Will the Automatic setting reduce photo quality?

The Automatic setting converts HEIC to JPEG during transfer. JPEG uses lossy compression, so the file will be slightly larger and may lose some fine detail compared to the original HEIC. For most users, the difference is not noticeable in everyday use.

My iPhone does not show up in File Explorer. What should I do?

Make sure the iPhone is unlocked and you tapped Trust This Computer when prompted. Try a different USB cable or port. If it still does not appear, restart both the iPhone and the PC, then reconnect.

Can I transfer photos wirelessly instead of using a cable?

This guide focuses on the USB cable workflow. Wireless methods exist, but the Transfer to Mac or PC setting only affects cable transfers. For wireless transfers, the format depends on the method you use.

What if I accidentally chose Keep Originals and want JPG instead?

Change the setting to Automatic in Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC, then reconnect your iPhone to the PC and copy the photos again. The new copies will be JPG. You can delete the old HEIC files if you no longer need them.

Transfer iPhone Photos to a Windows PC as JPG

To transfer iPhone photos to a PC as JPG, connect your iPhone to the Windows computer with a USB cable. The file format you receive depends on one option in your iPhone's Photos menu. The USB import workflow, the option that decides whether your PC gets HEIC or JPG, and what to do if you already have HEIC files on your computer are covered below.

The One Setting That Controls HEIC vs JPG

On your iPhone, go to Settings > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC. This menu has two options:

Automatic: During a cable transfer, the iPhone converts photos to a compatible format such as JPEG. Choose this if your goal is to get JPG files on your Windows PC.
Keep Originals: The iPhone sends HEIC files unchanged. Choose this if you prefer to work with the original HEIC format and convert later.

This option only affects transfers over a cable. It does not change how the iPhone saves photos to its internal storage. Switch between the two options at any time before connecting the phone.

Connect Your IPhone to a Windows PC

Use the USB cable that came with your iPhone. Connect one end to the phone and the other to a USB port on your Windows computer. When the iPhone is first connected, it asks whether to Trust This Computer. Tap Trust on the phone screen. The phone must be unlocked for the PC to see the photos.

On Windows, the iPhone appears in File Explorer as Apple iPhone. Navigate to Internal Storage > DCIM to see the photo folders. If you set the transfer option to Automatic, the files you see here will be JPG. If you chose Keep Originals, they will be HEIC.

Import Photos Using File Explorer

Copy photos manually or use the Windows Photos app.

Manual Copy

Open the DCIM folder inside Apple iPhone in File Explorer. Select the photos you want and drag them to a folder on your PC. This works for both JPG and HEIC files, depending on your transfer option.

Windows Photos App

The Windows Photos app can import from a connected iPhone. Open the Photos app, click the Import button, and choose your iPhone from the list. The app will show the photos and let you select which ones to import. The format you receive matches the iPhone's current transfer option.

What About Live Photos

Live Photos are stored as two separate files: a still image and a MOV video file. When you transfer Live Photos over a cable, both files are copied to your PC. The still image will be JPG or HEIC depending on your transfer option, and the MOV video file remains unchanged. Play the MOV file on Windows with compatible media players.

If You Already Have HEIC Files on Your PC

If you copied photos with the Keep Originals option or received HEIC files from another source, convert them to JPG after the transfer. An online converter can handle this task in batches. Upload multiple HEIC files at once and download the converted JPG versions. This is a straightforward way to make the files viewable on Windows without installing additional software.

Keep Originals vs Automatic Which Should You Choose

The choice depends on what you plan to do with the photos.

Automatic: Best if you want JPG files immediately with no extra steps. The conversion happens during transfer, so the files on your PC are ready to view, share, or edit in most Windows applications.
Keep Originals: Use this if you want the original HEIC files for archival purposes or if you plan to convert them later with specific settings. HEIC files are smaller than JPG, which can save disk space, but they require conversion or a compatible viewer on Windows.

Change the option at any time. If you need both formats, run two transfers: one with Automatic and one with Keep Originals.

Convert HEIC to JPG Online

If you have HEIC files already on your PC and want to convert them to JPG, use an online converter like heictoojpg.org. Upload your HEIC files, and the service will convert them to JPG. This works for individual files or batches, and no software installation is needed. The process is free and does not add a watermark.