How to Open HEIC Files on Windows
You copied photos from your iPhone to a Windows PC and they will not open - just a blank icon or an error message. The files end in .heic, and Windows does not know what to do with that extension out of the box. This is the single most common snag iPhone owners hit the moment they touch a PC, and every one of the fixes below is free.
Need to open just one or two photos right now?
Skip the settings menus - convert the file to JPG in your browser and it will open in literally any Windows app.
Convert HEIC to JPG Free →4 Ways to Open HEIC Files on Windows
Method 1: Convert to JPG Online (No Install, Fastest)
If you just need to view, print, or attach one photo right now, converting is quicker than installing anything.
- 1Open the HEIC to JPG converter
- 2Drop in your HEIC photo(s)
- 3Download the JPG - it opens in Photos, Paint, Word, or anywhere else
Best for: opening or sharing a handful of photos right now, no software install.
Less ideal if: you get iPhone photos regularly and want them to just work automatically - see Method 2.
Method 2: Install the Free HEIF Image Extensions (Permanent Fix)
This is Microsoft's own free codec, and it is the closest thing to a "set it and forget it" solution. Once installed, HEIC behaves like any other image format on your PC.
- 1Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu
- 2Search "HEIF Image Extensions"
- 3Click Get to install (free)
- 4Restart Windows Photos or File Explorer
After that, HEIC files open directly in Windows Photos, Paint, and the File Explorer preview pane - no extra steps needed per file. Note: the Store also lists a separate paid "HEVC Video Extensions" add-on for video playback; you do not need it for photos, only the free HEIF one.
Best for: anyone who receives iPhone photos regularly and wants them to open automatically from now on.
Method 3: iCloud for Windows (If You Already Use iCloud)
If your iPhone photos back up to iCloud, the iCloud for Windows app can be set to hand them to your PC as JPEG automatically instead of HEIC.
- 1Install iCloud for Windows from the Microsoft Store or Apple's site
- 2Sign in with your Apple ID
- 3Go to iCloud Settings → Photos
- 4Turn on the option to download photos as JPEG (exact wording varies by version)
Best for: iPhone users who already back photos up through iCloud.
Does not help with: photos moved over by USB cable or AirDrop - those still land as HEIC.
Method 4: Set Your iPhone Camera to Save as JPEG
If HEIC keeps causing friction and you would rather avoid the format entirely going forward:
- 1Open Settings on your iPhone
- 2Tap Camera → Formats
- 3Select "Most Compatible" instead of "High Efficiency"
New photos will save as JPEG from that point on - existing HEIC photos in your library are untouched. The tradeoff: JPEG files run roughly twice the size of the equivalent HEIC photo, so this setting eats into your iPhone storage faster. Most people who split time between iPhone and Windows find it easier to install the free codec (Method 2) and keep shooting HEIC.
Why Doesn't Windows Open HEIC by Default?
HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC (H.265), the same video codec used for 4K streaming. HEVC carries licensing fees, so Microsoft chose to ship it as a separate, optional codec rather than bundle it into every copy of Windows. The free HEIF Image Extensions covers the still-photo side of that codec without requiring the paid video codec - which is exactly why photo support is free even though video support (HEVC Video Extensions) has a small price tag in the Store.
Does This Depend on My Windows Version?
| Windows Version | Fix |
|---|---|
| Windows 11 | HEIF Image Extensions from Microsoft Store - opens natively after install |
| Windows 10 (1809 or newer) | Same free Store codec works fine |
| Windows 10 (older builds) / 7 / 8 | Store codec may not be available - use the online converter, or a free viewer like IrfanView with a HEIF plugin |
Opening HEIC in Specific Apps
| App | HEIC Support |
|---|---|
| Photoshop | Native since 2019 (v21.1+); older versions need a JPG first |
| Lightroom / Lightroom Classic | Supported - update via Creative Cloud if yours can't import HEIC |
| Microsoft Word / PowerPoint / Excel | Cannot insert HEIC directly, even with the codec installed - convert to JPG first |
| Paint | Opens and edits HEIC once the HEIF Image Extensions codec is installed |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my iPhone photos show up as HEIC on my PC?
Your iPhone has saved photos in HEIC by default since iOS 11 to save storage space. Windows just does not read that format without the extra free codec.
Is the HEIF Image Extensions codec really free?
Yes. Only the separate HEVC Video Extensions add-on (for video, not photos) carries a small charge in some regions.
Do I need to convert every photo manually?
No - once you install the free codec (Method 2), HEIC photos open automatically like any other image. Converting is only needed for a specific file you want as a universal JPG, such as for a website upload or an Office document.
Will Microsoft Word ever support HEIC directly?
As of now, no - Office requires JPEG, PNG, or similar formats for inserted images even with the codec installed.
Does converting to JPG lose quality?
At a high quality setting the difference is essentially invisible for normal viewing and sharing.