Saving video from iPhone 13 to PC

10_66

I used to be able to view any saved videos on my PC that I took on my iPhone (I just clicked on them, and they rolled).  However, recently, if I save a video, I can no longer view it, I get a message saying "HEVC video extension is required to display this file".

I can still play previously saved videos, this just occurs on more recent ones.  If I right click on an old one or new one the options to open are the same (Films, iTunes, Media Player, Photos, Windows Media Player), whatever I try to open the new ones with, they just won't play.

Can anyone tell me why Windows Media Player won't work on newly saved videos, but continues to play old ones?  And what can I do to resolve this, please?  I have Googled HEVC, but the little I've read about it, it doesn't look that successful?

Edit:  I use Windows 10

oldernonethewiser

Are the old videos you are able to play in a different format ie have a different extension?

10_66

I'm sorry, I have no idea, I don't know how to check that, I haven't changed the way I do things though.  I just used to save them to my PC, clicked on them and they played (and the old ones still do), new ones just won't play anymore, and I get the above mentioned message.  I have Googled to see if I can do anything myself, and one suggestion was to troubleshoot from settings.  I did this, and it just came up with the same message.

oldernonethewiser

You should be able to right click on any file and get more info about it.

There are many guides online to help play HEVC files on a Windows device eg https://www.xda-developers.com/play-hevc-encoded-media-windows-media-player/

Another alternative is to use the free VLC player which will handle most things.

Have you by any chance changed the settings on the camera section of your phone re the "formats"?

flaneurs_lobster

There's a recent thread here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6522623/pics-suddenly-unviewable-hevc-problem-fixed-thanks

Solution isn't immediately obvious but does seem to be to change the phone settings to save images/video in a format that isn't Apple-only.

10_66

oldernonethewiser said:

...Have you by any chance changed the settings on the camera section of your phone re the "formats"?

No I haven't changed the settings, but I do find sometimes, following updates, that other settings (for no apparent reason) have been changed (ie, notification sounds have reverted to default etc).

Thank you both oldernonethewiser and flaneurs_lobster for your help.  I'll have a look at all references.

oldernonethewiser

If some things on the phone have changed then go into your camera settings and make sure the "formats" is set to "most compatible".  

That will stop the videos being saved in HEVC

DullGreyGuy

flaneurs_lobster said:

Solution isn't immediately obvious but does seem to be to change the phone settings to save images/video in a format that isn't Apple-only.

HEVC isn't an apple creation, it was created by a consortium of which Samsung and GE contributed the most when it comes to giving up patents.  Microsoft were not part of the group and are one of those pushing for a license free version to be created (which Apple also call for but were a minor partner in the original group). 

Windows 10 did have native support for a while but it was removed and is now a paid for download (99p) from the Microsoft Store, Windows 11 have native support again. 

Given the OP has videos they can now not view it may be easier to fix viewing of HVEC and then continue to use the higher efficiency codec rather than reverting to a less efficient one for future capture and then having to lose or convert the previously recorded files. 

10_66

Thank you all so much for your help 🙏.  I have now changed the format to Most Compatible for now, as oldernonethewiser has suggested, but I'll also look into the other options too (VLC or maybe an HEVC download).

bob2302

Windows has a long history of having a default  media player with poor compatibility. People generally have to work around it with codec pack downloads or switching to VLC.  

HEVC/x265/H.265 is pretty mainstream these days. IMO the only good reason for avoiding it is if you need to play the files on a TV that doesn't support it.

PHK

flaneurs_lobster said:

There's a recent thread here

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6522623/pics-suddenly-unviewable-hevc-problem-fixed-thanks

Solution isn't immediately obvious but does seem to be to change the phone settings to save images/video in a format that isn't Apple-only.

It’s not an Apple only format. Samsung uses this as well and I believe helped create it. Microsoft doesn’t want to pay the licence fee but Apple does pay it.