How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 and 11
You copied photos from an iPhone to your PC, double-clicked one, and Windows said it cannot open the file. The photo is not broken. It is saved in HEIC, the format iPhones use by default, and Windows does not always include the software needed to read it.
This guide explains why that happens and walks through three ways to fix it, from installing the official Microsoft extension to converting the photos to JPG in your browser.
Why Windows cannot open HEIC photos
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) stores images compressed with HEVC, the same codec used for modern video. It keeps photos at roughly half the size of a comparable JPG, which is why Apple switched to it in 2017.
Windows can display HEIC only when two components are installed: the HEIF Image Extensions, which understand the file container, and the HEVC Video Extensions, which decode the image data inside. Many PCs ship without the second one because HEVC is a licensed codec.
Method 1: Install the Microsoft extensions
This lets the Photos app and File Explorer thumbnails show HEIC files directly.
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for “HEIF Image Extensions”. Install it. It is free.
- Search the Store for “HEVC Video Extensions”. Install it. In most regions Microsoft charges a small fee for this one; some PCs already have it preinstalled by the manufacturer.
- Restart the Photos app and open your HEIC file again. Thumbnails in File Explorer should also appear.
Method 2: Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser
If you do not want to install anything, or you need to send the photos to someone else, converting them to JPG is the simplest option. JPG opens on every computer, phone and website.
- Open the PixShift HEIC to JPG converter.
- Drag your HEIC files into the drop area, or click it to choose files. You can add many photos at once.
- Wait a second or two per photo, then download each JPG or click “Download all (ZIP)”.
- The conversion runs inside your browser, so your photos are never uploaded to a server.
- It works on Windows 7, 8, 10 and 11 because it does not depend on Windows codecs.
Method 3: Make your iPhone send JPG files
You can stop the problem at the source by changing two iPhone settings.
- To transfer compatible files over USB: open Settings › Photos, scroll to “Transfer to Mac or PC” and choose Automatic. The iPhone will convert photos to JPG while copying them to your PC.
- To shoot new photos as JPG: open Settings › Camera › Formats and choose Most Compatible. New photos will be saved as JPG, though they will use more storage.
Which method should you choose?
- You view iPhone photos on this PC often: install the extensions (Method 1).
- You need to share, upload or edit a few photos now: convert them to JPG (Method 2).
- You regularly copy photos by cable: switch the transfer setting to Automatic (Method 3).