How to Open HEIC Files on Windows (5 Easy Fixes)

You copy a batch of photos from your iPhone to your Windows laptop, double-click one, and get a blank icon or an error instead of your picture. Nothing is wrong with the photos. They are most likely HEIC files, a space-saving format iPhones use when the camera is set to High Efficiency, and Windows does not always know how to open them out of the box.

This guide shows you how to open HEIC files on Windows in five ways. The quickest for most people is converting the photos to JPG in your browser. The longer-lasting fix is changing one setting on your iPhone.

Which fix is right for you?

Find the row that sounds like you, then jump to that fix.

Why can't I open HEIC files on Windows?

Because HEIC is a newer format, and Windows does not always include what it needs to read it. Apple's support page on HEIF and HEVC explains that these formats compress better than JPEG and H.264, so photos and videos take up less space without lowering visual quality. That is why iPhones can save photos this way.

The catch is on the Windows side. Microsoft's own help page for the Photos app says photos from iOS or Android devices may not open if they are HEIF or HEVC files, and you may see a message saying you need an extension to use the file.

If your iPhone photos are not opening on a PC, this is a common reason. Depending on your Windows version and updates, your PC may already open HEIC files. If yours does, you can stop here. If not, the five fixes below will sort it out.

One shortcut that does not work: renaming a file from .heic to .jpg. Renaming changes only the name, not what is inside the file.

Fix 1: Add Microsoft's HEIF Image Extensions

Best for: people who want the Photos app to open HEIC files directly.

1. Open the Microsoft Store on your PC.
2. Search for HEIF Image Extensions and install it.
3. If your photos still will not open, Microsoft's help page says to install HEVC Video Extensions as well, even if you only use photos. Check the price shown in the Store, because it can change.
4. Restart the Photos app and open your HEIC file again.

This fix is aimed at the Photos app. If you need pictures that work in more programs and websites, such as email, online forms or older software, Fix 2 is the safer choice.

Fix 2: Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser

Best for: converting HEIC to JPG on Windows when you have a few photos or a big batch, or when you do not want to install anything. BytePriva's HEIC to JPG Converter works right in your browser, so your photos are not uploaded to a server.

1. Open the HEIC to JPG Converter.
2. Add your HEIC photos by choosing them or dragging them in. You can add several at once.
3. Check the JPG quality slider. It starts at 90%, and around 85 to 90% is a good balance for everyday photos.
4. Download the JPG files one by one, or use Download All.

The tool also shows the original and converted file sizes side by side, so you can compare them. Large batches can take a little longer, because decoding HEIC takes real processing power.

One thing to know: converted JPGs do not carry over the original photo's metadata, such as GPS location. Keep your original HEIC files if you need that information.

Fix 3: Switch your iPhone camera to Most Compatible

Best for: anyone who moves photos from an iPhone to a Windows PC regularly.

1. On your iPhone, open Settings, then Camera, then Formats.
2. Choose Most Compatible.

New photos are then saved as JPEG, and new videos as H.264. To go back to the space-saving formats later, choose High Efficiency.

Three things to keep in mind:

• This setting applies to new photos, so older HEIC photos still need Fix 1 or Fix 2.
• Apple says HEIF and HEVC use less storage than JPEG and H.264, so expect new photos to take up more space.
• The option appears only on iPhone and iPad models that can capture HEIF and HEVC, and menu names can differ slightly between iOS versions.

Fix 4: Check the settings when you transfer photos by cable

Best for: people who plug their iPhone into a PC.

Apple's transfer guide for Windows says to install the Apple Devices app from the Microsoft Store, connect your iPhone with a USB cable, unlock it, and tap Trust or Allow when asked. If iCloud Photos is on, Apple says to download the original, full-resolution versions to your iPhone first, otherwise you cannot import them to your PC.

Here is the part that matters for HEIC. Apple says that when you import by USB, your photos might be converted to JPEG, and that you can stop this by choosing Keep Originals in your Photos settings. So the choice is yours:

• Want the untouched originals? Choose Keep Originals, then use Fix 1 or Fix 2 on your PC.
• Happy for your iPhone to convert photos when needed? Leave Keep Originals off.

Either way, check what arrived. A .jpg file opens in more places, while a .heic file may need Fix 1 or Fix 2. Menu paths can vary by iOS version.

Fix 5: Email the photos to yourself

Best for: a handful of photos when you do not have a cable.

Microsoft's Photos help page lists this as one route: send the photos to yourself by email, then save them on your PC. Apple adds that when photos are shared by email, they might automatically be shared in a more compatible format if the receiving device cannot handle the newer one.

After saving, look at the file ending. If it says .jpg, you are done. If it still says .heic, use Fix 1 or Fix 2.

Microsoft's page also mentions OneDrive as another route for photos, with its own separate guide.

Will converting HEIC to JPG hurt my photo quality?

JPG is a lossy format, so a small amount of detail is traded for compatibility. The quality slider in the converter controls that trade-off. Higher settings (90 to 100%) keep more detail, and lower settings make smaller files.

Because converting makes a new file, keep your original HEIC photos and treat the JPGs as copies for sharing and uploading. If a form or website asks for a smaller file than your JPG, our Compress Image to KB tool can help.

HEIC not opening on Windows? A quick checklist

If one of the fixes did not work, go through this list:

• Restart the Photos app. Microsoft's help page says to do this after installing the extensions.
• Check both extensions. Microsoft says photos can need HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions.
• Check the file ending. A file renamed to .jpg is still a HEIC file inside.
• Test one photo with Fix 2. If it converts and opens, the photo itself is fine.
• Look at your iPhone settings. If you often hit this problem, Fix 3 stops it at the source for new photos.

HEIC to JPG FAQ

Why can't Windows open HEIC files?

HEIC is a newer format, and Windows does not always include what it needs to read it. Microsoft's help page for the Photos app says HEIF and HEVC files from iOS or Android devices may not open without an extension.

Do my photos get uploaded when I convert HEIC to JPG?

Not with BytePriva's converter. It works in your browser, so your photos are not uploaded to a server. If you use a different website, check what it says about uploads before you add your photos.

Can I convert many HEIC photos at once?

Yes. The converter accepts several files at once and has a Download All button. Large batches can take longer, because decoding HEIC takes real processing power.

Does converting HEIC to JPG remove location data?

Converted JPGs from our tool do not carry over the original metadata, such as GPS location. If you need that information, keep the original HEIC files.

Should I switch my iPhone to JPEG?

It depends. Most Compatible makes new photos JPEG, which opens in more places, but Apple says HEIF takes up less storage. If you rarely use Windows, you may prefer to keep High Efficiency and convert photos only when you need to.

Does this work on Windows 10 and Windows 11?

Fix 2 runs in your browser, so it does not depend on Microsoft Store extensions. The Microsoft help page we used for Fix 1 is written for Windows 10, so on Windows 11 the Store steps may look slightly different, and some PCs already open HEIC files without anything extra.

Disclaimer

This guide is for general information. Menu names, app names and the price of Microsoft Store extensions can change with new versions of Windows and iOS, so what you see may differ slightly from what is described here. Converting HEIC to JPG creates a new copy and may reduce detail, so please keep your original files. Results from BytePriva's converter may vary slightly depending on your browser, your device and the original file.

Always check that your converted photos meet the requirements of any form, school, employer or website you are submitting them to. Use of this information is at your own risk. See our full Disclaimer for details.

Written by the BytePriva Team. Last reviewed: 22 October 2026.

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