How to Open iPhone HEIC Photos on Windows
Updated October 27, 2026
Your iPhone saves photos as HEIC files by default. Windows often can't open them without extra software, so you see an error or a blank preview.
The fastest fix: convert HEIC to JPG
Drop your HEIC files into the converter on this page. FileFlip turns them into JPG directly in your browser. Your photos never get uploaded, and you can convert many files at once.
Advanced settings
Option 2: Install the Microsoft extension
Open the Microsoft Store, search for "HEIF Image Extensions" and install it. After that, the Photos app can open most HEIC files. Some files also need the HEVC extension, which Microsoft charges for.
Option 3: Change your iPhone settings
Go to Settings > Camera > Formats and choose "Most Compatible". Your iPhone then saves new photos as JPG. Existing photos stay HEIC. You can also go to Settings > Photos and set "Transfer to Mac or PC" to "Automatic" so your iPhone converts photos when you copy them to a computer.
Which option should you choose?
Convert the files if you need to send or upload photos right now. Install the extension if you only want to view them on your own PC. Change the iPhone setting if you never want to deal with HEIC again.
FAQ
- Does converting HEIC to JPG reduce quality?
- JPG compresses slightly more than HEIC, but at high quality settings you won't see a difference.
- Are my photos uploaded to a server?
- No. FileFlip converts everything inside your browser.
- Can I convert many photos at once?
- Yes. Select or drop multiple files and download them as a ZIP.