Every September, a new wave of iPhone excitement kicks off โ and 2026 is no different. Apple's fall event is expected to bring the new iPhone 18 Pro models, a second-generation iPhone Air, and the long-rumored first foldable iPhone. And with every new phone, a classic headache comes right back: the photos you copy from your iPhone to your computer are saved as .HEIC files, and Windows can't open them.
This guide explains what HEIC is, why new iPhones still use it, and how to convert your photos to JPG in seconds.
What is HEIC, and why does the new iPhone use it?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) has been Apple's default photo format since iOS 11 (2017). It stores the same visual quality at roughly half the file size of JPG, and it supports things JPG can't โ Live Photos, depth maps, and transparency. The new 2026 iPhones, with their higher-resolution cameras, still shoot in HEIC by default. So you save a lot of storage, but you pay for it in compatibility.
Curious about the technical side? Our what is HEIC guide is a perfect starting point.
Why won't it open on Windows (and in so many places)?
HEIC still isn't universally supported. The moment you try to upload a photo to a government portal, send it to a Windows user, or use it in most web apps, you hit a wall. In 2026, the format the web still expects is JPG. We cover every Windows-side fix in why HEIC won't open on Windows.
Fix 1: Set your iPhone to shoot JPG from the start
When you set up your new phone, take one minute to change this:
Settings โ Camera โ Formats โ Most Compatible
With this selected, your iPhone saves new photos directly as JPG, so you never have to convert them again. Step-by-step: how to turn off HEIC on iPhone.
The small trade-off: each photo takes up a bit more space, and some features like Live Photos may be limited.
Fix 2: Convert your existing HEIC photos to JPG
Changing the setting won't bring back the hundreds of HEIC photos you've already taken. The fastest way is a converter:
๐ swapfile.io HEIC โ JPG converter โ drag and drop your photos and download them as JPG in seconds. Free, no sign-up, no ads, no watermark.
Want to compare methods? See 3 ways to convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone.
Fix 3: Rely on automatic conversion when sharing
A small but handy detail: when you send a photo via AirDrop, Messages, or email to a device that can't read HEIC, iOS usually converts it to JPG automatically. But this doesn't work on every channel โ especially when transferring to a computer over a cable, the files stay HEIC. So for a permanent fix, Fix 1 or 2 is safer.
In short
Your new iPhone will take stunning photos โ but the default HEIC format still causes friction on Windows and the web. There are two lasting solutions: either set your iPhone to shoot JPG, or quickly convert your existing photos with the free HEIC โ JPG converter. That way you enjoy your new phone without the compatibility hassle.