How to Open iPhone HEIC Photos on Windows (and Convert Them to JPG)
If iPhone photos won't open on your PC, the HEIC format is almost always the reason. Here is how to open or convert them.
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Why won't HEIC files open?
HEIC has been the default iPhone photo format since iOS 11 (2017). It stores JPG-like quality in about half the space, which saves storage on your phone — but many Windows PCs and websites (government portals, schools, online stores) still can't read it.
That's why iPhone photos copied to a PC by USB, cloud or messaging app often show "can't open this file" or get rejected by upload forms.
Option 1: Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser (fastest)
The quickest fix with nothing to install is converting to JPG. Drop your photos into HEIC to JPG and they're converted right away; you can convert dozens at once and download a single ZIP.
- Drag your HEIC photos (or a whole folder) into the box.
- The default quality (90) is fine. Lower it a little if you need smaller files.
- Click Save all to download the JPGs.
Photos are converted inside your browser and never uploaded, so family photos and ID scans stay private. Need PNG or WebP instead? Use the Image Converter.
Option 2: Open HEIC directly in Windows
To view HEIC without converting, install HEIF Image Extensions from the Microsoft Store; the Photos app can then open most HEIC files. Some images (such as Live Photos) also need the paid HEVC Video Extensions.
Keep in mind this only lets your PC display them. Websites and other people still can't open HEIC, so for uploading or sharing, JPG is the safe choice.
Option 3: Make your iPhone use JPG
To save new photos as JPG, go to Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. Each photo will take up more space.
If you only want JPG when copying to a computer by cable, set Settings → Photos → Transfer to Mac or PC → Automatic. Photos stay HEIC on the phone and are converted to JPG during transfer.
Submitting documents? Combine them into a PDF
If you need to send several photos as one file, HEIC to PDF puts them into a single PDF. You can reorder pages and pick a page size such as A4 or Letter, so it looks like a scanned document.
Tools used in this guide
FAQ
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
JPG is lossy, so tiny differences exist, but at quality 85–90 they're practically invisible. The JPG is usually a bit larger than the HEIC.
Is location data kept?
JPGs converted here don't keep metadata such as GPS location, which makes them safer to share.
Do Android phones use HEIC too?
Most Android phones shoot JPG by default, but some (e.g. Samsung with "High efficiency pictures" on) save HEIF/HEIC. Convert them the same way.