You need an extension to use this file – Photos app Video Editor error on Windows 10

If when you want to view videos or photos on your Windows 10 computer using the inbuilt Photos app Video editor and you receive the error message- You need an extension to use this file, then this post is intended to help you. In this post, we will present the options available to you that you can try to successfully remediate this issue.

Let’s take a look at a typical scenario where you can encounter this issue.

If you have an iOS or Android device, you might want to use photos and videos you take with that device with the Photos app on your PC or Surface. Most of the time it’s not a problem. But if the photos and videos you want to use are HEIF (High Efficiency Image File) or HEVC (High Efficiency Video Codec) files, you might see a message in the Photos app Video Editor that says You need an extension to use this file.

You need an extension to use this file

If you’re faced with this You need an extension to use this file issue, you can try the recommended solutions below in no particular order to effectively resolve the issue.

1. Get the HEIF and HEVC Extensions from the Microsoft Store
2. Automatically convert your files by reimporting them or emailing them to yourself
3. Use OneDrive to automatically convert your photo files

Let’s take a look at the description of the process involved concerning each of the listed solutions.

1] Get the HEIF and HEVC Extensions from the Microsoft Store

This solution requires you to get both of the HEIF Image and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store and install them on your PC (as long as your PC meets the system requirements). You’ll need both, even if you only plan on using photos and not videos.

After they’re installed, restart the Photos app. Now you’ll be able to use your files in the Photos Video Editor without the You need an extension to use this file issue.

Read: How to view HEIC and HEVC files on Windows 10 Photos app.

2] Automatically convert your files by reimporting them or emailing them to yourself

Many devices will automatically convert HEIC photos and HEVC videos to a more common format when transferring or emailing the files. In this case, try plugging in your iPhone or Android into your PC and moving the files over. Or just email the files to yourself from your phone and save them on your PC. Then try adding the files to your video project. Here’s how

• Open your video project in the Photos app.
• Select Add > From this PC.
• Browse to the files and select them.

If that didn’t work, follow Solution 1 (get the extensions for the Photos app) or try Solution 3 for your photo files.

Read: How to play HEVC coded videos on Windows 10.

3] Use OneDrive to automatically convert your photo files

This solution entails that you Upload HEIF and HEVC photos and videos to OneDrive.

To preserve the image quality of original photos and to save storage space, starting in September 2019, OneDrive on iOS will upload High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) photos in their original format, instead of uploading them as JPG to OneDrive.

HEIF and High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) are the default file formats for photos and videos on most Apple devices running iOS 11 or later. Most Mac computers, iPhones, and iPads can open these files. You can also view these files on the OneDrive website.

If you want to continue working with non-HEIF photo and video formats, you can update a setting on your Apple device camera to capture photos and videos in other formats.

Here’s how:

• On your iOS device, open Settings, then tap Camera > Format.
• Under Camera Capture, tap Most Compatible.

To make sure it worked, add your files to your video project by selecting Add > From this PC and browsing to the files.

Hope this helps!