So, if you transfer edited pictures directly from your iPhone or Mac gallery to a Windows device, it will look like it did before any changes were made. However, this file type is unique to macOS and iOS and it can’t run on Windows. AAE files aren’t readily visible in your gallery, but when you open an edited picture, the system analyzes the modifications made to it and applies them instantly. So basically, whenever you edit a photo on an iPhone or Mac, a corresponding AAE file with the detailed edits is created as well and stored in the same location. This means you can open it using any text editor program. Information about any edits that are made is stored in the AAE file in XML format. It details the modifications made to JPEG pictures through the Photos app.
aae File?ĪAE is a file type found on iOS 8 and newer and macOS 10.10 and newer systems. We’ll explain what they are, whether you can delete them, how to open them, and how to convert AAE files to JPEG. In this guide, you’ll find out everything you need to know about AAE files.