How to open HEIC files on Windows
Updated
Windows often can't open HEIC out of the box — you'd need Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC codecs from the Store, and the HEVC piece has usually been a paid add-on. The simplest durable fix is to convert the HEIC to JPG, a format every version of Windows opens natively. It runs in your browser, so the file is never uploaded.
Do it now — free, in your browser
Convert HEIC to JPGWhy Windows often won't open HEIC
HEIC is the format iPhones use by default, and it packs good quality into a small file. The catch on Windows is that support isn't built in the way JPG or PNG support is. On Windows 10 and 11, opening a HEIC in Photos or previewing it in File Explorer relies on two pieces from the Microsoft Store: the HEIF Image Extensions and the HEVC Video Extensions.
The awkward part is that the HEVC piece — the one that actually decodes the image data — has historically been a paid add-on, while the free HEIF extension alone often isn't enough. So double-clicking a HEIC frequently does nothing useful: a blank window, an error, or a prompt to buy something from the Store. If you just want to see and share the picture, installing codecs is a lot of friction.
The simplest fix: convert HEIC to JPG
Instead of wrestling with codecs, convert the file to a format Windows already understands. JPG opens natively on every version of Windows — no Store, no add-ons, no configuration. You get an ordinary image you can view, email, print, or drop into any app.
Open the HEIC to JPG converter, add your HEIC file (or a whole batch), and download the JPGs — the pictures now open with a double-click. If you'd rather keep a lossless copy, the HEIC to PNG converter works the same way. Want the background on the format first? The HEIC format page explains it.
JPG or PNG — and what "convert" really means
Converting HEIC to JPG isn't magic — it re-encodes the image once into a new lossy file, and you choose the quality. At a high quality setting the difference is hard to see, but it is a genuine re-encode, not a lossless copy. That trade is usually worth it: JPG is small, universal, and instantly openable.
Prefer no quality loss on export? Choose PNG instead. PNG is lossless, so the exported pixels aren't degraded any further, but the files are noticeably larger — often several times the size of the equivalent JPG. A simple rule: JPG for photos you'll share, PNG when you want an exact, lossless export and don't mind the size. You can read up on the JPG format or browse everything under all converters.
Does the file get uploaded?
No. The conversion runs entirely in your browser, so your HEIC files are processed right on your device and never uploaded to a server. You can verify it yourself: once the page has loaded, disconnect from the internet and the converter still works — clear proof the images aren't going anywhere.
As a side effect, the exported JPG or PNG has its EXIF and GPS metadata stripped, so any location tags baked into the original iPhone photo don't travel with the copy you share. If you specifically need that metadata, keep the original HEIC. For a walkthrough focused on the private, no-upload angle, see convert HEIC to JPG without uploading.
Frequently asked questions
Why won't my HEIC files open on Windows?+
Windows doesn't include HEIC support by default. On Windows 10 and 11 you need Microsoft's HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Store, and the HEVC part has often been a paid add-on — so many people just see an error or a blank window. Converting to JPG sidesteps all of that.
Can I open HEIC on Windows without installing anything?+
Yes — convert it to JPG or PNG first. Those formats open natively on every version of Windows with no codecs, no Store, and no setup. The HEIC to JPG converter does this in your browser.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?+
It's a one-time re-encode to a lossy format, so technically yes, but you pick the quality. At a high setting the change is hard to notice. If you want zero additional loss on export, convert to PNG instead — the files are just larger.
Is my photo uploaded when I convert it?+
No. The converter runs entirely in your browser, so the file is processed right on your device and never uploaded. After the page loads you can even go offline and it still works.
Will the converted file still have my location data?+
No. EXIF and GPS metadata are stripped on export, so the location baked into the original iPhone photo won't travel with the JPG or PNG you share. Keep the original HEIC if you need that data.