You copied some photos from your iPhone to your computer, and Windows either shows a black square or flat-out refuses to open a file with the .heic extension. Nothing is broken here — older versions of Windows simply don't support the HEIC format out of the box. Below are four ways to open these photos, starting with the fastest and moving to more permanent fixes.
Why this happens
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the format iPhones and iPads have used to save photos since iOS 11. It compresses images about twice as efficiently as classic JPEG at comparable quality, so photos take up less storage. The catch is compatibility: Windows 10 before certain updates, along with plenty of software (older versions of Photoshop, various editors, websites), simply doesn't understand HEIC.
Method 1: Convert to JPG online (fastest)
The simplest option if you just need to open one or two photos right now: convert HEIC to JPG, a format that opens everywhere. You can do this directly in your browser, no software installation required, using our HEIC to JPG converter. Upload the file, download the resulting JPG, and open it in any program. Files are processed and deleted right away — nothing stays on the server.
This is the best choice when you only have a handful of photos and don't want to install codecs or apps.
Method 2: Install HEIF codecs from Microsoft Store
To let Windows open HEIC files natively in the Photos app, you need two extensions from Microsoft Store: HEIF Image Extensions and HEVC Video Extensions. The first is usually free; the second is sometimes paid (a small one-time fee). Once installed, double-clicking a .heic file opens it just like any other image.
The downside is that these extensions occasionally conflict with Windows updates, and the HEVC codec isn't always free.
Method 3: Turn off HEIC directly on your iPhone
If you don't need the existing files but want to prevent this problem going forward, switch your iPhone's camera to JPEG: Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible. From then on, your iPhone will shoot straight to JPEG and compatibility issues will disappear. Keep in mind your photos will take up a bit more storage space.
Method 4: Open it in an app that supports HEIC
Several free viewers and editors can open HEIC without any extra codecs — for example, IrfanView (with plugins), XnView, or GIMP. This is handy if you regularly deal with these files and want a full editor rather than just a viewer.
Which option to pick
- Need to open a couple of photos right now — convert them to JPG online: HEIC to JPG.
- HEIC files keep arriving and you want to double-click to open them — install the codecs from Microsoft Store.
- Don't want to deal with this again — switch your iPhone to the "Most Compatible" format.
If you also run into other formats besides HEIC (WebP, TIFF, BMP), you can convert those to a familiar JPG or PNG too, using our image converter.