How do I open HEIC files on Windows 10 for free?

Install the free 'HEIF Image Extensions' from Microsoft Store. After installation, Windows Photos app will open HEIC files natively. Alternatively, use free online converters like heictojpg.com to convert to JPG.

Fix: HEIC Files Won't Open on Windows 10/11

Q: Why can't Windows open HEIC files?

Windows doesn't include HEIC support by default. HEIC is Apple's image format used by iPhones. You need to install the free 'HEIF Image Extensions' from Microsoft Store, or convert HEIC files to JPG.

Q: Why are my iPhone photos HEIC instead of JPG?

iPhones use HEIC by default because it offers better quality at smaller file sizes than JPG. You can change this in iPhone Settings > Camera > Formats > select 'Most Compatible' to save as JPG instead.

Open iPhone photos on your PC with free solutions — no software purchase needed

⚡ Quick Fix (Free)

Install HEIF Extension: Open Microsoft Store → Search "HEIF Image Extensions" → Install (free)
Restart PC after installation
Double-click your HEIC file — it now opens in Windows Photos

Alternative: Convert to JPG at heictojpg.com (free, no signup)

What is HEIC? HEIC is Apple's image format for iPhones. It offers better quality than JPG at half the file size. Learn more in our complete HEIC guide.

Transferred photos from your iPhone to Windows PC and can't open them? You're not alone. Windows doesn't support HEIC files by default, but there are several free ways to fix this.

Why Windows Can't Open HEIC Files

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11. Windows doesn't include HEIC support out of the box because:

Licensing costs — HEIC requires patent licenses that Microsoft doesn't include by default
Apple ecosystem — HEIC was designed for Apple devices first
Codec missing — Windows needs additional software to decode HEIC

The good news: Microsoft provides a free extension that adds native HEIC support.

Solution 1: Install Free Microsoft HEIF Extension

Best solution — Adds native HEIC support to Windows Photos

Step 1: Open Microsoft Store

Press Windows key, type "Microsoft Store", press Enter

Step 2: Search for Extension

In the Store search bar, type: HEIF Image Extensions

Step 3: Install

Click the "HEIF Image Extensions" by Microsoft Corporation → Click "Get" or "Install" (it's free)

Step 4: Restart and Test

Restart your PC. Double-click any HEIC file — it should now open in Windows Photos.

Note: If you see "HEVC Video Extensions" asking for $0.99, you don't need it for photos. The free "HEIF Image Extensions" is sufficient for HEIC images.

Direct Link to Extension

Open this link directly: HEIF Image Extensions on Microsoft Store

Solution 2: Convert HEIC to JPG Online (Free)

Best for: Quick one-time conversion, no installation needed

Using heictojpg.com

Go to heictojpg.com
Drag and drop your HEIC files (up to 50 at once)
Wait for conversion (happens in your browser, files don't upload)
Click "Download" to save JPG versions

Privacy note: heictojpg.com converts files locally in your browser — photos never leave your computer.

Other Free Converters

iLovePDF/iLoveIMG — Online, batch conversion
CloudConvert — 25 free conversions per day
Convertio — Simple drag-and-drop

For converting multiple files at once, see our guide to convert HEIC to JPG.

Solution 3: Use Free HEIC Viewer Software

Best for: Users who view many HEIC files regularly

IrfanView (Free)

Download IrfanView
Also download "IrfanView Plugins" from the same site
Install both (plugins add HEIC support)
Right-click HEIC files → Open with → IrfanView

XnView (Free)

Download XnView MP
Install and open
Browse to your HEIC files
XnView opens them natively

CopyTrans HEIC for Windows (Free)

This tool adds HEIC support to Windows Explorer thumbnails and right-click "Convert to JPG":

Download from CopyTrans HEIC
Install
HEIC thumbnails now appear in File Explorer
Right-click any HEIC → "Convert to JPEG"

Solution 4: Change iPhone Settings (Prevent Future Issues)

Best for: Avoiding HEIC altogether

Make your iPhone save photos as JPG instead of HEIC:

Open Settings on iPhone
Scroll to Camera
Tap Formats
Select Most Compatible

New photos will now be JPG. Existing HEIC photos remain unchanged.

Trade-off: JPG files are about twice the size of HEIC. A 3MB HEIC photo becomes ~6MB JPG. Consider your storage space.

Solution 5: Transfer Photos as JPG from iPhone

Keep HEIC on iPhone but transfer as JPG to PC:

Using iPhone Settings

Settings → Photos
Scroll to "Transfer to Mac or PC"
Select Automatic (converts to JPG when needed)

Using iCloud Photos

When downloading from iCloud.com, photos are automatically converted to JPG.

Which Solution Should You Choose?

Solution	Best For	Effort
HEIF Extension	Everyone (permanent fix)	2 minutes
Online converter	Quick one-time need	1 minute
IrfanView/XnView	Power users, many files	5 minutes
Change iPhone settings	Preventing future issues	30 seconds

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't Windows open HEIC files? +

Windows doesn't include HEIC support by default because HEIC requires licensed codecs that Microsoft doesn't bundle with the operating system. Install the free "HEIF Image Extensions" from Microsoft Store to add native support.

Is the Microsoft HEIF extension really free? +

Yes, "HEIF Image Extensions" is completely free. Don't confuse it with "HEVC Video Extensions" which costs $0.99 — you only need the free HEIF extension for photos.

How do I convert HEIC to JPG without losing quality? +

Use online converters like heictojpg.com with maximum quality settings, or use software like IrfanView and set JPG quality to 95-100%. Some quality loss is inevitable since JPG is a lossy format, but at high quality settings it's imperceptible.

Why are my iPhone photos HEIC instead of JPG? +

Apple made HEIC the default format starting with iOS 11 because it offers the same image quality as JPG at roughly half the file size. This saves significant storage space on your iPhone. You can change this in Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible.

Can I batch convert many HEIC files at once? +

Yes. Use heictojpg.com (50 files at once), CopyTrans HEIC (right-click multiple files), or IrfanView's batch conversion feature. For very large batches, desktop software is faster than online tools.