFreePDF can help

Convert, combine, and clean up your documents in a few taps.

Convert iPhone Photos to PDF
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