Guide
How to open HEIC files on Windows
iPhone photos arrive on Windows as .HEIC files, and Windows often can’t open them out of the box. Here are four ways to fix that, from the quickest to the most permanent.
1. Convert them to JPG (fastest)
Drop the files into our HEIC to JPG converter. It runs in your browser, so nothing is uploaded and there’s nothing to install. You get JPGs that open in every app.
2. Add HEIC support to the Photos app
- Open the Microsoft Store and install HEIF Image Extensions. It’s free.
- HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC, so you may also need HEVC Video Extensions. Microsoft charges a small fee for it, and some PCs come with it already installed.
- Restart the Photos app and open your HEIC files.
This lets you view the photos, but many other programs and websites still won’t accept them.
3. Get JPGs from your iPhone directly
- Copying by cable: on the iPhone, open Settings → Apps → Photos (on iOS 17 and earlier, Settings → Photos) and set Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic. Photos are converted to JPG as they copy.
- From iCloud.com: select your photos, open the download options and choose Most Compatible to download JPGs.
4. Stop new photos being saved as HEIC
On the iPhone, open Settings → Camera → Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos are saved as JPG. They take up more space on your phone, so this is a trade-off.
Which option should I use?
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| A few photos to send or upload now | Convert to JPG |
| You just want to view them on your PC | Install HEIF Image Extensions |
| You regularly copy photos to a PC | Set Transfer to Mac or PC to Automatic |
| You never want HEIC again | Switch the camera to Most Compatible |