Open HEIC photos on Windows or convert them to JPG

Decide whether to view or convert

If you only want to look at a photo, try opening the original in Microsoft Photos first. If a website or app rejects HEIC, make a JPG copy instead. Keep the original so you still have its original image and capture information.

Changing a filename from .heic to .jpg does not convert the photo. PicConv checks the file contents, not just its name.

When Microsoft Photos asks for an extension

Microsoft notes that opening downloaded HEIF files on Windows may require an additional codec. If Photos asks for an extension, check Microsoft’s HEIF Image Extension and HEVC Video Extensions listings. Review the requirements and the price shown for your device and region before installing.

Microsoft’s Photos troubleshooting article specifically covers Windows 10 and describes using both extensions, then restarting Photos. This is not a claim that every Windows 11 PC needs to buy or install both. If your photo already opens, you can continue viewing it without changing anything.

• Microsoft: opening downloaded HEIF files on Windows
• Microsoft: Photos file-type troubleshooting for Windows 10
• Microsoft Store: HEIF Image Extension
• Microsoft Store: HEVC Video Extensions

Make a JPG with PicConv

PicConv uses its own browser decoder, so its HEIC conversion does not require installing the Windows HEIF or HEVC extensions. Photo contents are processed on your device rather than uploaded to a conversion server.

1. Open PicConv in a recent Chrome browser and select “Choose photos.” Start with one photo so you can check the result.
2. Select a HEIC or HEIF file saved on your computer. Keep the tab open while the photo is processed.
3. When “Your JPG is ready” appears, check the preview and select “Download JPG.”
4. Find the file in your browser’s downloads, open the saved JPG, and check it before submitting or sharing it. The original file is unchanged.

Save several photos or recover from an error

Choose up to 10 photos, with no more than 20 MB and 50 megapixels per photo, and 100 MB of input files in total. Photos are processed in order. Use “Save JPG” for a completed photo, or wait for the batch to finish and select “Prepare ZIP,” then “Download ZIP.”

A failed photo does not stop the others. “Stop conversion” preserves completed results. If the 50 MB result limit is reached, download the completed photos and start a smaller batch for the rest. Here, 1 MB means 1,048,576 bytes.

If one file fails repeatedly, try another original. A renamed extension, incomplete file copy, or unsupported image encoding may be the cause. For a capacity or timeout error, try one smaller photo and close other tabs.

Check the JPG and keep the original

Check the saved image’s orientation, dimensions, and colors before attaching it to a form or sharing it. PicConv keeps the displayed image dimensions and saves at 90% JPG quality. Compression is lossy, and HDR or wide-gamut colors can change.

Original GPS, camera, and capture-date metadata are not copied. The browser may add basic image information such as dimensions and color space. JPG inputs are also re-encoded, which can add compression loss. Keep the original if you need its full image and capture information.