By default, iPhone photos and videos aren't encoded in compatible formats that can be read by most computers and editing software. Instead of JPG for photos and MPEG-4 for video, it uses High Efficiency Image Format (HEIF) and High Efficiency Video Format (HEVC), respectively. Here's how to change that.
Encoding files in HEIF (with the .HEIC extension) and HEVC (with the .MOV extension) requires more processing power, so this default setting is only available on iPhone 7 and newer iPads. It's also worth noting that files in these newer formats are about half the size of JPG and MP4 files of comparable quality.
While HEIF and HEVC are great in theory, they aren't as widely supported as JPG and MP4 yet (which are essentially universal at this point). For example, you'll need to upgrade your Mac to be able to edit HEIF and HEVC files. And if you're using Windows 11 or 10, they aren't compatible out of the box yet.
If you prefer to capture photos and videos in a more widely compatible format, you can do so with a simple settings switch. Here's how.
Start by opening the “SettingsOn your iPhone. Use Spotlight Search Built-in Apple if you can't find it on your Home screen or App Library.
Next, scroll down and tap on the “Camera".
Choose "formats"From the top of the list.
Finally, select “Most compatibleTo select the option
The iPhone will now continue to use more compatible formats, including JPEG and MP4. Just keep in mind that these files will take up more storage space, but they're easier to open, view, and edit on all operating systems, including Windows 11 and 10.
