How to Open HEIC Files on Windows | Best HEIC Viewers & Easy HEIC to JPG Converter, by Tenorshare 4DDiG on YouTube. 6 min 24 s.
- Video length
- 6 min 24 s
- Time to do it
- 10 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 8
What you need
Steps
Check the file first. Right-click the photo and choose Properties to confirm the extension is.heic or.heif. Windows treats these as a separate format from JPG.
Open the Microsoft Store and search for HEIF Image Extensions. Click Get or Install and wait for the download to finish.
Search the Store for HEVC Video Extensions and install it too. Some HEIC photos need this codec before Windows can decode them.
Double-click a HEIC file. It should now open in the Photos app. If it still fails, right-click the file, choose Open with, and pick Photos.
If you prefer a dedicated viewer, install a free HEIC viewer from the Store or a trusted site. Set it as the default app for.heic files so double-clicking works.
To convert, open the HEIC file in a converter app or an online converter. Choose JPG as the output format and set the quality to high, around 90 percent.
Pick an output folder and start the conversion. Check that the new.jpg file opens in any app before you delete the original HEIC.
If a HEIC file will not open at all, try opening it on the iPhone or in another viewer to see whether the file itself is damaged. A repair tool can help with corrupted photos.
Tips and common mistakes
Install both the HEIF and HEVC extensions, since one without the other can still leave photos blank.
Keep your original HEIC files after converting, because JPG loses some image quality.
Avoid unknown converter sites for private photos, and use a desktop app or the Microsoft Store instead.
If the Store install fails, update Windows and check that your Microsoft account is signed in.
Questions
Why can't Windows open HEIC files by default?
HEIC uses a newer compression format that Windows does not include built-in support for. You need the HEIF and HEVC extensions or a third-party viewer to decode it.
Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
Yes, slightly. JPG uses lossy compression, so use a high quality setting such as 90 percent to keep the difference small.
Can I open HEIC files on Windows 10 as well as Windows 11?
Yes. The Microsoft Store extensions and most HEIC viewers work on both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
