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When an iPhone video will not play on Windows

You copy a video from your iPhone to a Windows PC and it will not play, or you hear sound over a black screen. Here is why, and the most reliable fix.

The cause is almost always HEVC

By default, an iPhone records video as HEVC (H.265). It is a newer format that keeps quality at a smaller file size, but Windows cannot play it out of the box.

You can buy the extension, but converting the video to MP4 (H.264) is the reliable fix: it plays on other people’s computers, older editing software and presentation systems without anything extra.

The reliable fix

  1. Open HEVC to MP4.
  2. Choose the video you copied from your iPhone (.mov or .mp4).
  3. Choose “Convert to MP4” and save it.

The result uses H.264, which plays everywhere. The picture looks essentially the same (the file gets a little larger). Your video never leaves this site — the conversion happens inside your browser.

“.mov” is not the problem by itself

.mov is Apple’s container. If the video inside is H.264, Windows plays it fine. The trouble starts when the video inside is HEVC. SakuConvert shows you which one it is as soon as you choose the file.

If the container itself is the problem (some editing software refuses .mov), MOV to MP4 swaps the container.

Recording in a format Windows can play

You can change what your iPhone records from now on:

  1. Settings → Camera → Formats
  2. Change “High Efficiency” to “Most Compatible”

Files get larger in exchange. To bring them down afterwards, use compress a video.

Still not playing?