Does changing to Most Compatible convert my old HEIC photos?

No. Changing the Camera Formats setting only affects new photos you take afterward. Use the free converter on this page for existing HEIC files.

Why does iPhone use HEIC by default?

Since iOS 11, iPhones save photos as HEIC because it takes about half the storage space of JPG at the same visual quality.

Can I keep HEIC on iPhone and only convert when copying to Windows?

Yes. Go to Settings, then Photos, and set Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic so your iPhone converts photos to JPG during USB transfer.

How to Change iPhone From HEIC to JPG in Settings

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): Open Settings, tap Camera, tap Formats, and select Most Compatible to make your iPhone save new photos as JPG instead of HEIC. This only applies to photos you take from now on. For HEIC photos already in your library, you can convert them to JPG right on this page.

Do it now, right here

Drop files here or choose files

Quality 90%Background for transparent areas

Step by step

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Camera.
Tap Formats at the top of the Camera menu.
Select Most Compatible so new photos save as JPG instead of High Efficiency (HEIC).

At a glance

Setting	Format saved	Trade-off
High Efficiency	HEIC	Smaller file size, but some Windows apps and websites reject it
Most Compatible	JPG	Opens everywhere, but takes roughly twice the storage space
Existing library photos	Stay HEIC	Settings change does not convert old photos; use the tool above

Where to find it on your device

iPhone Camera Formats: Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible
iPhone USB Transfer: Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic

How Do I Change My iPhone From HEIC to JPG?