How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 10 and 11
“This file format is not supported.” You just pulled photos off your iPhone via USB, double-clicked one, and got rejected by Windows. Welcome to the HEIC problem.
The short version: your iPhone saves photos in a format called HEIC that Windows can’t read out of the box. Microsoft didn’t include support because the underlying codec (HEVC) has patent licensing costs they didn’t want to absorb. Helpful.
There are three ways to fix this, and which one you should pick depends on how often you deal with HEIC files.
Option 1: Convert in your browser
If you just need to get some photos into a usable format right now, this is the fastest route. Open heic.site, drag your files in, and get JPGs back. Done.
Everything processes on your computer — nothing gets uploaded. You can convert a whole folder at once and grab them all as a ZIP. Works on any version of Windows since it’s just a website. (The HEIC vs JPG quality comparison covers what settings to use.)
I’d recommend this if you’re dealing with HEIC files occasionally (like when someone sends you iPhone photos) rather than constantly.
Option 2: Install Microsoft’s HEVC codec
If you want Windows itself to handle HEIC — in the Photos app, File Explorer thumbnails, everywhere — you need the HEVC codec.
- Open the Microsoft Store
- Search “HEVC Video Extensions” (the one by Microsoft Corporation, not random third parties)
- It’s $0.99. Install it.
- Might need a restart.
After that, Windows treats HEIC files like any other image. Thumbnails show up in Explorer, Photos app opens them, Paint can edit them.
The free workaround: some PCs come with “HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer” pre-installed. Search for it in the Microsoft Store — if it says “Installed,” you’re already set and don’t need to pay anything.
Option 3: Get a third-party viewer
If you already use a third-party image viewer, it might handle HEIC already:
- IrfanView — add the plugins pack and you’re set. Also does batch conversion.
- XnView — handles hundreds of formats, free for personal use
- FastStone — good all-around viewer with HEIC support built in
These are worth having regardless of the HEIC situation, honestly.
So which one?
| You want to… | Do this |
|---|---|
| Convert a few photos right now | Option 1 — browser |
| Never think about HEIC again | Option 2 — install the codec |
| Already using IrfanView/XnView | Option 3 — you might already be set |
| Convert a huge batch privately | Option 1 — see the batch guide |
Stopping the problem at the source
Two approaches:
Ask the iPhone user to switch. They can change their camera to save JPEG instead of HEIC (here’s how and why Apple uses HEIC in the first place). Downside: their storage usage doubles and Live Photos stop working. Most people won’t want to do this.
Just share differently. When iPhone users send photos through iMessage, email, or AirDrop to a non-Apple device, iOS auto-converts to JPEG. The HEIC issue mainly hits when you transfer files directly over USB or access iCloud photos on a PC. If the photos can be shared through normal channels instead of a cable transfer, you’ll get JPEGs automatically.