By default, Apple's iPhones and iPads take photos in the HEIF format, and these photos end up with the .HEIC extension. Windows 10 and 11 don't support HEIC files, but there is a way to view them or convert them to standard JPEG file formats.
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The HEIC format was adopted by Apple in 2017 as a replacement for the JPEG format. More efficient in terms of size and quality, the HEIC file extension is also known as a HEIF file.
HEIC is better than JPG in many ways—namely, its ability to compress images into a smaller file size without losing quality. However, the key thing that keeps HEIC from becoming as popular as JPG is that not all apps and devices support HEIC. While more and more developers are adopting HEIC, it still isn’t as popular as the standard JPG format.
It has been used in the past for Portrait Mode on Apple iPhones, which gives much higher quality images than the regular JPEG format and offers a number of other advantages. It’s a new step for the world of image file extensions and a great way to cut down on file sizes . However, it’s hard to know what to do with them on Windows.
A few basic steps are all you need to do to be able to open such files on Windows 7, 8, and 10.
Tip : If you send an image file from your iOS device, such as via email or Dropbox, your iOS device will automatically convert the file to JPG, meaning you don't have to worry about HEIC/HEIF compatibility issues.
1. Try opening the HEIC file using the Photos app . Microsoft provides a built-in photo viewer called Photos for Windows 11 and Windows 10. It doesn't offer HEIC compatibility by default, so you'll have to choose the app from the menu when you try to open your photos.
2. Click Download and install it now . Photos displays a link to the HEVC extension that lets you open HEIC files (among other things) in the Microsoft Store. Click it.
3. Confirm that you want to launch the Microsoft Store . Windows 11 will prompt you to confirm that you want to switch to the new app; let it launch Microsoft's app store.
4. Click the $0.99 button . Or, if you're outside the US, any of the buttons that show the extension's price in your local currency. It's located on the far left of the page. You'll be asked if you want to pay by credit card, PayPal, or gift card.
5. Click Buy . Once you've selected your payment method (and set it up if this is your first time buying something from the Microsoft Store), you'll see a confirmation window. Click Buy to continue with your purchase so you can install the extension.
6. Confirm your purchase was successful . A new Open button will appear where the $0.99 or equivalent button used to be. Clicking that button won't do anything, but it will show that the extension has been successfully installed.
7. Open your HEIC file. Try reopening the file you started with. Thanks to the HEVC Video Extension, the image should display.
While trying to open a HEIC file on Windows 10 for the first time can be a little frustrating, don’t worry. There’s a really simple fix that will have you opening your images in no time.
You might expect support to be included in Windows 10 in the future, but it isn't yet, and that means you'll need a few extensions to help.
The extensions you need to download are called HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions . Install both from the Store and you’re good to go. The HEIF extension is free, but the HEVC extension costs $0.99.
The Windows 10 extensions you need are available for download through the Microsoft Store. To open HEIC files, you'll need two extensions, one for HEIF and one for HEVC. Without both, you won't be able to open HEIC files on your PC.
Once the two extensions from the previous step are installed, you don’t need to do anything special. Your HEIC files will now open by default in the Photos app on Windows 10.
If you have another app installed that's set as the default option for images and you want to open it in the Photos app, just right-click the image and select Open with > Photos .
While you can now open your HEIC files on Windows 10, you may still run into compatibility issues with other apps and services. If you want to use any image files, you should save a copy as a JPEG.
To do this in the Photos app, first tap the Edit & Create button in the top-right corner and select Edit . Now tap the Save a copy button in the bottom-left corner.
When the standard Windows 10 save dialog appears, JPG should be selected by default, but if not, select it from the drop-down box. Then click Save and you’ll have an exact copy of your image, now as a JPEG rather than a HEIC file.
No need to use any conversion tools, just download and install CopyTrans HEIC for Windows . This tool fully supports HEIC images on Windows. You will see thumbnails of HEIC files in File Explorer on Windows 10 (or Windows Explorer on Windows 7), and they will open in the standard Windows Photo Viewer. With this tool, you can also insert HEIC files directly into Microsoft Office applications.
Even though you’re still using third-party software, you won’t feel like you’re using it because it’s as simple as double-clicking on a HEIC file to open it. If you don’t see thumbnails after installing this software, you may need to restart your computer or log out and back in.
Additionally, this tool also has a feature to convert to JPGE files by right-clicking on the .HEIC file and selecting " Convert to JPEG ". And the HEIC file will be converted to JPEG format in the same folder. JPEG files are more widely supported, so this feature makes it easier to share HEIC images with others or upload them to different applications.
While dealing with HEIC files can be a pain, remember that they have a unique purpose. They optimize image size while preserving quality. So if you can leave your photos in HEIC format, that’s going to be the best thing for you—especially in the long run. But the good news is, there are a few ways to convert your photos to JPG quickly and easily.
Most people assume that opening HEIC files on Windows requires third-party software, but that's not necessarily the case. Windows 10 and 11 have a built-in feature that can help you convert your image files without having to pay for software or download anything.
Find the image you want to convert and open it in the Photos app in Windows. You can do this by right-clicking the image, hovering over Open with , and then clicking Photos. Your image file will now open in the Photos app, ready to be converted.
Simply right-click on the image you have open in Photos, select Save As , and choose JPEG or JPG from the drop-down menu. Give your new image a name and click Save to finish the process.
What if I can't open HEIC images in Photos?
If you open your HEIC file and see a message saying you’re missing the “HEVC video extension,” then you have an HEIC that includes HEVC video. This is usually because you used the iPhone’s Live feature, which records a small, high-quality video alongside the photo so you have more control over what you’ve captured.
To convert these image file types, you’ll need a special plugin provided by Microsoft. Clicking the link below the warning message will open the Microsoft Store page for a HEVC plugin for $0.99. Once you purchase and install the plugin, you should be able to convert any HEIC image without any problems.
HEIC is a new image format that allows users to capture high-quality photos on their devices while saving space. HEIC is just another name for HEIF, which stands for High Efficiency Image Format. There are many lightweight software applications developed to convert HEIC photos to JPG/JPEG/PNG without any hassle. One of them is iMazing HEIC Converter .
iMazing HEIC Converter is capable of converting HEIC images on Windows and Mac for free. The program allows users to convert Apple photos from HEIC format to JPG or PNG. iMazing HEIC Converter version 1.0.9 has fixed the issue with some invalid HEIC files. Besides, iMazing converter announced that it is only compatible with iOS version 11 or later. iMazing HEIC Converter v1.0.14 can convert HEIC to JPG, HEIC to PNG. iMazing Converter v2.0.xx can convert HEIC to JPG, HEIC to PNG, HEVC (H.265) to AVC/MP4 (H.264).
The interface of this tool is quite attractive and you have more control over your conversion settings. With iMazing HEIC Converter, you can adopt Apple's brand new format without worrying about compatibility with your old software.
Some of the pros and cons of using this tool are as follows:
Advantage
Disadvantages
Once you have downloaded and installed iMazing HEIC Converter, here's how you convert your HEIC files:
If you don't want to install any software, you can use an online converter. Just upload the .HEIC file and wait for the conversion to complete and download the JPEG file.
Warning : While the site below works fine, you should not upload personal photos (or important documents containing financial, business, or video data) to online tools for conversion. If the photo contains sensitive content, it is best to leave it on your computer.
If you want to convert quickly, just go to heictojpg.com and upload your photos, you can upload 50 photos at once by dragging and dropping one or more HEIC files from your computer to the website.
Are HEIF and HEIC files the same?
HEIC files are a variant of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) that stores images on Apple's latest devices. HEIC specifically uses High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC) to compress images, while HEIF can use a variety of compression methods.
How to convert HEIC files to JPEG?
You can easily use Adobe Photoshop to convert your HEIC files to JPEGs. Just import your HEIC image into Photoshop, then go to Save As and select the Save as JPEG option .
Why are iPhone photos in HEIC format?
Apple uses HEIC images on iPhones and iPads running iOS 11 and later. This ensures that users can take full advantage of the high-quality 4K cameras on their devices, along with Live Photos and burst mode. The smaller files mean you have more storage space on your device.
HEIC or JPEG is the better choice?
Both HEIC and JPEG have their own advantages and disadvantages, depending on what you’re using them for. HEIC files are typically half the size of JPEG files, and the resulting images are of equal quality—if not better. However, HEIC is limited to certain platforms and software due to lack of compatibility. In these cases, you’ll need to convert them to JPEG.
Good luck!
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