Windows doesn’t recognize HEIC files by default because HEIC is Apple’s proprietary image format, introduced with iOS 11 in 2017 as the standard iPhone camera format, and it isn’t natively compatible with most Windows applications, browsers, or email clients. The fastest fix for most people is converting HEIC photos to JPG, since JPG is universally supported across every operating system, browser, email client, and application without needing extra software or codecs. Windows offers a few built-in and free ways to do this, from the Photos app for one-off files to batch tools for converting hundreds of photos at once.
Why Windows Can’t Open HEIC Files Natively
Windows doesn’t include built-in HEIC support because Apple controls the licensing for the HEIC codec. Microsoft does offer a workaround through the Microsoft Store, but it’s limited: the HEVC Video Extension, priced around $0.99, only allows viewing HEIC files — it doesn’t let you convert them. That’s why most people end up needing a separate conversion step rather than relying on Windows to handle HEIC files on its own.
Convert a Single HEIC File Using the Photos App
This is the quickest option if you only need to convert a handful of images and already have the Photos app installed.
- Open the HEIC file in the Photos app.
- Access the save options. Click the ellipsis menu or the Open option within the app.
- Save as JPG. Select Save As, choose JPG as the format, and save the image to your chosen location.
This works well for occasional conversions but becomes tedious quickly if you have more than a handful of photos to convert.
Convert Files in Bulk With IrfanView
For anyone converting dozens or hundreds of photos, a dedicated batch tool saves significant time over converting files one at a time.
- Download and install IrfanView. It’s a free, lightweight image viewer available at irfanview.com.
- Open the batch conversion tool. Go to File, then Batch Conversion/Rename.
- Add your HEIC files. Select all the images you want to convert and add them to the batch list.
- Set the output format to JPG, then click Start Batch to convert every file at once.
Convert Without Installing Any Software
If you’d rather not install anything, browser-based converters process files directly online. Some free online tools allow uploading and converting up to 200 images at once, with files automatically deleted after conversion. Adobe Express’s browser-based converter works similarly — you select an HEIC file under 40MB, it converts automatically to JPG, and the result downloads directly to your device. The trade-off is that your photos are briefly uploaded to a third-party server, so for sensitive personal photos, an offline method like IrfanView or the Photos app keeps everything local to your PC.
Stop Future Photos From Saving as HEIC
If you’re tired of converting photos every time you import from an iPhone, you can change the format at the source instead. Go to Settings, then Camera, then Formats on your iPhone, and select “Most Compatible” — this makes your iPhone shoot in JPG going forward. Keep in mind this only affects new photos: it doesn’t convert any HEIC photos already sitting in your existing photo library. If storage space matters more to you than convenience, it’s often easier to keep shooting in HEIC and just convert files as needed rather than switching formats permanently.
Join The Discussion
Which method do you rely on for converting HEIC files on Windows, and have you run into any quality or file-size surprises along the way? Share your go-to tool for batch conversions, or any tips for handling a large backlog of iPhone photos after switching to a new PC.
