HEIC attachments in email
If you email an iPhone photo and the other person sees a blank icon, a paperclip with nothing behind it, or a file that won't open, a HEIC attachment is the usual cause. It is not the only one, but it is the first thing to rule out. Convert it to JPG before you send, with the tray above, or change your iPhone so it stops happening. Both take under a minute.
See what the quality setting does
Drag the line to compare the original with the JPEG at the quality you chose. The loupe shows a 3× crop under your pointer.
Why email is where HEIC bites
Apple lists AirDrop, Messages and email as methods where a photo "might" be shared in a more compatible format. Might is the operative word: with email the sending device usually has no way to know what the recipient uses, so whether the other side can open the file depends on their device. A Windows PC without Microsoft's HEVC extension or an older Android phone will show nothing useful. JPEG opens on practically everything.
Convert before you send (the reliable route)
- Drop the photos on the tray at the top of this page. On an iPhone, tap choose files and pick from Photos.
- Download the JPEGs, or the ZIP if there are several.
- Attach the JPEGs to your email as usual.
Sometimes the iPhone converts for you
Apple's own support page says that when you share by AirDrop, Messages or email to a device that doesn't support the newer formats, the photo "might automatically be shared in a more compatible format, such as JPEG". Might. It depends on what iOS can tell about the recipient. Converting first removes the guesswork.
Make it permanent
Open Settings, tap Camera, tap Formats, then tap Most Compatible. From then on the camera saves JPEG. What changes when you do.
By email client
- Outlook on Windows: a common complaint.
- Gmail: preview works for the sender, not always for the recipient.
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