How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 & 11 (View + Convert to JPG)

By Hieu Dinh

How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 & 11 (View + Convert to JPG)

You took some great photos on your iPhone, AirDropped or emailed them to your Windows PC, and now you're staring at a file that simply won't open. Double-click it and Windows shrugs — no preview, no thumbnail, sometimes an error asking what app you'd like to use. That file ends in .heic, and if you've landed here, you're probably trying to figure out how to open HEIC files on Windows without jumping through a dozen hoops.

The good news is that opening HEIC on Windows 10 and 11 is a solved problem in 2026 — you just need the right codec or a small free tool, and your photos will preview like any JPEG. The slightly annoying news is that Windows doesn't ship with HEIC support turned on, so there's one setup step most people miss. This guide walks through every reliable way to view HEIC files on Windows, plus the best methods to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows when you need a universally compatible file.

Why Windows Struggles With HEIC

HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) has been the iPhone's default photo format since iOS 11, replacing JPEG on every modern iPhone. It's built on the HEVC (H.265) video codec, which lets Apple store photos at roughly half the file size of a JPEG with the same or better visual quality. That's why your storage lasts longer and your photo library stays manageable.

The catch is licensing. HEVC is patent-encumbered, and Microsoft chose not to bundle the decoder into Windows 10 or Windows 11 by default — doing so would mean paying licensing fees on every copy of Windows. So while your iPhone, iPad, and Mac all read HEIC natively, a fresh Windows install treats .heic like an unknown file type. There's no preview in File Explorer, no thumbnail, and the Photos app refuses to open it.

The fix is to add the missing codecs (which Microsoft offers through the Store) or use a third-party app that bundles its own HEIC decoder. Once that's done, HEIC behaves like any other image format on your PC. If you also want the background on the format itself, our HEIC vs JPEG comparison explains the trade-offs in depth.

Let's start with viewing, then move on to converting.

Method 1: Install HEIF + HEVC Extensions (View HEIC in the Photos App)

This is the official Microsoft route, and it's the one to try first because it makes HEIC files open natively in the built-in Windows Photos app and show thumbnails in File Explorer — no third-party software required.

You need two Store packages working together:

  1. HEIF Image Extensions — free. This handles the HEIC container.
  2. HEVC Video Extensions — this provides the actual H.265 decoder, and it's the part that trips people up.

The HEVC extension and the "is it free?" confusion

When you search the Microsoft Store for "HEVC Video Extensions," the listing that appears prominently often costs $0.99. That's the consumer version. However, Microsoft also publishes a separate listing called "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer," which is completely free. It's the same decoder, just distributed under an OEM license, and it works identically on any PC.

To install the free version, search the Store for the exact phrase "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer," or open this Store link directly: ms-windows-store://pdp/?ProductId=9n4wgh0z6vhq. Click Get or Install and you're done.

Steps

  1. Open the Microsoft Store app.
  2. Search for and install HEIF Image Extensions (free).
  3. Search for and install HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer (free).
  4. Restart File Explorer (or just sign out and back in).
  5. Double-click any .heic file — it now opens in the Photos app, and thumbnails appear in folders.

Once both extensions are installed, HEIC support is system-wide, so other apps that rely on Windows imaging (like Paint) can open HEIC too. This is the cleanest long-term setup if you regularly receive iPhone photos.

Method 2: CopyTrans HEIC (Free, Adds HEIC to File Explorer)

If the Microsoft Store route feels fiddly — or you're on a managed work PC where the Store is locked down — CopyTrans HEIC for Windows is the most popular free alternative. It's a lightweight plugin (not a separate app you have to remember to launch) that hooks directly into Windows.

After installing CopyTrans HEIC:

  • HEIC thumbnails appear automatically in File Explorer.
  • You can open HEIC files in the classic Windows Photo Viewer.
  • Right-clicking any HEIC file gives you a "Convert to JPEG with CopyTrans" option — handy for one-off conversions without opening any app.
  • Microsoft Office apps can insert HEIC images directly.

It's free for personal use and doesn't bundle adware, which is why it's the community go-to. Download it from the official copytrans.net site (avoid mirror sites). Once installed, opening and converting HEIC on Windows becomes nearly as seamless as it is on a Mac.

Method 3: Open HEIC in Microsoft Paint and Save As JPEG

Here's a method that needs zero installation if you already completed Method 1, and is the quickest way to convert a single file. Modern Windows 11 builds of Microsoft Paint can open HEIC images directly (it leans on the same system codecs from Method 1).

  1. Right-click the HEIC file → Open with → Paint.
  2. Once it opens, click File → Save as → JPEG picture.
  3. Choose a destination and save.

You now have a standard .jpg that opens anywhere. The downside is that Paint handles one file at a time, so it's not the tool for converting a whole vacation's worth of photos — but for grabbing one image to drop into an email or document, it's the fastest path. (If you're on Windows 10 and Paint won't open the HEIC, you likely still need the Method 1 codecs installed first.)

Method 4: Convert HEIC to JPG With the Photos App "Save As"

Once you've installed the codecs from Method 1, the Photos app itself becomes a converter. Open the HEIC file in Windows Photos, click the menu (the three dots, or the edit icon depending on your build), and look for Save as or Save a copy. Choose JPG as the format.

This is the most beginner-friendly way to convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11 because it uses software you already have open. Like Paint, it's a one-at-a-time workflow, so reach for Method 5 or 6 when you have a batch.

Method 5: Online HEIC to JPG Converters (Quick, With a Privacy Caveat)

When you just need to convert a handful of images and don't want to install anything, online converters like heictojpg.com, CloudConvert, or FreeConvert do the job in your browser. Drag in your HEIC files, wait a few seconds, and download JPEGs.

They're genuinely convenient, but keep two things in mind:

  • Privacy. Your photos are uploaded to a third-party server. For family snapshots that's usually fine; for anything sensitive, confidential, or client-related, it's a hard no. The file leaves your computer and you have no real guarantee of what happens to it afterward.
  • Limits. Free tiers often cap the number of files or total size per batch, and some re-compress your images at lower quality.

If you go this route, stick to reputable, well-known services and avoid uploading anything you wouldn't want a stranger to see. For a fuller breakdown of browser-based options and how they compare, see our guide to the best HEIC to JPG converter.

Method 6: Bulk Convert HEIC to JPG With FFmpeg (Power Users)

If you have hundreds of HEIC files and want to convert them all locally — no uploads, no clicking through dialogs — the free command-line tool FFmpeg is the most powerful option. It's not for everyone, but it's unbeatable for batch jobs.

After downloading FFmpeg for Windows and adding it to your PATH, convert a single file with:

ffmpeg -i photo.heic photo.jpg

To convert every HEIC file in the current folder at once, open PowerShell in that folder and run:

Get-ChildItem *.heic | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.Name "$($_.BaseName).jpg" }

That loops through each .heic file and produces a matching .jpg with the same name. Everything stays on your machine, there are no file-count limits, and it's fast. The trade-off is the initial setup and comfort with a terminal. If you need PNGs instead of JPEGs (for transparency or lossless output), our HEIC to PNG guide covers the differences.

Bonus: Stop the Problem at the Source — Shoot JPEG on iPhone

If the HEIC headache keeps coming back every time you move photos to your PC, you can sidestep it entirely by telling your iPhone to capture JPEGs instead of HEIC:

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone.
  2. Tap Camera → Formats.
  3. Select Most Compatible.

From then on, your iPhone shoots standard JPEG, which every version of Windows opens with no extra steps. The downside is larger file sizes and the loss of HEIC's efficiency, so it's a trade-off — but for people who live mostly in the Windows world, it's often worth it. For more on converting on the phone before files ever reach your PC, see convert HEIC to JPG on iPhone.

If You Also Use a Mac

Most of this guide is about doing the job on Windows with Windows tools, because that's where the problem lives. But if you split your time between a Windows PC and a Mac, you have an easier option on the Apple side: Compresto converts and compresses HEIC files locally on macOS — no uploads, no codec hunting — and can batch-process an entire folder of iPhone photos in seconds. It's macOS-only today, so it won't help on your Windows machine directly, but if a Mac is anywhere in your workflow it's the fastest way to turn HEIC into JPG or PNG and shrink the results at the same time.

Compresto is also expanding to Windows. You can follow progress and join the waitlist on the Compresto for Windows page.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open a HEIC file on Windows 11?

Install two free Microsoft Store packages — HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer — then double-click the HEIC file to open it in the Windows Photos app. Thumbnails will also appear in File Explorer. If the Store is blocked on your PC, install CopyTrans HEIC instead, which adds the same support without the Store.

Why won't HEIC open on Windows?

Windows 10 and 11 don't ship with the HEVC decoder that HEIC files depend on, because HEVC is patent-licensed and bundling it would cost Microsoft licensing fees. Without that codec installed, Windows treats .heic as an unknown format with no preview or thumbnail. Adding the HEIF and HEVC extensions (or a tool like CopyTrans HEIC) fixes it.

How do I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows for free?

There are several free options: open the HEIC in Paint or the Photos app and use Save as → JPEG; right-click and use CopyTrans HEIC's "Convert to JPEG"; use a browser-based converter like heictojpg.com; or batch-convert with FFmpeg from the command line. For a single file, Paint or Photos is fastest; for many files, FFmpeg keeps everything local.

Is the HEVC extension free?

It can be. The prominent "HEVC Video Extensions" listing in the Microsoft Store usually costs $0.99, but Microsoft also publishes a separate "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" listing that is completely free and provides the same decoder. Search the Store for that exact name to install it at no cost.

How do I bulk convert HEIC to JPG on Windows?

For large batches, FFmpeg is the best free option. After installing it, run this in PowerShell inside your photo folder: Get-ChildItem *.heic | ForEach-Object { ffmpeg -i $_.Name "$($_.BaseName).jpg" }. It converts every HEIC in the folder locally with no upload limits. CopyTrans HEIC also lets you select multiple files and right-click to convert them all to JPEG at once.

What's the easiest way to just view HEIC photos without converting them?

Install the HEIF + HEVC extensions from Method 1, then HEIC files open natively in the Windows Photos app with no conversion needed. If you want a dedicated viewer that handles HEIC and many other formats, see our HEIC viewer guide for the best free options on Windows.

Conclusion

Opening HEIC files on Windows comes down to one missing piece — the HEVC codec — and once you add it, your iPhone photos preview and open exactly like JPEGs. Start with the free HEIF + HEVC Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store for native Photos-app support, or grab CopyTrans HEIC if you want File Explorer thumbnails and right-click conversion without the Store.

When you need a universally shareable file, converting HEIC to JPG on Windows is just as easy: Paint and the Photos app handle single images, online converters cover quick one-offs, and FFmpeg powers through entire folders locally. And if you ever find yourself on a Mac, Compresto handles HEIC conversion and compression in one local, no-upload step — with Windows support on the way.

Ready to compress your files? Join thousands of creators using Compresto ⚡