How to open and convert HEIC photos from iPhone on Windows 10 and 11

If you use a iPhone or iPad and you work on a PC with Windows 10 or 11Sooner or later, you'll have come across photos with the .HEIC extension that your computer simply won't open. This is perfectly normal: Apple saves images in this modern format by default, while Windows still doesn't include everything needed to handle them smoothly.

The good news is that There are several completely safe ways, many of them free and native.To open, view, edit, and convert HEIC photos on Windows without uploading your images to shady websites or installing suspicious programs, we'll see, step by step, how this format works, its limitations on Windows, and the methods you have for converting your iPhone photos to JPG or other compatible formats.

What exactly is a HEIC file and why does the iPhone use it?

The format HEIC stands for High Efficiency Image CodingAnd it's the file type that Apple uses as a practical variant of the HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) standard. What it achieves is very simple to understand: smaller image files, but with visual quality equivalent to or even superior to a traditional JPEG.

In reality, a HEIC file combines two parts: on one hand there is the HEIF container, which is responsible for saving the image and metadata (EXIF data, XMP, location, date, camera parameters, etc.), and on the other hand there is the compression codec HEVC (High Efficiency Video Coding), the same one that is used to compress video very efficiently.

Thanks to this combination, a HEIC takes up significantly less space than a JPEG of similar quality. For an iPhone user, this means they can store many more photos in the same space, which is crucial when the phone's memory starts to run low and you don't want to be deleting images constantly.

Besides the photo itself, The HEIF container allows additional information to be saved within the file itself.Just like JPEG does: GPS coordinates, date and time of shooting, device type, camera mode, and even image sequences or bursts when using features like Live Photos.

However, faced with modern alternatives such as WebP (driven by Google (and designed primarily for the web), HEIC has a significant handicap: The HEVC codec is not free.It is covered by patents managed by MPEG LA. This means that not all systems adopt it natively, because using it involves paying for licenses for each device or installation.

Why Windows doesn't open HEIC by default

What many users are wondering is: if HEIC files are so efficient, Why Windows 10 and Windows 11 They don't support them as standard.without needing to install anything extra. Technically, Microsoft could include these codecs in the Windows installation itself, since they take up very little space: about 6 MB for HEVC and just a few kilobytes for HEIF.

The problem stems from the legal and economic aspects. HEVC is a proprietary codecand its use implies that the manufacturer (in this case, Microsoft) has to pay for licenses for each copy of Windows distributed. Given the enormous number of PCs in the world, the total cost of that license would be very high, so Microsoft opted for a different approach: instead of including the codecs in all installations, They offer them as downloadable extensions from the Microsoft StoreThis way, royalties are only paid for the teams that actually install them.

For a time, the Microsoft Store HEVC extension was not free and cost a small, symbolic amount; it was the user who had to pay for it. pay to be able to play HEVC contentWith the popularization of the HEIC format thanks to Apple, Microsoft decided to soften this policy and today offers free versions of these extensions, although there are still paid variants in some scenarios.

In the Apple ecosystem, however, iOS macOS and HEIC and HEVC support come standard.That means that in a Mac You can open an HEIC file without installing anything using the Preview or Photos app, and the Finder displays thumbnails without any issues. It's reasonable to assume that Apple secured advantageous licensing agreements with MPEG LA, thereby contributing to the format's increased popularity.

Therefore, when you transfer photos from your iPhone to your PC and Windows says you need to "download HEIC codecs" or displays an error indicating that cannot open the fileThe underlying reason is not that the image is bad, but that your system lacks that added support.

Change iPhone settings to prevent shooting in HEIC

If you don't want to complicate your life on the computer, a very practical solution is Configure your iPhone to take photos in JPEG format. instead of HEIC. This way, the images are saved in a format compatible with virtually any device and program.

On iOS, Apple offers an option to choose the file type for photos. Simply go to Settings > Camera > Formats and select the “Most Compatible” option. From that moment on, the iPhone will save new photos primarily in JPEG format, sacrificing some storage efficiency in exchange for a Full compatibility with Windows and other systems.

Please note that this option does not convert HEIC photos you already have. It only affects the ones you make from now on.For older images, you will still need to open or convert HEIC files from Windows, as we will see in the following sections.

Method 1: Open HEIC photos in Windows 10/11 using the Photos app and Microsoft extensions

The most direct and secure way to work with HEIC in Windows is use the Photos app built into the systemalong with the official Microsoft extensions for HEIF and HEVC available in the Microsoft Store. It's a native method, without resorting to external websites or installing unreliable tools.

On many relatively up-to-date Windows 10 or 11 computers, it is enough to double-click on the HEIC imageIf you already have the correct extensions installed, the file will open directly in Photos or even Paint, and File Explorer will display thumbnails of these images as if they were JPEGs or PNGs.

If when opening a HEIC file you see a message saying that You need a codec or an extension.You'll need to go to the Microsoft Store and install two components: the "HEIF Image Extensions" and the compatible "HEVC" codecs. A direct link to the store usually appears in the error dialog itself, but you can also search for them manually.

After completing the installation, the system will begin to Show HEIC thumbnails in ExplorerThe Photos app will be able to open them without further ado, and Paint will also be able to load them for simple edits. In many cases, this setup will be all you need to work with your iPhone images on your computer.

What to do if the HEIC image does not open or appears damaged

It may happen that, even after installing the codecs, some HEIC file still won't open or shows an error indicating that it is damaged or corruptThis is usually due to problems during the transfer (for example, a connection interruption when copying from the mobile device or to the computer). transfer photos from iPhone to an external hard drive) or failures in the medium itself of storage.

In these cases, the Windows message may indicate that the file is not recognized or that the Photos app cannot display it. Before giving up on the photo, it is advisable to Try using a different viewing or conversion tool.because sometimes a program interprets certain file inconsistencies better.

If you confirm that it truly cannot be opened in any compatible viewer, it is very likely that the photo is partially damaged. At that point, you can resort to Specialized image repair software, such as EaseUS Fixo Photo Repair, designed specifically to recover corrupted photos in formats such as HEIC, JPEG and others.

These types of utilities allow you to scan one or more files at a time, detect internal errors, and reconstruct them as much as possible. the lost visual informationThey usually work with photos stored on the hard drive as well as on SD cards, USB drives or external hard drives.

The typical workflow with this type of program involves opening the application, choosing the option to photo repairAdd the damaged images, start the bulk or individual repair process, and then preview the results before saving them to a new location. If the image is successfully recovered, you'll be able to open it again in Windows without errors.

Method 2: Open HEIC with Adobe Photoshop on Windows

If you already work regularly with Adobe Photoshop on your Windows PCYou might also prefer to use it to open and edit your HEIC photos. To do this, in addition to having the HEIF and HEVC extensions installed from the Microsoft Store, you'll need to adjust a couple of internal Photoshop settings.

First, make sure your Windows system recognizes the HEIC format. Then, open Photoshop and load any image in a standard format, such as JPG or PNG. This initial step is only for access the Camera Raw module preferences panel.

Within the program, go to the menu Edit > Preferences > Camera RawIn the file management section, you'll find an option similar to "Automatically open all supported JPEG and HEIC files." You should select this option so that Photoshop treats supported HEIC files like any other photo without requiring prior conversion.

Once you've saved the changes, close Photoshop and reopen it for the settings to take effect. From then on, you should be able to directly open your HEIC files from the File > Open menu or by dragging them to the program window, provided the system recognizes them correctly.

If a specific HEIC file still won't open in Photoshop, it could be due to compatibility limitations of the particular version of the program, or the file might be partially corrupted. In that case, it's a good idea to... first use the Photos app or an intermediate converter to transform it into JPEG, and then follow the usual editing workflow in Photoshop.

Method 3: Convert HEIC to JPG, JPEG or PNG on Windows

Although there is increasingly more native support, Many people prefer to convert HEIC files to JPG or PNG. To avoid problems with other programs, share images without worry, or upload them to websites that don't support the new format, Windows 10 and 11 offer several ways to perform this conversion without compromising the privacy of your photos.

One possibility is to use the Photos app Once the system recognizes HEIC, open the image, tap the three-dot menu “…” at the top, and select “Save As…”. In the dialog box that appears, you can choose the output format (for example, JPEG) and the folder where you want to save the new converted file.

This route has the advantage that You don't need to install anything additional or leave the Windows ecosystemIn addition, it allows you to convert HEIC photos one by one, which you really need to reuse in another context or share with people who don't use Apple devices.

Another alternative is to use third-party programs specializing in image conversionThese tools can process large quantities of files in batches. Some function as desktop applications, and others as online services. When using online tools, it's crucial to be very careful with privacy: if you're going to upload personal photos, it's best to choose well-known services with a good reputation and clear data protection policies.

If you absolutely do not want to upload your photos to the internet, the recommendation is to choose a reliable offline converter Or you can stick with the options offered by the Windows Photos app, which work locally and do not expose your images to third parties.

Alternative viewers and converters for HEIC on Windows

Users of older versions of Windows, or of computers where the Microsoft Store cannot be installed, can choose to third-party photo viewers compatible with HEIC.

The advantage of using a specific viewer is that it usually offers additional features, such as Quick folder navigation, basic editing, resizing, and batch conversionThis is how you can transform large HEIC collections to JPEG or other formats in just a few operations.

There are also third-party codecs that integrate HEIC support directly into the system, allowing more applications to benefit from it. However, when it comes to system-level installable codecs and filters, downloading them is essential. from official or well-established sourcesbecause a malicious codec can compromise computer security.

In any case, if you have the option, the simplest and safest thing to do is still to take advantage of the official Microsoft extensions for HEIF and HEVC, as they integrate seamlessly with Photos, Paint, and File Explorer.

Method 4: Repairing damaged HEIC photos in Windows

Sometimes the problem isn't that Windows doesn't understand the format, but that The HEIC photos have become corrupted This can happen during the backup process from your iPhone, when transferring the files to an SD card, or when saving them to an external drive. If you've also deleted the original files from your phone, the situation can become critical.

In these circumstances, tools such as EaseUS Fixo Photo Repair They can be very useful. This software is specifically designed to analyze corrupted image files and attempt to reconstruct the internal information so that they become readable again.

It's usually quite simple to use: first, you start the program on your Windows PC, then you choose the photo repair mode and add all the HEIC images that give an error when opening. You can select them from different locations.whether it's the internal hard drive, a memory USBa camera card or an external hard drive.

Then you have the option to repair all photos at once or focus on a specific one. Once the process is complete, a quick preview is usually provided to check which files have been successfully recovered and decide which ones you want to save to the output folder.

In addition to fixing errors that prevent photos from opening, this type of utility can help with pixelated, grainy, or artifacted images resulting from partial data corruption. Effectiveness will depend on the extent of the damage, but in many cases it's worth trying before assuming the photo is lost.

How HEIC photos are generated on iPhone and other devices

If you find a file with the .HEIC extension on your computer, it's most likely that comes from an iPhone or iPad with iOS 11 or laterSince that version, Apple has established the HEIC/HEIF format as the default option for saving photos taken with the camera.

This means that any recent photo you've taken with a modern iPhone, unless you change the camera settings, will be saved in this format by default. When you transfer it to your PC via cable, AirDrop (if you use a Mac), or cloud services, the The file will arrive as HEIC, unless the system itself performs an automatic conversion to JPEG according to the settings.

Other manufacturers and platforms have also begun to offer support for HEIF/HEIC, although for the time being Apple is the one that has most promoted its adoptionIn the web environment, however, formats like WebP have gained an advantage because they lack the same patent restrictions and are widely supported by browsers.

If you prefer your iPhone to generate JPEGs from the start to avoid problems on Windows, remember you can always go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose “More compatible”This way, your next photos will be easier to handle in any environment, although they will take up a little more space.

Regarding videos, the equivalent in the HEIC world is the use of HEVC (H.265) as video compression formatWindows also requires specific codecs to play this content natively, although you can always use players like VLC, which incorporate their own internal decoders.

Native and safe options for new Windows users

Many users coming from macOS or new to the Windows ecosystem find that All of his iPhone photos are in HEIC format and cannot be opened or edited. with the applications they were using until now. The priority in these cases is usually to find a simple solution, without complicating things with a thousand different programs.

If you're concerned about privacy and don't want to upload personal photos to online services, the best combination is: install the HEIF and HEVC extensions from the Microsoft StoreUse the Photos app to open and, if necessary, convert to JPEG those images you need to share, and consider setting your iPhone to shoot in JPEG from now on if you don't want to keep dealing with HEIC.

In parallel, you can consider using reliable free viewers or Photoshop if you're already part of the Adobe ecosystem. But for someone who just wants to open and convert their photos without going overboard, the native Windows tools are more than enough, provided the codecs are properly installed.

Whichever route you choose, it's always wise to have backup This applies to both photos on your mobile phone and those stored on your computer, especially if you are going to perform bulk conversions or move files between different devices and memory cards.

With all of the above, having HEIC photos from an iPhone on a Windows PC It ceases to be a problem and becomes an advantageYou take advantage of the space savings on your mobile phone and, with two well-made adjustments, you can manage them like any other image file on your computer.