How to Open a HEIC File on Windows, Android and Mac
HEICJPG
In short
On Windows, the Photos app opens HEIC files once HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store are installed. The catch: the HEVC extension costs $0.99, and even then the photos only open on that PC. Portals, older programs and recipients still reject HEIC.
With our free HEIC to JPG converter you turn any number of photos into JPGs that open everywhere, with no extension to install or buy. Try it now.
Convert HEIC to JPG →Someone sent you photos from an iPhone, and your PC only shows a blank icon or says the format isn’t supported? Then they’re HEIC files. That’s the photo format iPhones have used for years. Here’s how to open them on any device, and when converting is the better fix.
Why won’t a HEIC file open?
HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC. That saves a lot of storage, but it requires license fees. So Windows doesn’t always include the right decoder, and older programs, TVs or upload portals don’t know the format at all. Nothing is wrong with the photo itself.
What exactly is behind the format is explained in What is a HEIC file?.
Which method is right for you?
| Device | How to open | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 and 10 | Two Microsoft Store extensions, then the Photos app | HEVC costs $0.99, only works on that PC |
| Any device, in the browser | Convert to JPG, then open it in any program | No catch, the JPG is a bit larger |
| Mac and iPhone | Open HEIC directly | Recipients without an Apple device still have trouble |
| Android 10 and later | Google Photos or Samsung Gallery | Not older phones or some apps |
If you only want to view the photos yourself and get HEIC files regularly, the Windows extensions are worth it. If you need to send the photos on, upload them or use them in another program, convert them to JPG. Then anyone can open them.
How to open HEIC files on Windows 11 and 10
Windows needs two extensions from the Microsoft Store. Check first whether they’re already there. Many new PCs have at least one preinstalled.
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps and search for “HEIF” and “HEVC”.
- If HEIF Image Extensions is missing, install it from the Microsoft Store. It’s free.
- If HEVC Video Extensions is missing, buy it in the Microsoft Store for $0.99. Without it, HEIC photos often stay black.
- Restart your PC and double-click the photo to open it in the Photos app. Thumbnails in File Explorer now appear too.
On a work or school PC, the Microsoft Store is often blocked, or you don’t have permission to install apps. Then converting in your browser is the only option. And even with the extensions, the photos only open on that PC. If you send them on or upload them to a portal, others run into the same problem.
No installation: convert HEIC to JPG
This is the way to go if you don’t want to or aren’t allowed to install anything, if you have lots of photos, or if you need to share them. It works in any browser, on Windows, Mac, phone and tablet.
- Open HEIC to JPG and drag your photos into the box. You can pick dozens at once.
- Choose the quality: High fits almost everything, Small file is for email and portals with a size limit.
- Tap Convert to JPG.
- Download the photos one by one or all together as a ZIP. IMG_1234.HEIC becomes IMG_1234.jpg.
Your photos aren’t uploaded to any server. They’re converted on your device. With private photos, that’s a real difference from many online converters. Good to know: the location and date taken from the original are no longer in the file afterward. When you share photos, that’s often an advantage.
If you want to edit a photo and save it with no loss, use HEIC to PNG. For photos that need to go out as a document, the guide How to make a PDF on iPhone from photos shows the right way.
How to open HEIC on Mac and iPhone
Mac, iPhone and iPad open HEIC without any add-ons, in Photos, Preview and Files. Trouble only starts when the photos go to someone without an Apple device. Here’s how to convert HEIC to JPG on a Mac:
- Several photos in Finder: Select the photos, right-click, choose Quick Actions > Convert Image and pick JPEG as the format.
- One photo in Preview: File > Export, choose JPEG as the format, then Save.
- From the Photos app: Select the photos, choose File > Export > Export Photos and set Photo Kind to JPEG.
On iPhone, convert photos in your browser, exactly as described above. The JPGs land in the Files app, in the Downloads folder.
How to open HEIC on an Android phone
From Android 10 on, Google Photos and Samsung Gallery usually show HEIC photos directly. On older phones, in some gallery apps, or when uploading to apps and forms, it doesn’t work. Then convert the photos to JPG in your phone’s browser. That works in Chrome and Samsung Internet just like on a PC.
If it still doesn’t work
- The photo stays black or blank: Usually the HEVC extension is missing. Check in Installed apps that both extensions are there, and restart your PC.
- “This file format isn’t supported”: The program doesn’t know HEIC, for example an older photo editor. Converting to JPG fixes this right away.
- No thumbnails in File Explorer: Restart once after installing the extensions. If that doesn’t help, it’s often the cloud folder, which shows the files only as placeholders.
- The extension is .heif or .hif: That’s the same format. The methods above work the same way.
Keep it from happening again
Two iPhone settings make sure you get JPG from the start:
- Settings > Camera > Formats > Most Compatible: New photos are saved as JPG. They take up about twice as much storage, though.
- Settings > Apps > Photos > Transfer to Mac or PC > Automatic: When you transfer by cable, the iPhone converts the photos to JPG itself. On older iOS versions, you’ll find this directly under Settings > Photos.
That doesn’t help for photos already sitting on your PC as HEIC. Convert those once, and you’re done.
How to get photos from your iPhone onto your PC by cable or iCloud is covered in How to transfer photos from iPhone to PC.
FAQ
Why can't I open HEIC files on Windows?
HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC, a method that requires license fees. That's why Windows doesn't always include the right decoder. Only with HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from the Microsoft Store does the Photos app show the pictures.
Can I open HEIC files for free?
Yes. The HEIF extension is free, only the HEVC extension costs $0.99. To skip the purchase entirely, convert the photos to JPG in your browser, for example with Filemanta. Any program can then open the JPG, and you don't have to install anything.
How do I view HEIC files on an Android phone?
From Android 10 on, Google Photos and Samsung Gallery usually show HEIC photos directly. On older phones or in some apps, that doesn't work. In that case, convert the photos to JPG in your phone's browser.
Do I lose quality when converting to JPG?
With the quality setting High, you won't see a difference, not even in print. The JPG is a bit larger than the HEIC original. If you want to edit the photo and save it with no loss at all, use PNG.
How do I switch my iPhone to JPG?
Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose Most Compatible. Your iPhone then saves new photos as JPG. They take up about twice as much storage, though. Photos already saved as HEIC stay HEIC.
The key points
- HEIC is the iPhone's photo format. Windows and older devices often can't open it out of the box.
- Windows needs two Microsoft Store extensions, and one of them costs $0.99.
- Mac and iPhone open HEIC directly, and Android 10 and later usually does too.
- No installation: convert HEIC to JPG in your browser, even lots of photos at once.
- A JPG opens everywhere, including upload portals and for people without an iPhone.
- Prevent it: set your iPhone to Most Compatible, or Automatic when transferring.
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