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Download the HEIC Extension for Windows 10 (Free) — Step by Step

Jul 30, 2026·4 min read·Convertlo Team

Your iPhone photos arrived on your Windows 10 PC as .heic files and nothing will open them. The fix most people are looking for is the HEIC extension — here is exactly where to get it, why the free one sometimes still isn't enough, and how to open the photos right now without installing anything.

Quick answer: Download HEIF Image Extensions free from the Microsoft Store (search it by name — Microsoft doesn't offer a standalone .exe). If photos still won't open afterwards, the image data needs the HEVC codec, which is a separate paid add-on (~$0.99). To skip all of it, convert HEIC to JPG in your browser — no extension, no codec, no admin rights.

Step 1 — Install HEIF Image Extensions (free)

  1. Press the Windows key, type Microsoft Store, open it.
  2. Search for HEIF Image Extensions — publisher must be Microsoft Corporation.
  3. Click Get → Install. It's a few MB and needs no restart.
  4. Double-click a .heic file. Photos should open it and File Explorer should show thumbnails.

You can also paste ms-windows-store://search/?query=HEIF Image Extensions into the Run box (Win + R) to jump straight to it.

Careful: Microsoft distributes this only through the Microsoft Store. There is no official standalone HEIC extension installer, so any site offering a "HEIC extension .exe download" is not shipping the genuine Microsoft package — don't run it.

Step 2 — Installed it and photos still won't open?

This is the part that catches people out, and it's why the query above is so common. A HEIC file is two separate things:

  • The container (HEIF) — handled by the free HEIF Image Extensions.
  • The compressed image data (HEVC / H.265) — needs HEVC Video Extensions, which costs about $0.99.

Microsoft charges for the HEVC piece because HEVC carries patent licensing fees it would otherwise pay on every Windows installation. So the free extension alone displays some HEIC files and fails on others.

Free workaround: some PCs ship with HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer already licensed by the OEM — check Settings → Apps for it before paying.

Step 3 — Or skip the extension entirely

If you just need to see, send, or edit the photos, converting them to JPG solves it permanently and takes seconds:

  • No extension, no codec, no admin rights — works on locked-down work and school PCs where the Store is blocked.
  • JPG opens in every app, website and device, so you won't hit this again.
  • Convertlo's HEIC to JPG converter runs entirely in your browser — your photos are never uploaded to a server.

Convert HEIC to JPG free →

Stop it happening again: make your iPhone shoot JPG

On your iPhone: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. New photos save as JPG, so nothing you transfer from now on needs a codec. Existing HEIC photos stay HEIC — convert those once and you're done.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I download the HEIC extension for Windows 10?+
From the Microsoft Store only — search HEIF Image Extensions by Microsoft Corporation and click Get. It's free. Microsoft publishes no standalone .exe or .msi, so any site offering a HEIC extension download file isn't distributing the official package.
Is the HEIC extension free?+
HEIF Image Extensions is free. But HEIC photos are compressed with HEVC, and HEVC Video Extensions is a separate paid item (~$0.99) because Microsoft pays HEVC patent licensing. That's why some people install the free extension and still can't open their photos.
How do I get the HEVC codec free?+
Some PCs receive "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" at no cost because the manufacturer already licensed it — check Settings → Apps first. Otherwise the paid version is the only official route, and converting to JPG is the free alternative.
Can I open HEIC without installing anything?+
Yes — convert HEIC to JPG in your browser. No extension, no codec, no admin rights, and the photos never leave your device. This is the only option that works when the Microsoft Store is blocked.
Why doesn't Windows 10 support HEIC out of the box?+
HEIC stores image data with HEVC (H.265) compression, which carries patent licensing fees. Microsoft chose not to bundle it with Windows, shipping the codec as an optional Store add-on instead.
The Microsoft Store is blocked on my PC.+
On managed work or school machines the Store and installs are usually disabled. Converting to JPG in a browser needs no install or admin rights, so it works on locked-down systems.
Does the extension convert my existing HEIC files?+
No — it only lets Windows display them; the files stay HEIC. If you need to email them or use them on a site that rejects HEIC, convert them to JPG.
Is the HEIC extension for Windows 10 free?
HEIF Image Extensions is free. However, HEIC photos are compressed with the HEVC codec, and HEVC Video Extensions is a separate paid item (about $0.99) because Microsoft pays HEVC patent licensing. That is why some people install the free extension and still cannot open their photos.

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