How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 and 11
Windows doesn't open iPhone HEIC photos out of the box. Here are four reliable ways to view them — with Microsoft's extensions, without installing anything, or by converting to JPG.
You copy photos from your iPhone to a Windows PC, double-click one — and Windows says it can't open the file, or asks you to install something. The files end in .HEIC, Apple's default photo format. Here are four ways to deal with them, from quickest to most permanent.
Why Windows can't open HEIC by default
HEIC images are compressed with HEVC (H.265). Windows needs two components to display them: a HEIF container reader and an HEVC decoder. Neither is always installed by default, so the Photos app may show an error or a prompt to get extensions from the Microsoft Store.
Option 1: View HEIC files in your browser (no installation)
The fastest option is our free HEIC viewer. Open it in Chrome, Edge or Firefox and drag a HEIC file onto the page. The photo is decoded inside your browser — it isn't uploaded anywhere — and you can zoom in, check the camera details and save it as a JPG.
This is ideal on work computers where you can't install software.
Option 2: Install Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions
To make HEIC files open natively in the Photos app and show thumbnails in File Explorer:
- Open the Microsoft Store.
- Search for HEIF Image Extensions and install it.
- Search for HEVC Video Extensions and install it. Depending on your region and device, Microsoft may charge a small fee for this codec; some PCs include a free manufacturer version.
- Restart the Photos app. HEIC files should now open, and File Explorer should show thumbnails.
If you only have the HEIF extension without an HEVC decoder, Windows can read the file but not decode the image, so you'll still see an error.
Option 3: Convert HEIC to JPG
If you need to use the photos — attach them to emails, upload them to websites or open them in older programs — converting to JPG is the most compatible solution:
- Open the HEIC to JPG converter.
- Select all your HEIC files in File Explorer (Ctrl+A) and drag them onto the converter.
- Press Convert, then Download all (ZIP).
The conversion runs locally in your browser, so even a large batch is quick and your photos stay private. Date and camera information is preserved by default.
Option 4: Make the iPhone send JPGs instead
Prevention is sometimes better than cure. On your iPhone:
- Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic — iOS converts photos to JPG when you copy them to a computer over USB.
- Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible — new photos are saved as JPG from the start (they'll take more storage).
Which option should you choose?
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| Just need to look at a few photos | Browser HEIC viewer |
| You regularly receive HEIC files | Install the HEIF + HEVC extensions |
| You need to share, upload or edit the photos | Convert to JPG |
| You import photos from your own iPhone | Set Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic |
For more background on the format itself, see What is a HEIC file?