Why Does This Happen?
Since 2017, iPhones have saved photos in a format called HEIC by default instead of the more common JPG. HEIC compresses photos more efficiently — meaning better quality at a smaller file size — which is genuinely useful for storage space on the phone itself. The catch is that HEIC support outside of Apple's own ecosystem is inconsistent: many Windows programs, older Android phones, and a fair number of websites still don't recognize it.
How to Tell If This Is Your Problem
If a photo file ends in .heic or .heif, and it won't open, won't upload, or shows as a broken image icon — that's the format, not a corrupted file. The photo itself is almost certainly fine.
Three Ways to Fix It
1. Convert it once you need to share it
The simplest fix: convert the specific photo to JPG right when you need to use it elsewhere. This keeps HEIC's storage benefits on your phone while giving you a universally compatible file when you actually need one.
2. Change your iPhone's camera settings
In Settings → Camera → Formats, switching to "Most Compatible" makes your iPhone save new photos as JPG going forward. This avoids the problem entirely, at the cost of somewhat larger file sizes on your phone.
3. Set "Automatic" transfer in Photos settings
Under Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC, choosing "Automatic" converts HEIC photos to JPG automatically when you transfer them to a non-Apple device — useful if you don't want to change your camera format but still want compatibility when moving files off your phone.
Convert a Photo Right Now
If you just have one (or a few) HEIC photos to convert right now, you don't need to change any settings — just convert the file directly. It happens in your browser, and the photo is never uploaded anywhere.
Try it now — nothing is ever uploaded.
Open convertci