How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 11 and 10
Open a HEIC file in Windows Photos: Right-click the file and choose Open with → Photos. If Photos asks for an extension, check for both HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions in the Microsoft Store. To view the photo without installing a Windows codec, convert a copy to JPG and open that copy in Photos.
| Your goal | What to do |
|---|---|
| Open the original .heic file | Use Windows Photos with HEIF and HEVC support. |
| Open or share a photo without installing a codec | Make a JPG copy in your browser. |
| Fix an iPhone import that came through as HEIC | Try importing again with Automatic transfer. |
How to open HEIC files in Windows 11 and 10
- In File Explorer, right-click a
.heicfile and select Open with → Photos. If it opens, you can keep using Photos. - If Photos asks for an extension, check the Microsoft Store for HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. Install the missing component. The HEIF extension is free and the HEVC listing can charge a fee. Check your Store listing for availability and price.
- Close and reopen Photos, then open the same file again. On a managed PC, your administrator may control Store access.
HEIF is the container format. Many iPhone .heic photos use HEVC compression inside that container. Windows needs support for both layers to decode those files. See Microsoft’s Photos extension instructions and our Windows 10 extension walkthrough.
Preview HEIC or convert to JPG without installing a codec
Preview a HEIC photo
Choose one HEIC or HEIF photo, up to 20 MiB and 50 megapixels. The preview and optional JPG are created on your device. Keep your original for full quality and metadata.
For several photos, open the converter with HEIC and JPG preselected, then enable Batch mode.
JPG is useful for sharing with people or apps that cannot open HEIC. JPG conversion can change image quality or omit metadata. If you want a desktop viewer for the original file, IrfanView’s FAQ lists the decoder support it requires.
Fix HEIC files that still won’t open on Windows
| What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
| Photos asks for an extension after you installed HEIF. | Check whether HEVC Video Extensions is also installed. Reopen Photos after installing it. |
| The photo opens, but File Explorer shows a generic icon. | Choose a larger icon view. In File Explorer Options → View, check that “Always show icons, never thumbnails” is off. |
| One HEIC fails while others open. | Copy that photo again from the source and test the new copy. This helps rule out an incomplete transfer. |
| Microsoft Store installs are blocked. | Use a JPG copy if your organisation allows browser-based conversion, or ask IT to install the required extension. |
Transfer iPhone HEIC photos as JPG or take new JPG photos
- Photos you already took. On your iPhone, go to Settings → Apps → Photos. Under Transfer to Mac or PC, choose Automatic and try importing again over USB. Apple says compatible formats may be used during USB import. On older iOS versions, Photos may be listed directly in Settings.
- New photos. Go to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. Standard new camera photos use JPEG. This changes future captures. See Apple’s HEIF and HEVC guide.