The HEIC file extension is used for HEIF (High Efficiency Image File Format) photos, which take up less iPhone storage, making them the default format for photos taken with an iPhone camera since iOS 11.
On an iPhone, iPad, iPod, or Mac, you can easily open and view HEIC files, but on a PC, you can't since Windows doesn't natively support them, making it inconvenient to transfer photos from an iPhone to a PC.
If you need to open HEIC files on your PC, you can easily get it done by following one of the tips below, such as using a HEIC-compatible image viewer or converter, or by downloading a third-party app that supports HEIC files.
To convert a HEIC file to a more compatible format like JPG on your PC, you can use a photo converter to change the file type. This allows you to view the image on most devices.
To convert HEIC to JPG, you can use either desktop software or online photo converters.
A desktop tool is generally more stable and provides better privacy protection than an online format converter. With a desktop tool like Qiling MobiMover, you can convert HEIC to JPG in bulk without a network connection, allowing you to open the converted pictures with the Photos app on your computer.
4K Video Downloader is a free tool that allows you to download videos from YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, and other platforms, and also convert them to MP4, MP3, and other formats. It supports 4K resolution and can download multiple videos at once. Additionally, it has a built-in video converter that enables you to convert videos to MP3 or save them to a computer.
To convert iPhone photos to JPG:
Step 1.Launch Qiling MobiMover on your PC and click on "HEIC to JPG" from the navigation panel.
Step 2.Select and add one or multiple HEIC photos from your PC to Qiling MobiMover. You can browse for the files or drag and drop them into the software.
Step 3.To convert HEIC photos to JPG, click "Convert" or "Start All" after selecting the photos. Once the process is complete, click the "View" button to see the converted JPG photo on your PC.
If you don't want to install any programs on your Windows PC, you can use an online HEIC converter to convert HEIC to JPG via a browser, but it requires a network connection and comes with potential risks.
When using an online HEIC converter, it's essential to find a trustworthy website. For instance, CloudConverter is a reliable option that can convert HEIC files to other formats. To ensure the security of your files, make sure to verify the website's credibility before uploading your HEIC files.
Step 1. Visit the HEIC to JPG converter.
Step 2. To upload files from your computer, click the down arrow next to the "Select Files" button and choose "From my computer."
Step 3. Select the HEIC file or files you want to convert and set the target format, such as JPEG or PNG.
Step 4. click "Convert" to start converting HEIC to JPG.
Step 5. After the conversion, click "Download" to save the photo or photos to your computer.
Step 6. Go to the "Downloads" folder on your PC to check the item(s) you've downloaded recently.
To view HEIC files on a PC, you can add the necessary extensions to your computer, including HEIF Image Extensions (free) and HEVC Video Extension (paid), which can be found in the Microsoft Store. Once installed, you'll be able to open HEIC files using the Photos app.
Instead of converting HEIC to JPG, you can choose to save iPhone photos as JPG files by going to settings, which allows you to view them freely after transferring them to a PC.
Step 1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2. Scroll down and tap "Camera."
Step 3. Tap "Formats" > "Most Compatible."
Now, your iPhone will use JPEG/H.264 as the default format for photos taken with the camera.
If you're using an old Mac that doesn't support HEIC files, you can convert them to JPG using a desktop or online converter, or simply upgrade to the latest macOS version that already supports HEIC images.