How to Open HEIC Files in Various Ways

What Are HEIC Files

HEIC is the file extension used for HEIF (Hign Efficiency Image File Format) photos. This file format takes less iPhone storage and thus is set as the default format of the photos you take with your iPhone camera since iOS 11.

However, although you can freely open and view HEIC files on an iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Mac running macOS High Sierra or later, you can't open HEIC files on PC since Windows doesn't natively support HEIC files. This is quite annoying since many of you need to transfer photos from iPhone to PC at one time or another.

Luckily, there are workable ways to help you out. If you need to open HEIC files on your PC, you can easily get it done by following one of the tips below.

How to Open HEIC Files via a Photo Converter

If you want to change a HEIC file to a more compatible format so that you can view it on most devices, you can use a photo converter to convert HEIC to JPG on your PC.

To change HEIC to JPG, there are both desktop and online photo converters for you.

Option 1. Use Desktop Photo Converter

Although an online format converter is more convenient, a desktop tool generally works more stably and ensures better privacy protection. With such a tool, you will be able to convert HEIC to JPG in bulk whenever you need, without a network connection. Afterward, you can open these pictures with the Photos app on your computer. That is what Qiling MobiMover,the free iPhone data transfertooland photo converter, can do for you.

Additionally, it is also a video downloader that enables you to download YouTube videos to MP3 or save Facebook videos to a computer. Don't hesitate to give it a try.

Free Download
Windows 11/10/8/7, 100% Secure

To convert iPhone photos to JPG:

Step 1.Launch Qiling MobiMover on your PC and click "HEIC to JPG"on the navigation panel.

Step 2.Click "Browse"to select and add one or multiple HEIC photos from your PC. You can also drag and drop to import HEIC photos to Qiling MobiMover here.

Step 3.Click "Convert"or "Start All"to convert HEIC photos to JPG. After the HEIC to JPG conversion completes, you canclick "View"button to check the converted JPG photo on yourPC.

Option 2. Use Online HEIC Converter

If you don't want to install any programs on your Windows PC, you can apply an online HEIC converter instead. It allows you to convert HEIC to JPG via a browser but needs a network connection to work. Before you start, you should know that there are some potential risks of using an online tool:

Data security issues
Identity theft
Virus infections

Thus, if you are going to use an online HEIC converter, make sure the website you find is trustworthy. Now I'd like to take the one from CloudConverter as an example:

Step 1. Visit the HEIC to JPG converter.

Step 2. Click the down arrow next to "Select Files" and choose "From my computer."

Step 3. Select the HEIC file or files you want to convert and set the target format.

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).

How to Convert HEIC to JPG with CloudConvert

How to Open HEIC Files with Extensions

As mentioned above, there is no built-in support for HEIC files on Windows. But you can view HEIC files on PC by adding HEIC photo extensions to your computer. The extensions you need are HEIF Image Extensions (free) and HEVC Video Extension (paid). Go to the Microsoft Store to search for these extensions, then add them to your computer. Afterward, you will be able to open HEIC files on your PC using the Photos app.

How to Open HEIC Files on Windows via Extensions

Bonus Tip: How to Save Photos as JPG on iPhone

Instead of converting HEIC to JPG, you can choose to save the photos you take as JPG files on your iPhone via settings. By doing so, you can open and view your iPhone photos freely after transferring them from your iPhone 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 of the photos you take with your iPhone camera.

The Bottom Line

If you are using a Mac running an early macOS that doesn't support HEIC files, you can also use a desktop/online converter to turn HEIC to JPG. Or you can upgrade to the latest version of macOS which has supported HEIC images already.