iPhone video not showing on Windows? Here's the fix.
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You copy videos from your iPhone to a Windows PC and get blank thumbnails, a codec error, or sound with a black screen. The cause is almost always HEVC, the format iPhones record in by default. Convert the video to an H.264 MP4 here and it plays everywhere. Nothing is uploaded.
How to make an iPhone video work on Windows
Open this page in Edge or Chrome.
On most recent PCs these browsers can read HEVC through the graphics hardware, even when the Windows Photos app can't.
Drop the iPhone video in and click Convert to MP4.
The HEVC video is re-encoded as H.264 at the same resolution. MOV and MP4 files from the iPhone both work.
Save the new MP4.
It shows a thumbnail in File Explorer and plays in Photos, Media Player, PowerPoint and any editor, without installing a codec.
Why iPhone videos don't show up properly on Windows
Since iOS 11, iPhones record video in HEVC (also called H.265) when the camera format is set to High Efficiency, which is the default. HEVC makes files about half the size, but Windows doesn't include it out of the box.
Without HEVC support, File Explorer can't draw a thumbnail, and Windows Media Player or Photos shows an error or plays sound over a black screen. Microsoft sells an HEVC Video Extensions add on in the Microsoft Store, but it only fixes playback on that one PC.
Converting to H.264 MP4, the most widely supported video format, fixes the file itself. It will play on any Windows PC, in older software, on TVs and in upload forms, and you can send it to people who don't have the extension.
| Convert to H.264 MP4 | Buy HEVC Video Extensions | Change iPhone camera setting | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fixes videos you already have | Yes | Yes, on that PC only | No |
| Works on other computers | Yes | No | For new videos only |
| Cost | Free up to 100 MB | Small one time fee | Free |
| Downside | File gets somewhat larger | Only fixes that one PC | New videos take up about twice the space |
To change the camera setting: Settings, Camera, Formats, Most Compatible.
Questions about this tool.
Why does my iPhone video play sound but show a black screen?
Windows can decode the AAC audio but not the HEVC video. Converting to H.264 MP4 fixes it.
Why are there no thumbnails for my iPhone videos in File Explorer?
File Explorer needs HEVC support to draw them. After converting to H.264 MP4 the thumbnails appear.
The page says my browser can't read the video. What now?
Your PC's graphics hardware may not decode HEVC. Try Microsoft Edge, convert on a Mac or iPhone in Safari, or use the desktop app.
Will converting reduce the quality?
The video is re-encoded at high quality and the original resolution, so the difference is very hard to see. The MP4 is usually somewhat larger than the original.
How do I stop this happening with new videos?
On the iPhone go to Settings, Camera, Formats and choose Most Compatible. New videos are then recorded as H.264, at the cost of larger files.
Is my video uploaded?
No. The conversion runs in your browser and the file never leaves your device.
Prefer a desktop app?
The Windows app works offline and saves results beside your original. It includes 5 free conversions, and Pro unlocks it on up to 3 computers at no extra cost.