If you've ever copied photos from your iPhone to a Windows PC and found they wouldn't open, you've already run into HEIC. Apple switched to this format in 2017 because it stores photos at roughly half the file size of JPG — with the same visual quality. Great for your phone's storage. Not so great when Windows has no idea what to do with it.
The fix is simple: convert the files to JPG. Here's the fastest way to do it — no software to install, no account to create.
Why Windows Can't Open HEIC Files
HEIC (High Efficiency Image Container) uses a compression algorithm called HEVC — the same codec used in modern video streaming. Microsoft added partial HEIC support to Windows 10 and 11, but it requires a paid extension from the Microsoft Store, and even then it only works in some apps.
Rather than patching Windows, the easier path is giving it a format it already understands natively: JPG.
The Fastest Method: Convert in Your Browser
FileConvertiz HEIC Converter handles the entire conversion inside your browser tab using JavaScript. Your photos are never uploaded to any server — processing happens locally on your machine, which means no file size limits and no privacy concerns.
Step 1 — Open the converter
Go to fileconvertiz.com/heic-converter in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox on your Windows PC. No sign-up required.
Step 2 — Drop your files
Drag your .heic or .heif files onto the dropzone, or click to browse. You can convert up to 10 files at once in a single batch.
Step 3 — Choose JPG and set quality
Select JPG as the output format. Use the quality slider to balance file size against image fidelity — the default of 92% is visually indistinguishable from the original for most photos.
Step 4 — Convert and download
Click Convert. Each file finishes in seconds. Download them individually, or grab all of them as a single ZIP file.
The resulting JPGs open in Photos, Paint, File Explorer, Photoshop, and every other Windows app without any extra steps.
Other Ways to Convert HEIC on Windows
If you'd prefer a different approach, here are a few alternatives:
Use iCloud.com Sign in to icloud.com on your Windows PC, open Photos, and download your photos from there. Apple automatically converts HEIC to JPG during the download process.
Email or AirDrop to a Mac Macs support HEIC natively. If you have access to a Mac, open the files there and export them as JPG using Preview (File → Export).
Change your iPhone's camera settings To stop shooting in HEIC entirely: go to Settings → Camera → Formats and select Most Compatible. Your iPhone will shoot in JPG from that point on. This doesn't convert existing HEIC photos, but it prevents new ones.
JPG or PNG — Which Format Should You Choose?
For photos, JPG is almost always the right choice. It handles gradients and natural colours extremely well and keeps file sizes manageable.
PNG is lossless — every pixel is preserved exactly — but photo files end up 4–8× larger with no visible difference to the eye. Use PNG for screenshots, logos, and graphics with sharp edges or flat colour fills. For everything that came out of your camera, use JPG.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are my photos uploaded to a server? No. The conversion runs entirely inside your browser. FileConvertiz has no server receiving your images — close the tab and everything is gone from memory.
Does it work on Windows 10 as well as Windows 11? Yes. Any modern browser — Chrome, Edge, Firefox — on any version of Windows will work.
Can I convert HEIC to PNG instead of JPG? Yes. Use the format selector at the top of the converter to switch to PNG before dropping your files. PNG output is lossless, so there's no quality slider.
What if a file fails to convert? Some HEIC files use codec variants that aren't widely supported. If a file can't be converted, you'll see a clear error message for that file — the rest of the batch continues unaffected.
Why are the output files smaller than I expected? The default JPG quality setting is 92%, which produces a smaller file than 100% with no perceptible quality loss in normal viewing conditions. If you need maximum fidelity, drag the slider to 100% before converting.
Is there a file size limit? No. Because conversion happens in your browser rather than on a server, there's no server-imposed limit. The only practical constraint is your device's available memory.