Fix iPhone HEIC Photos That Windows Can't Open: A Practical Guide for Photographers and Creators

Quick Win: What You’ll Be Able to Do with iPhone HEIC Files in One Session
Want to stop getting the "file type not supported" text from clients? In one focused session you’ll be able to:
Identify whether a photo is HEIC/HEIF and why Windows balks at it. Convert single or thousands of HEIC images to client-friendly JPEG or PNG quickly. Preserve color and metadata so your edits still look right on Windows and web. Automate the conversion so you never perform the same manual task twice.
By the end you’ll have a repeatable workflow that delivers files clients can open without More help https://thedatascientist.com/heic-to-jpg-converter-best-worst-options/ asking them to install anything. Sounds nice, right?
Before You Start: Files, Devices, and Software You Need to Convert iPhone Photos
Ready to convert? Here’s what you should have on hand before touching a file.
Sample files: a few HEIC photos from your iPhone (live photos included if you want to keep motion). Target environment info: which Windows version your client uses (Windows 7, 8, 10, 11), and what app they open images with (Photos, Photoshop, Windows Explorer). One of these conversion tools: Adobe Lightroom Classic, ImageMagick (with libheif), exiftool, or a reliable app on iPhone like iMazing or Shortcuts for quick on-device conversion. Optional: color profiles (Display P3, sRGB) if color accuracy matters for prints or web.
Questions to ask your client before sending files: Are they opening files in Photos or Photoshop? Do they need embedded color profiles? Do they need full-resolution masters or web-sized proofs?
Tools and Resources You’ll Use (Quick Reference) Tool Platform Why it matters HEIF Image Extensions (Microsoft Store) Windows 10/11 Lets Windows Photo Viewer and Explorer read HEIC files ImageMagick (magick / mogrify) Windows, macOS, Linux Batch conversion with scripting and color profile handling exiftool Windows, macOS, Linux Preserve or strip metadata; automate renaming Adobe Lightroom Classic Windows, macOS Export presets, color management, batch processing iPhone Shortcuts iOS On-device conversion to JPEG before sending Your Complete HEIC-to-JPEG Workflow: 8 Steps from Export to Client Delivery
Below is the workflow I use when a client still runs older Windows and can't open HEIC files. Follow exactly or pick and choose based on your needs.
Diagnose the problem. Can your client see thumbnails but not open files? Do they get an error or nothing? If Windows says "This file is not supported," you’re likely dealing with HEIC. Ask for a screenshot or the exact error message. Decide the file type you’ll deliver. JPEG is the default for client delivery. Use PNG when you need transparency or lossless images. For proofs, 2048 px long edge at 70-90% quality is often enough and keeps upload times reasonable. Convert on the iPhone if you want quick fixes. Two reliable options: Change camera setting to produce JPEG going forward: Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible. That prevents HEIC files in future shoots but increases file sizes by ~30%. Use a Shortcut that converts selected photos to JPEG and saves them to Files. Create a shortcut that asks for photos, converts to JPEG at chosen quality, and saves or shares them. Fast for one-off jobs. Batch convert on your computer for larger deliveries. If you have a folder of HEICs, here are two solid routes: Lightroom Classic: Import HEICs, apply any edits, then File > Export. Choose JPEG, set color profile to sRGB, quality 80-90, and export in subfolders by client or job. Use export presets for repeatability. ImageMagick + libheif: Install ImageMagick with HEIC support. Run: magick mogrify -quality 92 -colorspace sRGB -format jpg *.heic. That batch-creates JPGs in the same folder. Add -resize 2048x2048 if you want web-sized versions. Preserve or strip metadata depending on client needs. Want to keep capture info and lens tags? Use exiftool: exiftool -tagsfromfile @ -all:all -overwrite_original_in_place *.jpg. Need to strip geotags before public delivery? exiftool -gps:all= -overwrite_original *.jpg. Check color profile and preview on Windows. HEIC files often use Display P3. If you convert to JPEG but leave P3, older viewers may display colors oversaturated or muted. Convert to sRGB during export with Lightroom or ImageMagick: -colorspace sRGB, or embed an sRGB ICC profile. Compress and name files for clients. Use clear naming: ClientName_SessionDate_001.jpg. Zip the folder to keep structure intact and reduce upload time. ZIP files work fine on all Windows versions. Deliver with explicit instructions. Tell the client: "Download and unzip, then open any file with Photos or Photoshop. If they still can’t open, ask them to forward the exact error or what app they used." Provide a small sample JPEG if you suspect trouble. Avoid These 6 File-Transfer Mistakes That Break Client Deliverables
You think the hard part is shooting. Then you send files and comedy ensues. Don’t make these mistakes.
Sending HEICs without warning. Don’t assume clients have HEIF support. If you must send HEIC, include a JPEG sample and instructions for installing HEIF Image Extensions on Windows 10/11. Forgetting color conversion. Sending a P3-sourced JPEG without converting to sRGB can produce color shifts. Convert to sRGB for web or non-color-managed apps. Relying on email to auto-convert. Some email services auto-convert attachments; others don’t. Don’t rely on the client’s inbox to fix compatibility. Stripping metadata blindly. Removing EXIF can break client workflows if they need capture data. If you must remove GPS, target only GPS tags. Delivering full-resolution TIFFs or uncompressed files unnecessarily. Large files increase failure rate for uploads and downloads. Ask what they need: masters or proofs? Using a single manual method for every client. One-size-fits-all wastes time. Set presets: "Quick Web" = 2048 px / sRGB / 80%, "Print Master" = full-res / embed profile / 16-bit TIFF if needed. Pro Photographer Hacks: Fast Batch Conversions and Color-Accurate Export
Want to move like a human who has done this for real? Here are techniques that save time and keep color right.
Automation with ImageMagick and a simple batch script
Create a folder with HEICs and run a small script. Example Windows PowerShell snippet:
Get-ChildItem *.heic | ForEach-Object magick $_.FullName -resize 2048x2048 -colorspace sRGB -quality 90 ($_.BaseName + ".jpg")
This resizes for web, converts color, and sets quality in one pass. Replace -resize or remove if you want full-size exports.
Lightroom export presets that actually make clients happy Preset “Client Web – sRGB 2048”: JPEG, sRGB, Quality 85, Long Edge 2048, Sharpen for Screen (Standard), Include: Copyright Metadata. Preset “Client Print – ProPhoto master”: TIFF, ProPhoto RGB, 16-bit, No compression, Include All Metadata.
Run export on entire Collections. Lightroom handles DNG/HEIC imports and embedded profiles cleanly.
iPhone Shortcuts for on-the-fly conversions
Create a shortcut named "Convert to JPEG" that:
Asks to select photos Converts images to JPEG at set quality Saves to Files or shares via Mail/Dropbox
Perfect when you’re in the field and the client needs a quick preview that won’t blow up in their inbox.
When Clients Still Can't Open Photos: Debugging File Compatibility Problems
Sometimes things still go wrong. Here’s a checklist to debug quickly.
Confirm file extension and header. Is the file truly HEIC? On Windows, right-click > Properties. If extension is .heic but they still can’t open after installing HEIF extensions, the file might be corrupted. Ask which app they used. Some viewers rely on system codecs; others have their own. Photoshop older than CC 2018 can choke on HEIC without updates. Test on your own Windows VM or another machine. If it opens there, the problem is client-side. Send a tiny sample JPEG to confirm delivery works and compare. Check color mismatches. Are colors off? Did you embed a P3 profile? Convert to sRGB and resend a sample to show the difference. File transfer corruption. Large files can corrupt during upload. Ask the client to re-download, try a different browser, or use a download manager. Offer an alternative delivery like WeTransfer or Dropbox. Provide fallback instructions. If the client refuses to change anything, offer a hosted web gallery (SmugMug, Pixieset) where the platform serves JPEGs for preview and download.
Still stuck after all this? Ask the client for a screenshot of the error and the OS/build number. That information narrows down the cause faster than guessing.
Final Checklist Before You Send Files Convert HEIC to JPEG if client lacks HEIF support. Convert color profile to sRGB for web or general Windows viewing. Preserve or remove metadata intentionally; don’t do it by accident. Include a README.txt in the ZIP with simple opening instructions and contact info. Offer alternatives: a single JPEG proof, a password-protected gallery, or the ability to request masters.
Compatibility problems are annoying, but solvable. Convert before you send, automate where possible, and keep a small set of presets for each client type. What will you try first - a quick iPhone Shortcut or a Lightroom export preset? Pick one, test on a Windows machine, and you’ll stop getting that "can't open file" reply.