Why your iPhone video (HEVC/MOV) won't play on Windows & How to fix it

Frustrated? You just shot a perfect video on your iPhone, transferred it to your Windows PC, and... it won't play. The file is there, but Windows Media Player shows a black screen or error message.

You're not alone. This is one of the most common tech frustrations for iPhone users, and it's not your fault. Here's what's happening and how to fix it permanently.

The Problem: HEVC (aka H.265) Codec

Since iOS 11 (2017), iPhones record videos using HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), also called H.265. This codec:

✅ Saves 50% storage space compared to older formats
✅ Keeps the same video quality
❌ Isn't supported by most Windows apps
❌ Doesn't work on older Android phones
❌ Crashes many video editing programs (Adobe Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, etc.)

Why Apple does this: HEVC is technically superior - smaller files, better quality. But it's patent-encumbered, so Microsoft and Google don't include native support in Windows/Android to avoid licensing fees.

Symptoms: How to Know If This Is Your Problem

You have the HEVC compatibility issue if:

Video file extension is .MOV or .m4v (iPhone's default format)
Video plays fine on iPhone/Mac but not on Windows PC
Windows Media Player shows "Can't play this file" or codec error
VLC plays it but stutters/lags heavily
Your editing software says "Unsupported codec" or crashes on import
When you send the video to Android friends, they can't watch it

The "Official" Fix (Costs Money, Kinda Sucks)

Microsoft technically offers HEVC codec support, but they charge for it:

1. Go to Microsoft Store
2. Buy "HEVC Video Extensions" for $0.99
3. Install it
4. Hope it works (it often doesn't for older Windows versions)

Why this sucks:

• It only fixes your computer. Doesn't help if you need to send videos to others.
• Doesn't work on Windows 7 or 8.
• You still can't edit the video in many programs.
• It's a band-aid, not a real solution.

The Real Fix: Convert MOV to MP4 (H.264)

The permanent solution is to convert your iPhone videos from HEVC to H.264 (standard MP4). This format:

Works on every device: Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, smart TVs, game consoles

Supported by all editing software: Premiere, Final Cut, DaVinci, iMovie, etc.

Easy to share: Works on email, Discord, WhatsApp, social media

No quality loss: Modern converters maintain the same visual quality

Convert Your iPhone Video Here (Free, No Install)

Drag your .MOV file below and select MP4 as the output format. Conversion takes about 1-2 minutes:

Choose file

Click to browse or drag and drop (video or document)

Technical Note: This converts HEVC (H.265) to H.264 codec while keeping the MP4 container format. The file size will be slightly larger (about 1.5-2x) but the quality stays identical to human eyes.

Prevent This Problem: Change iPhone Camera Settings

If you frequently transfer iPhone videos to Windows/Android, you can stop this issue from happening in the future:

On iPhone (iOS 11 or later):
1. Open Settings
2. Scroll down and tap Camera
3. Tap Formats
4. Select "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency"

What this does: Your iPhone will now record videos in H.264 (standard MP4) instead of HEVC. Videos will be larger but will work everywhere without conversion.

Trade-off: Video files will be about 2x larger. If you have limited iPhone storage (64GB or less), you might want to keep using HEVC and just convert videos when needed.

Compatibility Comparison

Platform/Software	HEVC/MOV	H.264/MP4
Windows 10/11 (default)	❌ No	✅ Yes
Mac/iPhone/iPad	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
Android (varies by phone)	⚠️ Maybe	✅ Yes
Adobe Premiere Pro	⚠️ Slow	✅ Yes
DaVinci Resolve (Free)	❌ No	✅ Yes
VLC Media Player	✅ Yes	✅ Yes
YouTube/Instagram/TikTok	✅ Yes	✅ Yes

Common Questions

Q: Will I lose quality when converting from MOV to MP4?

A: No visible quality loss. Modern converters (like this one, which uses FFmpeg) transcode intelligently to preserve quality. The file will be larger, but it will look identical.

Q: Why can't I just rename .MOV to .MP4?

A: Because the problem isn't the filename - it's the codec inside. Renaming changes the container but doesn't convert the HEVC video codec to H.264. You need actual conversion.

Q: Can I convert videos shot in 4K or 60fps?

A: Yes. All resolutions (1080p, 4K, etc.) and frame rates are supported. The converter preserves your original resolution and frame rate.

Q: Is there a faster way if I have lots of videos?

A: For batch conversion, you can use this tool multiple times, or install a desktop app like HandBrake (free, open-source) which can convert multiple files at once.

The Bottom Line

Apple prioritizes storage efficiency over compatibility. It's a reasonable choice for the Apple ecosystem, but it creates headaches when you step outside that ecosystem.

The good news: Converting your videos takes less than 2 minutes and solves the problem permanently. No codecs to buy, no complicated software to learn.

Just convert your iPhone videos to standard MP4, and they'll work everywhere - Windows, Android, editing software, social media, you name it.

Problem solved! Bookmark this page for next time your iPhone video won't play on Windows. Share it with friends who have the same issue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

We support video formats including WebM, MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and FLV, as well as document conversion between PDF and Word (DOCX). You can freely convert between all supported formats.

Converted files are temporarily stored on the server and automatically deleted after 1 hour. After downloading, they are immediately saved to your browser's download folder.

The maximum file size is 500MB. Larger files may take longer to convert. For stable conversion, we recommend files under 100MB.

Yes, all files are securely processed and automatically deleted after 1 hour. Files are used only for conversion purposes and are not shared with third parties.

Yes, it's 100% free. No sign-up required, and there are no hidden costs. Feel free to use it anytime.

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