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How to Open HEIC Files on Windows

You plug in your iPhone, copy some photos to your Windows PC, and... nothing opens them. Windows doesn't recognize the file. This is the HEIC problem, and you're not the first person to run into it.

The fix is easy. You have three options, and they each take about a minute.

Option 1: Install Microsoft's HEIF Extension (Free)

Microsoft offers a free extension that adds HEIC support to Windows. Once installed, Photos, Paint, and most Windows apps will open HEIC files like any other image.

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app
  2. Search for "HEIF Image Extensions"
  3. Click Install (it's free)
  4. Wait about 30 seconds for it to download
  5. That's it—your HEIC files will now open normally

Note: There's also a "HEVC Video Extensions" app that costs $0.99. You don't need this for photos—only for HEVC videos. The image extension is completely free.

Option 2: Convert to JPG

If you'd rather not install anything, you can convert the photos to JPG. This takes a few seconds per photo and gives you files that work everywhere.

Convert HEIC to JPG here — just drop your file and download the result.

This is also the better option if you're sending photos to someone else. You can't install extensions on their computer, but you can send them a JPG they can definitely open.

Option 3: Change Your iPhone Settings

If you transfer photos from your iPhone regularly, you can make the phone do the conversion automatically:

  1. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Photos
  2. Scroll to "Transfer to Mac or PC"
  3. Select "Automatic"

Now when you transfer photos via USB, your iPhone will convert them to JPG on the fly. The originals stay as HEIC on your phone (saving storage), but Windows gets JPGs it can open.

Why Does This Happen?

Apple started using HEIC in 2017 because it produces smaller files than JPG—roughly half the size at the same quality. Great for phone storage, annoying for compatibility.

Microsoft added basic HEIC support to Windows 10 and 11, but it requires that extension from the Store. Most Windows users don't know it exists, which is why you're reading this.

What About Windows 7 or 8?

The Microsoft extension only works on Windows 10 and 11. For older Windows versions, your only option is converting to JPG. The conversion tool works in any browser, so the Windows version doesn't matter.

Batch Converting Multiple Files

If you have a bunch of HEIC files to convert, you don't have to do them one at a time. Drop multiple files on our converter and they'll all be converted at once. Works for a handful of vacation photos or a few hundred.