How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 11
Windows 11 can't open HEIC photos out of the box because it lacks the codec. Install Microsoft's free HEIF Image Extension to view them — and convert them to JPG locally, with no upload, when you need permanent copies.
The short answer
- ✓ To just VIEW HEIC photos: install the free HEIF Image Extension from the Microsoft Store, then double-click the file to open it in the Photos app. You do not need to pay for anything to look at a photo.
- ✓ To CONVERT HEIC to JPG and keep the copies (one file or a whole folder), use a free offline app like FileHop — your photos stay on your PC, with no upload and no per-file limit.
- ✓ Online converters work too but they upload your photos to a stranger's server — avoid them for personal or private photos.
Why won't Windows 11 open HEIC files?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format on the iPhone since iOS 11 in 2017. It stores a photo at roughly half the size of a JPEG at similar quality because it uses HEVC (H.265) compression. That's great for saving space on your phone, but it means a non-Apple device needs a matching decoder to read the file.
Windows 11 doesn't ship the HEVC decoder by default — Microsoft licenses that codec separately — so a .heic file shows as a blank thumbnail or an "unsupported" error until you add the codec. Installing the free HEIF Image Extension from the Microsoft Store adds the decoder, and from then on the Photos app and File Explorer can display your HEIC photos normally.
Method 1 — Install the free Microsoft HEIF Image Extension (view in Photos)
This is the official free way to simply VIEW HEIC photos on Windows 11 — no third-party app required.
Open the Microsoft Store from the Start menu.
Search for "HEIF Image Extensions".
Click Get / Install — it's free.
Now double-click any .heic file to open it in the Photos app, and thumbnails will appear in File Explorer.
Free HEIF extension vs paid HEVC extension — the part everyone gets wrong
This is the single biggest point of confusion. The HEIF Image Extension you need to VIEW HEIC photos is free. There is a separate package called HEVC Video Extensions that costs about $0.99 — but that one is for HEVC video, not still photos. To open and view a HEIC image you only need the free HEIF Image Extension; you do not have to pay a dollar just to look at a photo. (Some PCs also ship a free "HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer" variant, which is fine to use if it's already there.)
Method 2 — Convert HEIC to JPG locally and keep the copies (offline, no upload)
The extension lets you LOOK at a HEIC photo, but it doesn't give you a JPG file. If you need real JPG or PNG copies — to email them, upload to a site that rejects HEIC, edit them in any app, or archive them — you have to convert. A free offline app like FileHop does this on your own PC, so your photos never leave the device.
Open FileHop and add your HEIC files
Launch the app and drag in one HEIC file — or a whole folder of them. No account and no internet connection needed.
Choose JPG (or PNG)
Pick JPG for the most compatible result, or PNG if you want a lossless copy.
Click Convert
FileHop decodes the HEIC and writes the new files locally — it has its own HEIC support, so it works even if you never installed Microsoft's extension.
Save the JPGs
Save the converted files wherever you like. Nothing was uploaded, and there's no per-file or per-day cap.
The two things the built-in path can't do
First, batch: the Photos app's "Save as JPEG" handles one file at a time, which is painful for a folder of iPhone photos — FileHop converts the whole folder in one pass. Second, privacy: it all happens on your PC with no upload, no account, and no cap. The honest trade-off is that FileHop is a desktop app you install (it's free, for Mac and Windows). CopyTrans HEIC is another free offline option that's HEIC-only; FileHop is a broader local file toolkit that also compresses and converts other formats.
Need the JPGs smaller for email or upload? Compress them locally afterward with the Compress Image tool.
Method 3 — Other ways to open or convert HEIC (with caveats)
A few more options round out the picture. They work, but they come with trade-offs — which is why online converters come last here.
Open in Paint or IrfanView
Once the HEIF extension is installed, you can open a .heic in Paint (or IrfanView) and use File > Save As to export a single JPEG. Fine for a one-off, slow for many files.
Online converters (heictojpg.com, Canva, FreeConvert)
These convert without installing anything, but they upload your photos to a third-party server. That's acceptable for a single non-sensitive screenshot, but not for a folder of personal photos. As How-To Geek's own guide warns, you shouldn't upload private photos to a web converter — convert those offline instead.
Built-in extension vs offline app vs online converter
Each approach has an honest trade-off. Here's how they compare so you can pick the right one.
| What matters | Microsoft HEIF extension | Online converter | FileHop (offline app) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lets you VIEW HEIC? | Yes | No (download result) | Yes |
| Converts to JPG / keeps copies? | One at a time (Photos Save As) | Yes | Yes |
| Batch / whole folder? | No | Sometimes, with limits | Yes |
| Works offline / file stays on PC? | Yes (local) | No (uploaded) | Yes (local) |
| Needs install? | No (Store extension) | No | Yes (free app) |
| Cost? | Free | Free with limits | Free |
The honest summary: the free HEIF extension is all you need to VIEW photos and requires no separate app — that's its advantage. FileHop's only trade-off is that you install it; in return you get real JPG copies, batch conversion of a whole folder, and the files never leaving your PC.
I installed the extension but HEIC still won't open
If a HEIC file still won't display after you added the extension, run through this short checklist.
Make sure you installed the right extension
You need HEIF Image Extensions (for photos), not only the HEVC Video Extensions. Re-check in the Microsoft Store that HEIF Image Extensions shows as installed.
Restart the Photos app and the Store
Close and reopen the Photos app, and sign out and back in to the Microsoft Store if the extension shows an error. A quick restart of the PC often clears it too.
Update Windows, or just convert instead
Make sure Windows is up to date, since the codec relies on current system components. If the Store version keeps erroring, the simplest fix is to convert the file to JPG with an offline app like FileHop — that has its own HEIC support and doesn't depend on Microsoft's codec, so you're not blocked.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't Windows 11 open HEIC files by default?
HEIC is Apple's High Efficiency Image format and it relies on HEVC (H.265) compression. Windows 11 doesn't ship the HEVC decoder out of the box because Microsoft licenses that codec separately, so a .heic file shows as blank or 'can't be opened' until you add the codec. Installing the free HEIF Image Extension from the Microsoft Store adds the decoder so the Photos app and File Explorer can show your HEIC photos.
How do I open a HEIC file on Windows 11 for free?
Open the Microsoft Store, search for 'HEIF Image Extensions', and install it — it's free. After that, double-click any .heic file and it opens in the Photos app, and thumbnails appear in File Explorer. If you also want to save the photos as JPG, use a free offline app like FileHop or convert them with an online tool.
Is the HEIF Image Extension free, or do I have to pay a dollar?
The HEIF Image Extension you need to VIEW HEIC photos is free. The confusion comes from a separate package, 'HEVC Video Extensions', which costs about $0.99 — but that one is for HEVC video, not still photos. To simply open and view HEIC images you only need the free HEIF Image Extension; you don't have to pay anything just to look at a photo. Some PCs also include a free 'HEVC Video Extensions from Device Manufacturer' version.
How do I convert HEIC to JPG on Windows 11?
Once the HEIF extension is installed you can open a HEIC in the Photos app or Paint and use Save As / Export to save it as JPEG — fine for a single photo. To convert and keep copies properly, use a free offline app like FileHop: drag in the HEIC files, choose JPG, and click Convert. Everything stays on your PC, with no upload and no per-file limit.
How do I convert HEIC to JPG in bulk on Windows 11?
The built-in Photos app only saves one file at a time, so it isn't practical for a folder of iPhone photos. A free offline app like FileHop can batch-convert a whole folder of HEIC files to JPG in one pass, locally, without uploading anything. That's the reliable way to handle dozens or hundreds of photos at once.
Can I open HEIC files in the Windows Photos app?
Yes, once you install the free HEIF Image Extension from the Microsoft Store. After that, double-clicking a .heic file opens it in the Photos app and File Explorer shows thumbnails. Without the extension the Photos app can't decode HEIC and the file won't display.
Is it safe to convert HEIC to JPG with an online converter?
Online converters work, but they upload your photos to a third-party server to do the conversion. That's usually fine for a single non-sensitive image, but for personal or private photos it's safer to convert offline so the files never leave your PC. A local app like FileHop converts on your own machine with no upload.
Does converting HEIC to JPG lose quality?
There's a small quality change because JPEG is a lossy format and HEIC is more efficient, so a converted JPG is usually larger than the original HEIC at similar quality. For everyday photos the difference is hard to notice. Converting at high quality keeps the result sharp; you can compress the JPGs afterward if you need them smaller.
What is a HEIC file and why does my iPhone use it?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is Apple's default photo format since iOS 11 in 2017. iPhones use it because it stores photos at roughly half the size of a JPEG at similar quality, saving space. The trade-off is that non-Apple devices like Windows PCs need an extra codec to open it.
How do I stop my iPhone from saving photos as HEIC?
On your iPhone open Settings > Camera > Formats and choose 'Most Compatible' — new photos will be saved as JPEG instead of HEIC. This only affects future photos; HEIC files you already have still need the HEIF extension to view or an app like FileHop to convert on Windows.
Convert HEIC to JPG on Windows — offline and in bulk
FileHop converts HEIC to JPG or PNG locally on your PC — one file or a whole folder at once. Free, offline, no upload.
Download FileHop Free - Mac & Windows