If iPhone videos or photos won’t open on your Windows 10 PC, the problem is almost always a missing codec. iPhones save photos as HEIC (the HEIF image format) and videos as HEVC (H.265) inside a .MOV file. There’s no such thing as a “HEIC video,” but the two formats come from the same high-efficiency family, and Windows 10 doesn’t open either one out of the box on many PCs. This guide shows how to play those videos and view HEIC photos, free and paid options, how to convert them, and how to stop your iPhone from creating them in the first place.
Quick Answer
- Videos: install HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store, or play the file in a free media player that includes its own HEVC decoder, such as VLC.
- Photos: install the free HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store, then open the .HEIC file in the Photos app.
Why Windows 10 Can’t Play iPhone Videos
Since iOS 11, iPhones use the High Efficiency camera format by default. It saves roughly half the space of the older JPEG and H.264 formats, but Windows 10 needs extra codecs to decode it. Without them, you may see:
- “This item is in a format we don’t support” or error 0xc00d5212 in Films & TV or Media Player
- Audio plays but the picture is black
- No thumbnails in File Explorer
- HEIC photos that won’t open in Photos
Method 1: Install HEVC Video Extensions
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for HEVC Video Extensions.
- Install the version published by Microsoft Corporation. It has usually cost $0.99 in the US; prices vary by region.
- Restart Films & TV or Media Player and open the .MOV file again.
Some PCs came with HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer preinstalled for free. If you see it listed as installed in Settings > Apps, you already have the codec. Only install extensions from the Microsoft Store listing, not from third-party download sites.
Method 2: Use a Free Media Player
VLC media player and some other free players include their own HEVC decoder, so they play iPhone videos without any Store extension.
- Download the player from its official website.
- Install it, then right-click the .MOV file and choose Open with > [player name].
- To make it the default, choose Open with > Choose another app, select the player, and check Always use this app to open .mov files.
Method 3: View HEIC Photos
- Open the Microsoft Store and install HEIF Image Extensions (free).
- If Photos still won’t open the file, install HEVC Video Extensions too; some Windows builds need it to decode HEIC images.
- Open the .HEIC file in Photos. File Explorer thumbnails should also appear.
Free image viewers such as IrfanView (with its plugin pack) and GIMP can open HEIC files as well.
Method 4: Convert the Files
- Photos: after installing HEIF Image Extensions, open the HEIC in Paint and use File > Save as > JPEG. For batches, see how to change HEIC to JPG on Windows.
- Videos: use a free converter such as HandBrake to re-encode HEVC to H.264 MP4, which plays everywhere. VLC’s Media > Convert / Save also works.
- Online converters work for a file or two, but avoid uploading private photos or videos.
Method 5: Change Your iPhone Settings
Convert automatically when transferring: on the iPhone, go to Settings > Photos and, under Transfer to Mac or PC, choose Automatic. When you import with a USB cable, the iPhone converts photos to JPEG and videos to H.264 where needed.
Shoot in compatible formats: go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos save as JPEG and videos as H.264. Files will take more space, and some features, such as 4K at 60 fps and cinematic modes, require High Efficiency.
For more ways to move files, see how to transfer videos from iPhone to a Windows 10 PC.
Want to choose the resolution and frame rate your iPhone records in? See how to record 4K video on iPhone.
Troubleshooting
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Sound but black video | Install HEVC Video Extensions or use VLC |
| Error 0xc00d5212 | Missing codec; install HEVC Video Extensions |
| HEIC won’t open after installing HEIF | Also install HEVC Video Extensions and restart Photos |
| Video stutters | Update your graphics driver; older PCs may lack hardware HEVC decoding |
| Files copied from cloud storage show as HEIC | Download the original and convert, or change iPhone settings |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is HEIC a video format?
No. HEIC is a photo format. iPhone videos use HEVC, usually in a .MOV file. Live Photos pair a HEIC image with a short MOV clip.
Is there a free HEVC codec?
The Microsoft Store version is usually paid, but free players like VLC include their own decoder, and some PCs ship with the free device-manufacturer version.
Does Windows 11 have the same problem?
It can, although many Windows 11 PCs include the needed extensions. The same fixes apply. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025.
Summary
- Install HEVC Video Extensions for iPhone videos, or use VLC.
- Install HEIF Image Extensions for HEIC photos.
- Convert to JPG or MP4 if you need to share files widely.
- Set Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic, or the Camera format to Most Compatible, on your iPhone.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.