The short version
- iPhones record HEVC (H.265) video in .MOV files by default.
- Safari and recent Chrome usually play HEVC; support in other browsers varies by device.
- For maximum compatibility, set Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible (H.264).
- Turn off HDR Video if clips look washed out or overly bright elsewhere.
- Editing in the browser on the iPhone itself in Safari avoids transfer issues.
What iPhones record
By default, recent iPhones use the High Efficiency format: video compressed with HEVC (also called H.265), saved in a QuickTime .MOV file. HEVC stores roughly the same quality as the older H.264 codec in noticeably less space — great for your storage, but not every device or browser can decode it.
Many iPhones also record HDR (high dynamic range) video by default, which stores extra brightness and colour information. And photos are saved as HEIC images, which most non-Apple browsers can't open.
For the difference between containers (MOV, MP4) and codecs (HEVC, H.264), see our video formats guide.
Which browsers play HEVC
| Browser | HEVC (iPhone default) | H.264 (Most Compatible) |
|---|---|---|
| Safari (iPhone, iPad, Mac) | Yes | Yes |
| Chrome (Windows, Mac, Android) | Usually, on devices with hardware HEVC support | Yes |
| Edge (Windows) | Often, depending on hardware and installed video extensions | Yes |
| Firefox | Limited, varies by version and system | Yes |
Browser support changes over time and depends on your computer's graphics hardware, so if a clip won't open in one browser, try another — or record in H.264, which works everywhere.
Record in a compatible format
- Open Settings → Camera → Formats.
- Choose Most Compatible. New videos are recorded in H.264 and photos in JPEG.
- Optionally open Settings → Camera → Record Video and turn off HDR Video for footage that looks consistent everywhere.
Files will be larger, and some high-frame-rate 4K options require High Efficiency, so switch back when you need them. This only affects new recordings — existing videos stay as they are.
Transferring to a computer
- Windows: Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic makes the iPhone convert files to more compatible formats when copied over USB. "Keep Originals" copies the HEVC files unchanged.
- Mac: AirDrop or the Photos app; Macs play HEVC natively.
- Cloud and messaging apps may re-compress or convert videos — handy for compatibility, but quality can drop.
- Edited clips (files starting with IMG_E) contain your Photos-app edits and are also usually HEVC.
HDR video
HDR clips can look spectacular on an iPhone screen but washed out, dim or overly contrasty on screens and apps that don't handle HDR. Browser editors generally work in standard dynamic range, so HDR footage may look slightly different once edited and exported. If consistent colour matters, record with HDR Video turned off, then adjust brightness and contrast in the editor — see our colour guide.
Step by step: edit an iPhone video in VDOAPP
- Open the free online editor — in Safari on your iPhone, or in Chrome or Safari on a computer.
- Tap + Add media and choose your video. On a computer, .MOV files are accepted even if your system doesn't recognise the file type.
- If you see a "can't decode" message, try Chrome or Safari, or re-record with Most Compatible selected.
- Edit as normal — trim, add text, music and effects.
- Export: your video is saved as MP4 where the browser supports it (otherwise WebM), ready for any platform.