HEIC to JPG: How to Open iPhone Photos on Windows
Updated June 2026 · 4 min read
You AirDrop or email some photos from your iPhone, open them on a Windows PC, and... nothing. The files end in .HEIC and Windows shrugs. This guide explains what HEIC is, why it causes trouble, and how to convert HEIC to JPG for free - without uploading your personal photos to anyone.
What is HEIC, and why won't it open?
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) is the format iPhones use by default since iOS 11. It stores the same quality as JPG in roughly half the file size - great for your phone's storage, awkward everywhere else. Older versions of Windows, many web apps, and lots of editors simply do not read it, which is why double-clicking does nothing useful.
Convert HEIC to JPG in your browser
The fastest fix is to convert the files to JPG (or PNG). Because holiday photos, family pictures and screenshots are personal, the smart way to do it is locally - in your browser - so the images are never uploaded to a server.
🔒 Open the HEIC to JPG converter
Convert HEIC, AVIF, WebP, PNG and JPG in batches - on your device, full quality, nothing uploaded.
Step by step
- Open the Image Converter.
- Drag in your
.HEICfiles - you can select a whole batch at once. - Choose JPG as the output (or PNG if you need transparency).
- Download. The photos open everywhere now - Windows Photos, Office, any website.
Will I lose quality converting HEIC to JPG?
Converting to JPG at high quality is visually lossless for everyday use - you will not see a difference on screen or in print. If you want to preserve every pixel for archiving, convert to PNG instead, which is lossless (the files will be larger).
Other ways to open HEIC on Windows
- Windows HEIF extension - Microsoft sells a codec in the Store that lets Photos preview HEIC. It does not convert the files, so other apps still struggle.
- Change your iPhone setting - Settings → Camera → Formats → Most Compatible makes the phone shoot JPG going forward (but won't fix photos you already have).
- Convert to JPG - the most universal fix, and the only one that makes the files work in every app.
Bonus: strip location data before sharing
iPhone photos also carry hidden GPS coordinates. If you are posting them publicly, consider running them through the metadata remover first to delete the location and camera data.
FAQ
How do I convert HEIC to JPG for free?
- Open OpenConvert's Image Converter, drop in your HEIC files, choose JPG, and download. It runs in your browser, so it is free and nothing is uploaded.
Can I convert many HEIC files at once?
- Yes - batch conversion is supported. Select all your HEIC photos and convert them in one go.
Is it safe to convert personal photos online?
- With OpenConvert, yes, because the conversion happens locally in your browser. Your photos are never sent to a server.