Guide
How to open HEIC files on Windows
Windows can display HEIC photos, but only when the right codec is installed. If a photo shows a blank thumbnail or refuses to open, one of these three approaches will fix it.
Drop HEIC files here
or
Your photos stay on your device.
Location and other private photo metadata are removed by default.
1. Convert the file to JPG
The simplest option, and the one that works on every Windows version and every locked-down work computer, is to convert the photo. Use the converter above: choose the HEIC files, pick JPG, and download the results. Nothing is installed and nothing is uploaded.
2. Install the Microsoft HEIF and HEVC extensions
Windows 10 and 11 support HEIC once the HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions are installed from the Microsoft Store. The HEVC extension is a paid item for most users, and some managed devices block Store installs entirely.
After installing, File Explorer thumbnails and the Photos app will show HEIC files normally.
3. Use an application with its own decoder
Several image viewers and editors bundle their own HEIF support and can open the files without Windows codecs. This helps for viewing, but you still need JPG or PNG copies if you plan to upload the photos somewhere that rejects HEIC.
Why HEIC is awkward on Windows
HEIC stores images with HEVC compression, which is patent-encumbered. That licensing is the reason the decoder is not simply included with Windows by default, and why converting is often the quickest path.