How to Open HEIC Files on Windows 11 (2026)
If you've transferred iPhone photos to a Windows 11 PC and double-clicking does nothing — or File Explorer just shows a generic icon — that's not you doing something wrong: in 2026, Windows still doesn't ship with the HEIC codec built in, because of licensing around the underlying HEVC format.
Option 1 — Install the codec from the Microsoft Store
- Open the Microsoft Store and search for "HEIF Image Extensions."
- Install it. On plenty of machines — especially Intel-based ones — this is free and uses the video decoder already built into the hardware.
- If photos still won't display, also install "HEVC Video Extensions" — HEIC reuses the same codec as H.265 video, and on some machines Windows splits the two packages apart.
- Restart File Explorer (or sign out and back in) and thumbnails and previews should start working normally.
The catch nobody mentions before you pay: on some machines, especially ones without a compatible hardware decoder, the Microsoft Store charges for the manufacturer's HEVC video extension (a few dollars). Check the price your own Store shows before paying — on plenty of recent laptops it's free.
Option 2 — Convert to JPG (nothing to install)
If you only need to view or share a handful of photos once in a while, installing a system codec is more effort than the problem deserves. The alternative: convert the HEIC to JPG once, and from there it opens in any program, any version of Windows, and any device, with zero codec dependency.
- No software to install, no restart required.
- Works on any PC, including a borrowed or work computer where you can't install extensions.
- The resulting file is universal: it opens the same on Windows 10, 11, Mac, Android, or uploaded to any website.
Which one makes sense for you?
| Situation | Recommendation |
|---|---|
| You regularly receive HEIC photos from an iPhone | Install the codec — solve it once, permanently |
| It's a PC you don't control (work, borrowed, public) | Convert to JPG — no install permissions needed |
| You're about to share these photos with someone else | Convert to JPG — you can't make them install a codec |
| You're uploading to a form or online portal | Convert to JPG (or PDF, if a document is required) |
Convert your HEIC photos to JPG in your browser, no install and nothing uploaded anywhere.
Convert HEIC to JPG now
FAQ
Why doesn't Windows 11 open HEIC natively?
Windows doesn't ship with the HEVC/HEIC codec out of the box, due to format licensing. Microsoft distributes it separately as "HEIF Image Extensions" in the Store, which on many PCs also requires "HEVC Video Extensions."
Is the Microsoft Store codec free?
Depends on the machine: on plenty of Intel-based PCs it's free. On others, the Store may charge for the manufacturer's video extension. Check the price on your own PC — it's often not needed.
What about Windows 10?
The same Microsoft Store codec works on Windows 10 under the same conditions. If you'd rather not install anything, converting to JPG solves the problem the same way on either version.
Using Photoshop? See how to open HEIC files in Photoshop.