How to Open HEIC Files on Windows
Copied an iPhone photo to your PC and Windows will not open it? HEIC is not supported out of the box on older Windows. Here are two ways to fix it.
Option 1: install the HEIF extension
Windows 10 and 11 can open HEIC files once you install Microsoft's free "HEIF Image Extensions" from the Microsoft Store. Some PCs also need the "HEVC Video Extensions" for the underlying codec. After that, HEIC photos open and preview like any other image.
Option 2: convert HEIC to JPG
The more reliable fix, especially if you want to upload or share the photo, is to convert HEIC to JPG. JPG opens on every version of Windows and in every program, with no extensions to install. A free HEIC to JPG converter does it in your browser, and nothing is uploaded.
Which should you do?
If you just want to view the odd photo, the extension is fine. If you need to send, upload or edit the photo somewhere that rejects HEIC, convert it to JPG. See our full guide on how to convert HEIC to JPG.
Learn more
Not sure what these files even are? See what a HEIC file is.
Convert HEIC to JPG
Open iPhone photos anywhere. Free, in your browser, nothing uploaded.
Open HEIC to JPG Converter →