What to Do When HEIC Images Won't Open on Windows
Key points
- Windows may not open HEIC by default
- Converting to JPG lets any PC open it
- You can also make iPhone shoot JPG
After moving iPhone photos to a PC they won't open or show previews. The HEIC format is the cause.
Solution 1: convert to JPG (recommended)
- In your phone's browser, open "Convert HEIC to JPG".
- Choose photos, convert to JPG and save.
- Send them to your PC.
Solution 2: make iPhone shoot JPG
Under Settings → Camera → Formats, choose "Most Compatible" so future shots are JPG. (Photos already taken need converting.)
Solution 3: iPhone transfer setting
Under Settings → Photos → "Transfer to Mac or PC", choose "Automatic" so photos may be converted to a compatible format when transferred to a PC.
Extra note
You can also add Windows' HEIF extension to open them, but that may involve effort or cost depending on your setup.
Use "Convert HEIC to JPG" (free)Tools that go well with this
- Compress & Resize Images: Make image files smaller, and resize them if you like.
- Photos to PDF: Combine several photos into one PDF in the order you choose. You can rotate, reorder and set a size limit.
- Convert Image Format (JPG, PNG, WebP): Convert images to JPG, PNG or WebP, several at once.