HEIC on Windows
Can't open a HEIC photo on Windows? Convert it here, free.
iPhones save photos as HEIC, and Windows doesn't open that format on its own. Convert it to JPG right in this browser tab — no software to install, and nothing gets uploaded.
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Why Windows won't open a HEIC file
Apple's format, not Windows'
HEIC is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11. Windows doesn't include built-in support for it, which is why double-clicking one often does nothing or shows a broken thumbnail.
No extension to install
Microsoft sells a HEIF extension in its Store as one fix. Converting to JPG here skips that entirely — no install, no store account, just a file that opens normally.
Nothing leaves your PC
The conversion runs in your browser using WebAssembly. Your photo is decoded and re-encoded on your own machine — this page never sees it.
What actually varies between Windows versions
Windows 11, from version 22H2 onward, can open HEIC files without any extra setup — Microsoft added native support directly. Windows 10 and earlier Windows 11 builds need two separate downloads from the Microsoft Store first: HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. Both are required together; installing just one typically isn't enough to get a working thumbnail or preview.
Even with those extensions installed, there's a gap worth knowing about: they fix File Explorer thumbnails, the Photos app, and similar built-in tools — but they don't make Chrome, Firefox, or Edge display a .heic file inside a webpage. That's a browser-level limitation tied to how the underlying video codec is licensed, not something an extension resolves. Here's the fuller explanation if you're curious why.
In practice, this shows up most often when a photo comes from an iPhone via email, a messaging app, or a shared drive, and the receiving Windows machine either shows nothing, a generic file icon, or an error. Converting to JPG sidesteps all of the above at once, regardless of which Windows version or extensions are or aren't installed.
Common questions
Why can't Windows open HEIC files from my iPhone?
HEIC is Apple's photo format, and Windows doesn't include built-in support for it. Microsoft offers a separate HEIF/HEIC extension in the Microsoft Store, but many people find it simpler to just convert the photo to JPG instead.
Do I need to install anything to use this converter?
No. It runs entirely in your web browser — Edge, Chrome, or Firefox on Windows all work. There's nothing to download or install.
Will the converted JPG open normally on Windows?
Yes. JPG is natively supported by Windows Photos, File Explorer thumbnails, and virtually every Windows application, so the converted file opens without any extra steps.
Do my photos get uploaded anywhere?
No. Everything happens locally in your browser tab using WebAssembly. Nothing is sent to a server.
Does this work on Windows 7 or Windows 8?
It depends on your browser, not your Windows version — the conversion relies on a modern browser engine, not anything specific to Windows 11. An up-to-date Chrome or Firefox on older Windows versions will likely still work, though both of those operating systems are past Microsoft's official support window, which can make keeping a browser current more difficult over time.